(a) The sheriff of each county who is charged with the care and custody of prisoners is empowered to hire a female registered nurse and a male registered nurse who are authorized to make complete physical examinations of all persons committed to the custody of the sheriff for the purpose of preventing the spread of any contagious disease. The physical examinations may include the taking of blood tests and Pap smear tests and any other tests that are approved and recommended by the county health officer.
(b) All females committed to the custody of the sheriff are to be examined only by the female registered nurse hired for that purpose and all males committed to the custody of the sheriff are to be examined by the male nurse hired for that purpose.