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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
India doctors report discovery of new blood group CRIB, rarest in the world
In a ground-breaking medical discovery, Indian doctors have identified a blood group never seen before anywhere in the world. Dubbed CRIB, this ultra-rare blood type was discovered in a 38-year-old woman from Kolar, Karnataka, during preparations for a routine heart surgery - catapulting her case into the global spotlight for its uniqueness and raising critical questions about rare blood group awareness. Although her known blood type was O Rh-positive, none of the available O-positive blood units matched. The hospital then referred the case to the Advanced Immunohematology Reference Laboratory at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre for further testing. Dr Ankit Mathur from the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre told The New Indian Express that using advanced serological techniques, his team found that her blood was 'panreactive', incompatible with all test samples. 'Recognising this as a possible case of a rare or unknown blood type, the team collected blood samples from 20 of her family members to search for a compatible match, but none of them were a match. The case was managed with utmost care, and with collaborative effort from her physicians and family, her surgery was successfully completed without the need for transfusion,' said Mathur. Her and her family's blood samples were later sent to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK, for further analysis. What is the CRIB blood group? CRIB stands for a previously unrecorded antigen profile that does not match any of the 43 known blood group systems recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). CRIB stands for 'Chromosome Region Identified as Blood group. ' It belongs to the INRA (Indian Rare Antigen) blood group system, officially recognised by the ISBT in 2022. What makes CRIB unique is the absence of a common antigen found in most people. The cause was traced to a previously unknown antigen in the Cromer blood group system, which is linked to proteins on red blood cells. Such uniqueness presents significant medical challenges: No compatible donor found. In emergencies, the patient cannot receive standard blood transfusions. Pregnancy, surgeries, or accidents may pose critical risks without a rare blood match. How rare blood groups are identified Globally, a blood type is considered rare if it affects one in every 1,000 people. Examples of rare blood types that lack common antigens include Rhnull, Bombay (Oh), and Jr(a-). In cases with rare blood types, a patient's family is more likely to share the same rare blood type than random donors. Some of these blood types are so rare that fewer than 10 registered donors exist worldwide. While the ISBT maintains a database of rare blood types and donors, international co-operation goes a long way to keep these databases updated and relevant. Implications for India's healthcare system The discovery of the CRIB blood group could trigger advancements in transfusion medicine, genetic research, and emergency preparedness. It places India at the forefront of global haematology research. This finding could also help in managing cases of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), a condition where a mother's antibodies attack her baby's red blood cells. Early detection of CRIB can help prevent serious complications during pregnancy.
India.com
04-08-2025
- Health
- India.com
Medical Mystery Unfolds: India Discovers Blood Type Never Seen Before; Scientists Stunned By Medical First
Bengaluru: A 38-year-old woman from Kolar district in Karnataka has been identified with a previously unknown blood group, now officially recognised and named CRIB by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). CRIB stands for Cromer India Bengaluru. 'Cromer' refers to the blood group system under which the antigen has been classified. 'India' indicates the country of discovery and 'Bengaluru' marks the city where the blood sample was studied. The discovery was made during routine testing before the woman was scheduled for cardiac surgery. Doctors at RL Jalappa Hospital in Kolar faced difficulty finding compatible blood, prompting further investigation. When no match could be found from blood banks or among 20 family members, her sample was sent to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, the United Kingdom. After 10 months of analysis, the IBGRL confirmed the presence of a previously unidentified antigen in the Cromer blood group system. This was then reported to the ISBT, whose Red Cell Immunogenetics and Terminology Working Party approved the new antigen and added it to the Cromer system as the 21st known antigen. According to Dr. Ankit Mathur, additional medical director at the Rotary-TTK Blood Centre in Bengaluru, the patient's red blood cells reacted abnormally in all compatibility tests. 