Bengaluru woman diagnosed with rarest blood type
Discovery of CRIB Blood Group Places India on Global Medical Map: In a major medical advancement, doctors at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru have uncovered an extremely rare blood group, now designated as CRIB. The name stands for Cromer-India-Bengaluru, marking the historic nature of the discovery.
The case came to light when a woman from Kolar district displayed panreactivity, reacting adversely with every tested blood sample. Even extensive testing within her family could not yield a compatible donor. Doctors had to proceed with her surgery without administering any transfusion.
What makes the CRIB group unique
CRIB is a new variant within the Cromer blood group system, which is one of the 47 officially recognized systems used to classify blood antigens. It is linked to the Indian Rare Antigen (INRA) family and has been officially acknowledged by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).
Unlike the ABO and Rh blood groups, the CRIB group is characterized by the absence of a specific high-frequency antigen present in nearly all individuals. This absence makes standard transfusions dangerous and nearly impossible for such patients.
Static GK fact: The Cromer system was first studied in the 1960s and includes several antigens located on a protein called Decay Accelerating Factor (DAF).
A rare case with no transfusion history
According to Dr. C. Shivaram, a leading expert in transfusion science at Manipal Hospital, this woman’s case revealed a completely new Cromer variant, triggering immune responses to all known donor types. What sets the case apart is that the woman had never received a transfusion, indicating the blood type developed naturally.
CRIB was recognized internationally and added to the Indian Rare Antigen system in 2022. Experts say such findings highlight the need for increased awareness of rare blood types in clinical practice.
Static GK tip: India maintains a growing rare blood donor registry, supported by national and international networks to assist patients with uncommon antigen profiles.
Global importance of the CRIB discovery
This new classification enhances India’s contribution to the field of transfusion medicine and may change how rare blood groups are identified, stored, and matched. Its implications span across:
- Advanced prenatal care to prevent hemolytic diseases in newborns
- Safer surgical practices for patients with rare profiles
- Expansion of global donor databases to include rare antigens
The CRIB blood group adds a new dimension to India’s medical achievements and places the country at the forefront of global rare blood research.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Discovery of CRIB Blood Group Places India on Global Medical Map:
| Topic | Detail |
| Name of the blood group | CRIB (Cromer-India-Bengaluru) |
| Discovered at | Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru |
| Patient location | Kolar, Karnataka |
| Blood group system | Cromer system |
| Registry inclusion | Indian Rare Antigen (INRA), 2022 |
| Recognizing body | International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) |
| Cause for discovery | Panreactivity in patient sample |
| Common blood systems | ABO, Rh, Cromer |
| Number of global systems | 47 blood group systems |
| Application | Prenatal care, rare transfusions, donor registry updates |
