A female individual in India possesses a unique type of blood.
In a groundbreaking discovery that has significant implications for transfusion medicine and organ transplantation, a 38-year-old woman from Karnataka, India, has been found to have a unique blood group antigen. This newly discovered antigen, named CRIB (Cromer India Bangalore), belongs to the Cromer blood group system and is the first of its kind to be identified in India.
The woman's blood group could not be matched with any known blood group locally during her cardiac surgery preparation. Her blood samples were sent to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK, for further testing. After ten months of detailed molecular and serological testing, international experts identified the new antigen within the Cromer system.
The discovery of CRIB marks a milestone in immunohematology, a field that studies the interaction between the immune system and blood. This breakthrough enhances global transfusion safety by identifying a new blood group antigen that could otherwise lead to transfusion complications. Due to the unique nature of her blood, the patient may require autologous transfusion, meaning she would need to store and use her own blood for future transfusions.
In response to this and other rare blood group discoveries, the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, in collaboration with the Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), has launched a Rare Donor Registry. This registry aims to support patients with rare blood types like CRIB and improve donor matching globally.
The CRIB discovery places India prominently in rare blood group research alongside earlier identifications like Rh null and In b negative types. This development was publicly announced at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion in Milan in June 2025.
While the discovery of CRIB does not directly relate to the development of a cure for HIV, it does open up possibilities for a better understanding of rare blood groups and blood transfusions. This understanding could potentially lead to advancements in transfusion medicine that may indirectly benefit HIV patients in the future.
In conclusion, the discovery of the CRIB antigen in a woman from Karnataka, India, represents a significant step forward in the field of immunohematology. This development enhances transfusion safety, supports patients with rare blood types, and contributes to the global understanding of rare blood groups and blood transfusions.
Science advances in the medical field, as a unique blood group antigen named CRIB has been discovered in Karnataka, India, through complex health-and-wellness studies. This finding could improve health-and-wellness standards for patients with rare blood types, such as the CRIB antigen, and strengthen global understanding of medical-conditions related to blood transfusions.
