CRIB Blood Group Never Seen Before
Source: Indian Express
GS III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Overview
- News in Brief
- About CRIB Blood Group Never Seen Before
Why in the News?
A new blood group, previously unidentified anywhere in the world, has been discovered in a South Indian woman from Kolar district in Karnataka.
News in Brief
- This remarkable case came to light when a 38-year-old woman was admitted for cardiac surgery at a hospital in Kolar.
- Blood group was O Rh+, the most common blood group; however, none of the available O-positive blood units were compatible with her.
- The hospital escalated the case to the Advanced Immunohematology Reference Laboratory at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre for further investigation.
- Using advanced serological techniques, our team found that her blood was ‘panreactive’, incompatible with all test samples.
About CRIB Blood Group Never Seen Before
- The CRIB blood group is a newly identified blood type outside the existing major systems like ABO and Rh.
- In recognition of its origin, the group has been officially named ‘CRIB’, with CR representing Cromer and IB standing for India, Bengaluru.
- Blood Group belongs to the INRA (Indian Rare Antigen) blood group system, which was officially recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in 2022.
- It is an entirely new antigen not fitting into the 43 known blood group systems previously recognised by the ISBT.
- Nature of Blood Group
- It is characterised by the absence of a high-prevalence antigen found in most people.
- This absence of a common antigen makes blood transfusions extremely complex, as only other CRIB-negative blood can be used, which is extremely rare.
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.
| Blood Group | Antigens Present on RBCs |
| A | A antigen |
| B | B antigen |
| AB | A and B antigens |
| O | None |
| Rh+ | D antigen present |
| Rh- | No D antigen |
- Rare blood groups occur when individuals lack “high-frequency” antigens found in most populations, making it difficult to find compatible blood for transfusion.
Significance
- CRIB plays a crucial role in cases of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), where antibodies from the mother attack the red blood cells of the fetus.
- Identifying the CRIB group early in such cases could help prevent life-threatening complications during pregnancy.
Terms Used
- Antigens are molecules, usually proteins or sugars, found on the surface of red blood cells that can trigger an immune response.
- 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
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