'We could not match her blood with any known group. After extensive testing and global reference checks, a new antigen was confirmed,' he said. The patient underwent successful heart surgery without needing a transfusion. Due to the unknown blood group at the time, doctors avoided using stored donor blood. The case highlights potential challenges in emergency transfusion scenarios involving patients with rare or unknown blood types. Dr. Mathur explained that in such cases, autologous blood transfusion, wherein the patient's own blood is collected and stored before surgery, becomes essential. The CRIB antigen is not present in any of the woman's family members. Genetic analysis indicates the antigen developed due to partial expression of genes from one parent, with no known complete match so far. India has previously reported rare blood groups, including the Bombay blood group (hh), first discovered in 1952. CRIB is now added to the list of globally recognised rare blood antigens originating from India. Dr. Swati Kulkarni, former deputy director at ICMR-NIIH, highlighted the importance of building a national rare blood donor registry. The registry would help match rare blood group patients with compatible donors, especially in high-risk or repeat transfusion cases like thalassemia. The discovery was formally announced in June 2025 at the 35th International Congress of the ISBT held in Milan, Italy.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bengaluru lab fails to match woman's blood type to anyone, discovers first human with ultra-rare antigen that could revolutionize medicine
When Routine Surgery Unveiled a Rare Mystery A Blood Sample's Journey India's Rising Role in Rare Blood Research Why CRIB Changes the Game In a remarkable turn of events that is being hailed as a historic medical milestone, a 38-year-old woman from Karnataka has become the first person in the world to be identified with a previously unknown blood group antigen — officially named CRIB. According to a report from Times of India, the discovery, unveiled at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in Milan in June 2025, is now being seen as a potential game-changer in the fields of transfusion medicine and organ transplant name CRIB isn't random — it stands for Cromer-India-Bangalore , paying homage to the antigen's family system and the city where this scientific breakthrough took medical mystery began in an unsuspecting operation theatre. Admitted for cardiac surgery in Kolar district, the patient, believed to have the widely common O Rh+ blood group, was expected to receive a standard transfusion. But in a shocking twist, her blood reacted adversely to all compatible O-positive donor should have been a routine procedure soon spiraled into a global medical investigation. With every available unit failing the compatibility test, the hospital escalated the case to the Advanced Immunohematology Reference Laboratory at Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre.'We found her blood was panreactive — it reacted with every single donor sample,' said Dr. Ankit Mathur of the Rotary Centre. 'Even 20 of her closest family members didn't match. That's when we knew this was something the world hadn't seen before.'With local testing hitting a wall, blood samples were sent overseas to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK. Ten months of meticulous molecular and serological testing later, researchers identified an entirely new antigen under the Cromer (CR) blood group discovery was not just a scientific revelation — it was a collaborative triumph. The CRIB antigen now enters medical history as a reference point for future studies and emergency care cases around the the life-threatening stakes, doctors managed to perform the cardiac surgery without requiring a transfusion — a risky but ultimately successful decision. The woman not only survived but ended up redefining how the world views 'universal' blood isn't the first time India has made headlines in rare blood discoveries. Dr. Mathur notes that India has previously identified and reported cases involving Rh null and In b negative types, which were presented at international platforms. However, CRIB's identification may prove even more significant due to its global further address the rising need for rare donor matches, the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, in collaboration with Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, ICMR's IIH in Mumbai, and ISBT, has launched a Rare Donor Registry Rare blood groups like CRIB are often difficult to detect and nearly impossible to match in emergencies. By adding a new antigen to global databases, CRIB opens the door to improved transfusion safety protocols, enhanced compatibility testing, and better organ transplant success rates."This is not just a scientific win — it's a humanitarian one," said a representative from ISBT. 'CRIB will help protect lives where standard blood group typing fails.'
