A 38-year-old woman from Kolar has been identified with a never-before-seen blood group, officially named CRIB, marking a global milestone in transfusion medicine.
About CRIB
- Discovery: Detected at Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre after her blood showed “panreactive” behavior, meaning it was incompatible with all tested samples.
- International Validation: Confirmed by the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL), UK, after 10 months of molecular and antigen testing.
International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)
- The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), founded in 1935, is a global scientific society dedicated to improving the safety and quality of blood transfusion.
- Central Office : Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- It advocates for blood donor and patient welfare through the ISBT Code of Ethics and collaborates as a Non-State Actor with WHO.
- It also organizes webinars, workshops, live journal clubs, and international and regional congresses.
- ISBT Congress: The ISBT Congress serves as a premier platform for global collaboration.
- The 2025 Congress in Milan focused on “Innovations in Rare Blood and Transfusion Safety.”
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- Nomenclature: Named CRIB – CR for Cromer blood group system, and IB for India, Bengaluru – at the 35th ISBT Congress (Milan, 2025).
- Unique Feature: Represents a new antigen within the Cromer system, making her the first person globally to present with this antigen.
PWOnlyIAS Extra Edge
- The Cromer blood group system consists of antigens located on the Decay-Accelerating Factor (DAF/CD55) protein present on red blood cells.
- It includes 20+ antigens, with Cromer (Cr^a) being the most common.
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What is a Blood Group?
A blood group is classified based on specific antigens present on the surface of red blood cells. These antigens determine compatibility for transfusions.
Types of Blood Groups and Associated Antigens
| Blood Group |
Antigens Present on RBCs |
Compatible Plasma Antibodies |
| A |
A antigen |
Anti-B |
| B |
B antigen |
Anti-A |
| AB |
A and B antigens |
None |
| O |
None |
Anti-A and Anti-B |
| Rh+ |
D antigen present |
None against D antigen |
| Rh- |
No D antigen |
Can form Anti-D |
- Antigens are molecules, usually proteins or sugars, found on the surface of red blood cells that can trigger an immune response.
- The Rh(Rehsus) factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If the protein is present, the blood type is Rh-positive; if it’s absent, the blood type is Rh-negative
What Are Rare Blood Groups?
- Definition: Rare blood groups occur when individuals lack “high-frequency” antigens found in most populations, making it difficult to find compatible blood for transfusion.
- Global Prevalence: Classified as:
- Less Rare: 1–2% prevalence.
- Very Rare: <1%, often involving 3–4 missing antigens.
Examples of Rare Blood Groups in India and Worldwide
- Rh null (“Golden Blood”): Absence of all Rh antigens.
- D- – Blood Type: lacks common Rh antigens, extremely rare.
- In b Negative : absence of Indian system antigen.
- Gwada Negative : Identified recently in Guadeloupe.
- Bombay Blood Group (hh Phenotype): Lacks h antigens which are found across A, B and O Group.
- CRIB: Newly discovered Cromer antigen from India.
Need for a Rare Blood Donor Registry in India
- Patients with rare groups develop antibodies against missing antigens, making transfusion matching difficult.
- Current Efforts: Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre and partners launched a Rare Blood Donor Programme (2024).
- It aims to build a national registry integrated with e-Rakt Kosh.
- Out of 2,108 O-group donors, 21 rare types were identified.
- Future Approach: Use of autologous transfusion or iron supplementation for planned surgeries in rare-group patients.
- Autologous transfusion is a procedure where a patient’s own blood is collected, stored, and re-infused during surgery or treatment.
2 Aug 2025
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