Can parents be test to see if they are carriers for albinism?If so how does the test work?

Question

answers please

Answer 1

In the early 2000s, a blood test has been developed that can identify carriers of the gene for some types of albinism; a similar test during amniocentesis can diagnose some types of albinism in an unborn child. A chorionic villus sampling test during the fifth week of pregnancy may also reveal some types of albinism.
There are also two tests available that can identify two types of the condition. The hairbulb pigmentation test is used to identify carriers by incubating a piece of the person's hair in a solution of tyrosine, a substance in food which the body uses to make melanin. If the hair turns dark, it means the hair is making melanin (a positive test); light hair means there is no melanin. This test is the source of the names of two types of albinism: "typos" and "ty-neg."
The tyrosinase test is more precise than the hair-bulb pigmentation test. It measures the rate at which hair converts the amino acid tyrosine into another chemical (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, or DOPA), which is then made into pigment. The hair converts tyrosine with the help of an enzyme called tyrosinase. In some types of albinism, a genetic defect in tyrosinase means that the amino acid tyrosine cannot be converted by tyrosinase into melanin.

Answer 2

I bet they can. Of course, the only way to find out for sure if they're passing it on is to test the kid. I don't know how genetic tests work. They need genetic material (spit, blood, anything). It's extremely expensive. If you want to get tested, see if there's a research study going on anywhere. It's truly cheaper to fly across the country than pay for the test.

clinicaltrials.gov has a big database of tests. Type in the condition and see what comes up. There's probably one going on for how it gets passed on that is looking for people with albinism whose parents/siblings don't have it and vice versa.

Answer 3

Here is the link for NOAH (National Organisation for Albinism and Hypopigmentation). Look uo 'What is Albinism?', then the paragraph 'Genetics of Albinism'.

http://www.albinism.org/publications/what_is_albinism.html

I hope this helps