Economic Times
31-07-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Bengaluru lab fails to match woman's blood type to anyone, discovers first human with ultra-rare antigen that could revolutionize medicine
iStock In a groundbreaking discovery, a woman from Karnataka has been identified with a novel blood group antigen, CRIB, unveiled at the ISBT congress in Milan. This finding, a potential game-changer for transfusion medicine and organ transplant safety, emerged after her blood reacted adversely to all compatible donor units during cardiac surgery. (Image: iStock) In a remarkable turn of events that is being hailed as a historic medical milestone, a 38-year-old woman from Karnataka has become the first person in the world to be identified with a previously unknown blood group antigen — officially named CRIB. According to a report from Times of India, the discovery, unveiled at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in Milan in June 2025, is now being seen as a potential game-changer in the fields of transfusion medicine and organ transplant safety. The name CRIB isn't random — it stands for Cromer-India-Bangalore, paying homage to the antigen's family system and the city where this scientific breakthrough took place. The medical mystery began in an unsuspecting operation theatre. Admitted for cardiac surgery in Kolar district, the patient, believed to have the widely common O Rh+ blood group, was expected to receive a standard transfusion. But in a shocking twist, her blood reacted adversely to all compatible O-positive donor units. What should have been a routine procedure soon spiraled into a global medical investigation. With every available unit failing the compatibility test, the hospital escalated the case to the Advanced Immunohematology Reference Laboratory at Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre. 'We found her blood was panreactive — it reacted with every single donor sample,' said Dr. Ankit Mathur of the Rotary Centre. 'Even 20 of her closest family members didn't match. That's when we knew this was something the world hadn't seen before.' With local testing hitting a wall, blood samples were sent overseas to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK. Ten months of meticulous molecular and serological testing later, researchers identified an entirely new antigen under the Cromer (CR) blood group system. The discovery was not just a scientific revelation — it was a collaborative triumph. The CRIB antigen now enters medical history as a reference point for future studies and emergency care cases around the globe. Despite the life-threatening stakes, doctors managed to perform the cardiac surgery without requiring a transfusion — a risky but ultimately successful decision. The woman not only survived but ended up redefining how the world views 'universal' blood types. This isn't the first time India has made headlines in rare blood discoveries. Dr. Mathur notes that India has previously identified and reported cases involving Rh null and In b negative types, which were presented at international platforms. However, CRIB's identification may prove even more significant due to its global implications. To further address the rising need for rare donor matches, the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, in collaboration with Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, ICMR's IIH in Mumbai, and ISBT, has launched a Rare Donor Registry. Rare blood groups like CRIB are often difficult to detect and nearly impossible to match in emergencies. By adding a new antigen to global databases, CRIB opens the door to improved transfusion safety protocols, enhanced compatibility testing, and better organ transplant success rates. "This is not just a scientific win — it's a humanitarian one," said a representative from ISBT. 'CRIB will help protect lives where standard blood group typing fails.' v
News18
30-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Karnataka Woman Has World's First-Of-Its-Kind Blood Group 'CRIB', Doctors Baffled
The blood group was discovered when the woman was admitted for cardiac surgery, and her blood - O Rh+ - was found incompatible with all available O-positive blood units A 38-year-old woman from Karnataka's Kolar district was found to possess the world's first-of-its-kind blood group, now officially called CRIB, a discovery that has left medical researchers around the world baffled. The blood group was discovered when the woman was admitted for cardiac surgery, and her blood, typed as O Rh positive—the most common blood group—was found to be incompatible with all available O-positive blood units, according to reports. The case was referred to the Advanced Immunohaematology Reference laboratory at Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre. 'Her blood showed panreactivity, meaning it was incompatible with every test panel," Dr Ankit Mathur, a transfusion medicine expert at the centre, told The New Indian Express. What Is CRIB? More surprisingly, blood samples from 20 of the woman's family members were collected, but none matched her blood. This confirmed suspicions that the woman's blood was exceptionally rare and the doctors decided to proceed without a transfusion. Blood samples from the patient and her family members were submitted to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK, for comprehensive genetic and serological testing, according to The New Indian Express. After nearly ten months of in-depth molecular analysis, scientists discovered a previously undocumented blood group antigen. The newly discovered antigen belongs to the Cromer (CR) blood group system and is now officially known as CRIB – 'CR' referring to Cromer and 'IB' for India, Bangalore. What Makes Her Blood Unique? This historic announcement was made at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) held in Milan, Italy, in June 2025, marking the woman as the first person in the world identified with the CRIB antigen, Dr Mathur said. The standard blood classification there are over 30 other recognised blood group systems like Kell, Duffy and Cromer. This newly discovered antigen has added a new dimension to the Cromer group, which is known for its complex glycoprotein structures, according to Firstpost Doctors said the woman cannot rely on donated blood from others due to the unique nature of her blood. Instead, she may have to boost her haemoglobin levels and store her own blood beforehand – a process called autologous transfusion. The CRIB case shares parallels with another recent discovery made in Europe – Gwada Negative, a newly identified blood group falling under the EMM-negative system. In June last year, this antigen – present in nearly all human red blood cells – was entirely absent in a woman from Guadeloupe residing in Paris. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : antigen test Blood group view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
