The Jewish Test When Pregnant

I imagine they are concerned about Tay-Sachs disease, but I believe both parents have to carry it. It is usually only found in Jewish families? I think...

Ask your doctor. He will tell you why he is asking.

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The genetic condition is called Tay-Sachs. It is unlikely that there is any problem. As I understand, it isn't all that common even with two parents as possible carriers. As due diligence, you should inform your doctor but don't get too worked up about something with a small probability.

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They test for Tay-Sachs disease when there is Jewish ancestry from certain areas, and I believe Russia is one of them (Eastern European if memory serves). It's rare and since no one seems to have had it in your husband's family, you're probably just fine -it's just a question they ask so they'll know if they need to be on the look out. I think both of you need to ethnically be of Jewish descent for there to be an issue.

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You don't have to be 100% Jewish - it also happens to some French-Canadians and the Cajun population of southern Louisiana. The development of improved testing methods has allowed neurologists to diagnose Tay-Sachs and other neurological diseases with greater precision. But Tay–Sachs disease is sometimes misdiagnosed at first, because clinicians are not aware that it is not exclusively a Jewish disease.

Two people who carry the recessive gene can produce a child that has Tay-Sachs (25% come down with it). They can do pre-natal testing to see if you both have the recessive gene. If you want, I'm sure they could test you both now anyway.

All my best,
D.

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It's sort of like how sickle cell anemia is VASTLY disproportionate in the (decended from or currently living in) african black community (as opposed to the Australian aborigines, EnZeds, & certain maori branches).

Sickle cell anemia can cause a LOT of problems, but it *also* provided immunity against malaria. So in regions where malaria is rampant, one find a LOT of sickle cell anemia (the whole darwin thing, those who had SCA survived malaria to have children who survived malaria). SCA exists outside of malarial regions and the african population... because it's a recessive genetic quirk, it can show up anywhere... but it's sooooo much more likely to be found in the black pop in the US than in any other pop because it was unintentionally bred for. (living gives you a better chance of having children of your own than dying as a child after all ;)

Tay-Sachs is exactly the same *statistically* speaking (doesn't give immunity from malaria). MOSTLY found in those of Jewish (genetic) decent.

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Here is some info on Tay-Sachs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay%E2%80%93Sachs_disease

Both parents need to be carriers, and it is not just Jewish populations that have a higher occurance of this disease.

I'm a bit curious what led your doctor to even bring this up?? And don't you hate it when a Dr. brings up something and then doesn't explain why??

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The test covers many different things. Both sides have to have the gene, so chances of Tay-Sachs are slim. Your doc could have done a better job explaining it to you. If you're over 35, it's a normal test to have done. Even if you're younger, it's not a bad thing.

Get the blood test as it tests not just for Tay-Sachs but for other genetic diseases that Jewish people are at higher risk to be carriers for. Chances of anything being wrong are super slim but your peace of mind afterwards will be priceless.

I am Catholic (mostly Irish) and my husband is Jewish. He's not sure of his family's ethnic descent. Ashkenazi Jews (Eastern European descent, so Russian Jews would be included) are more likely than the general population to be carriers of some genetic conditions - Tay-Sachs is one of the diseases, but there are 8 more common ones that are included in the standard test and another 7 that can also be tested. These diseases can be carried by non-Jews of course, but the carrier rate is strikingly high among this certain population. Because you just never really know your family's lineage, I had the Jewish carrier testing done. As long as I tested negative for all of the genetic markers, we were in the clear (both parents need to be carriers of these diseases). It's a simple blood test, but it requires A LOT of blood - the number if vials was ridiculous, something like 10 or 12, but I think I was having some other routine tests done at the same time. Anyway, other than sitting there forever saying "seriously, another vial?" the test was simple. I tested negative for everything, so it was just nice to know that we didn't have to worry about any of these diseases.

Absolutely not! I forget what the jewish test is called, but I am almost positive that both people would have to be 100% Jewish for there to be a potential problem.

My husband is 75% Jewish background. We had the Tay saves test done. No problems. Try not to worry so much. I know it's hard.