More than a decade after a woman from Guadeloupe underwent routine blood tests before surgery, scientists in France have identified an entirely new blood group in her — the 48th ever discovered globally.
The French Blood Establishment (EFS), the country’s national blood transfusion agency, made the announcement on LinkedIn, calling it a “world first.” The new group, officially recognised this month by the International Society of Blood Transfusion, has been named “Gwada Negative” in reference to the woman’s Caribbean heritage.
EFS medical biologist Thierry Peyrard told AFP that a rare antibody had been detected in the patient’s blood as far back as 2011, but limited resources at the time delayed further analysis. It wasn’t until 2019 that researchers, using high-throughput DNA sequencing, identified the rare genetic mutation behind it.
The woman is currently believed to be the only person in the world with this blood type, meaning she can only receive blood from herself. Scientists believe the condition is inherited, with both her parents carrying mutated genes.
The first blood group was identified over a century ago, but recent advances in genetic sequencing have led to a surge in new discoveries. The EFS said that expanding blood group knowledge “means offering patients with rare blood types a better level of care.”
Researchers are now working to locate others who may carry the same ultra-rare blood group.
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