NEWS – A new blood group, CRIB, has been discovered at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, marking a global breakthrough in transfusion medicine. CRIB stands for Cromer India Bengaluru.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Case Background:
  • The rare blood group was found in a 38-year-old South Indian woman admitted to R.L. Jalappa Hospital, Kolar, for cardiac surgery in February 2024. Though her blood type was O Positive, no matching blood unit could be found.
  • Her sample was sent to Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre’s Advanced Immunohematology Lab, where it tested panreactive—incompatible with all other samples—indicating an unknown antigen.
  • Blood samples from 20 family members, including her children, were tested but none matched. Despite this, her surgery was completed without transfusion due to careful medical planning.
• International Validation: Her and her family’s samples were sent to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in Bristol, UK. After 10 months of molecular testing, a new antigen in the Cromer (CR) blood group system was identified.
• Official Naming: The new antigen was named CRIB by the ISBT (International Society of Blood Transfusion) at its 35th Regional Congress in Milan on June 4, 2025.
• Implications: The woman is the first known carrier of the CRIB antigen. If future transfusions are needed, autologous donation (using her own blood) may be required.
• Follow-up Initiatives: A ‘Rare Blood Donor’ programme was launched in January 2024 by Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre to support patients with rare blood types, in collaboration with state and national health bodies.