New Blood Group Discovered in South Indian Woman at Rotary Centre

A significant breakthrough in transfusion medicine has been achieved at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, where a previously unidentified blood group has been discovered in a 38-year-old South Indian woman. This blood group, confirmed as a new antigen within the Cromer (CR) blood group system, marks a historic milestone in the field.

The unidentified blood group was detected after extensive research by the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, U.K. Following ten months of rigorous molecular testing, the new antigen was named ‘CRIB,’ reflecting its origins in India and Bengaluru. The woman, who has an O Positive blood type, was admitted to the R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre in February 2023 for cardiac surgery.

Prior to her operation, the surgical team requested compatible blood from the hospital’s stock, but no suitable units could be found. Ankit Mathur, Additional Medical Director at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, explained that her blood sample was sent for further testing, where it was classified as ‘Panreactive,’ indicating it was incompatible with all tested samples.

In an effort to find a match, blood samples from 20 of her family members were collected. Unfortunately, none matched. The medical team counseled the family and successfully managed the woman’s surgery and recovery without the need for a blood transfusion.

The patient’s blood samples, along with those of her family, were subsequently forwarded to the IBGRL. Soumee Banerjee, a consultant in Transfusion Medicine at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, noted that the laboratory identified a previously uncharacterized blood group antigen, providing a detailed analysis of its structure and function.

The groundbreaking discovery was officially recognized during the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), held in Milan, Italy, on June 4, 2025. Dr. Banerjee stated, “This makes the woman the first person in the world to present with this antigen,” emphasizing the importance of the ISBT’s role in blood group nomenclature.

To support patients with rare blood types, the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre launched a ‘Rare Blood Donor’ program in collaboration with the Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council and the ICMR’s National Institute of Immunohematology in January 2023. This initiative aims to identify and provide optimal transfusion support to patients with rare blood types, which have included D- -, Rh null, and In b negative over recent years.

Dr. Mathur highlighted the success of this program, stating that they have tested 2,108 regular repeat donors and identified 21 individuals with rare blood types. This discovery not only enhances the understanding of blood group systems but also underscores the critical need for comprehensive blood donor registries to support individuals with unique blood requirements.