In a landmark medical discovery, a previously unknown blood group has been identified in a 38-year-old woman from Karnataka’s Kolar district.
The rare blood group was discovered when the patient, initially classified as O Rh+, was found to be incompatible with all available O-positive donor units before undergoing cardiac surgery.
The case was referred to the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre and subsequently to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in the UK.
After ten months of advanced testing and research, scientists identified a new antigen in the Cromer blood group system, now officially named CRIB—short for Cromer India Bangalore.
The discovery was announced at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion in Milan in June 2025.
The woman has become the first person in the world confirmed to possess the CRIB antigen.
This finding marks a major advancement in transfusion medicine, as rare blood groups can pose serious risks during emergency transfusions and organ transplants.
To support such cases, the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre has launched a Rare Donor Registry in collaboration with Karnataka State Blood Transfusion and national and international partners.
Dr. Ankit Mathur, who led the investigation, emphasized India’s growing role in rare blood group research, referencing past cases such as Rh null and In b negative.
The discovery of CRIB antigen enhances global compatibility testing, promotes safer transfusion practices, and strengthens India’s position in international immunohematology research.
