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The finding, confirmed after months of research, could reshape how doctors approach blood transfusions, rare blood disorders, and patient safety. WHAT IS CRIB? The newly identified blood group belongs to the Cromer system. Its name, "CRIB," stands for Cromer, India, Bengaluru, where it was first discovered. According to Dr. Prathiba L, Consultant in Transfusion Medicine at SIMS Hospital, Chennai, "Human blood is far more complex than the simple A, B, AB, and O chart we all know. CRIB is a milestone discovery that highlights just how much more we still need to learn about blood groups." HOW WAS IT FOUND? The rare blood type was identified in a 38-year-old woman from South India. When doctors at Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre tested her blood before surgery, they couldn't find a match. Her blood showed unusual reactions with all samples. The case was then referred to the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) in the UK, which confirmed after 10 months of testing that it was a previously unknown blood group. Dr. Kural from MGM Healthcare, Chennai, explains, "This was a stunning discovery. CRIB was officially reported at the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Congress in Milan, Italy, in June 2025. It is a proud moment for India." WHY DOES IT MATTER? Blood transfusions are often life-saving during surgeries, pregnancies, or accidents. But patients with rare blood groups face a higher risk if a compatible donor cannot be found quickly. In such cases, haemolytic transfusion reactions can occur, where the patient's immune system attacks the donor blood. "Diseases like thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and aplastic anaemia require multiple transfusions. These patients are already at greater risk of developing complications when exposed to incompatible blood," Dr. Prathiba tells IndiaToday.in. NEED BETTER REGISTRIES The discovery of CRIB has highlighted gaps in India's current blood donation and transfusion systems. "This case shows why India urgently needs a nationwide rare blood donor registry and stronger global collaboration in blood matching," says Dr. Kural. BEYOND TRANSFUSIONS: THE BIGGER PICTURE Doctors say this breakthrough is not just about transfusions. It has wider implications for:

• Immunogenetics - understanding how our immune system reacts to different blood types
• Organ transplantation - improving donor-recipient matching
• Critical care & prenatal diagnostics - making high-risk treatments safer
• Emergency preparedness - being able to act quickly when rare cases appear

"The discovery of CRIB pushes us to rethink blood typing in tertiary care centres. With over 43 recognised blood group systems, subtypes like these can trigger life-threatening reactions if ignored," says Dr. Prathiba. Dr. Kural also adds that if India continues investing in immunology and genetics, it has the potential to become a global leader in transfusion medicine, benefiting patients not just here but worldwide.