testing
- Couples are encouraged to be tested to see if they are carriers of the faulty Hexosaminidase A gene before they try to have a child. If both end up being carriers, but decide to conceive anyways, there are two ways to test whether the child has Tay-Sachs. First, the mother can have amniocentesis done (samples of amniotic fluid taken), and if the fluid contains no Hexosaminidase A, meaning the fetus has Tay-Sachs, can choose to have a therapeutic abortion. The newer option is chorionic villus sampling, where a small amount of the placenta is removed and tested. Abortion is also available with this method, and it is more private and safer than that of amniocentesis.