Tay-Sachs Test
Serum Hexosaminidase A and B
What To Think About
- If the test for hexosaminidase A cannot tell whether a person is a carrier of the Tay-Sachs trait, a more expensive test can measure the amount of hexosaminidase A in white blood cells.
- A positive Tay-Sachs test may need to be confirmed with other genetic tests. For more information, see the medical test Genetic Test.
- People who have a high chance of being a carrier of Tay-Sachs may want to have a blood test to see whether they are carriers before they have children. People of Ashkenazi Jewish or French-Canadian descent who have a family history of Tay-Sachs disease or who live in a community or population with a high amount of Tay-Sachs disease may want to be tested for Tay-Sachs trait. Genetic counselling is available for people who carry the Tay-Sachs trait or disease.
- If the parents of an unborn baby (fetus) have the Tay-Sachs trait, the following tests can be done to see if the baby has the disease.
- An amniocentesis checks a sample of amniotic fluid and is usually done between the 14th and 18th weeks of pregnancy. For more information, see the medical test Amniocentesis.
- Chorionic villus sampling checks special cells in the placenta and can be done between the 9th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. For more information, see the medical test Chorionic Villus Sampling.
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| Author: | Carrie Henley Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: June 20, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Renee H. Martin, PhD - Medical Genetics | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
| Results | |
| What Affects the Test | |
 | What To Think About |
| References | |
| Credits | |