It took researchers 15 years to discover the existence of this new blood type.
A French woman of Guadeloupean origin has been confirmed as the only person in the world to possess an entirely new blood type, named “Gwada negative.”
This discovery was announced by the French National Blood Service (EFS), marking the 48th blood group system ever recorded globally.
According to the EFS, the unusual antibody was first detected in 2011 when the woman, then 54 and living in Paris, underwent pre-surgical testing. However, due to technical limitations and resource constraints, research could not be continued immediately at that time.
It wasn’t until 2019, thanks to high-speed gene sequencing technology, that scientists were able to identify the genetic mutation that gave rise to this rare blood type.
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Mr. Thierry Peyrard, a medical biology expert at the EFS, stated, “The patient is the only known person in the world with this blood type, and also the only one compatible with a blood transfusion from herself.” He added that the woman inherited the gene variant from both her parents.
The French research team’s findings were officially recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) at a conference held in Milan earlier in June. Previously, the ISBT had only recognized 47 blood group systems, including common ones like ABO and Rh.
The name “Gwada negative” is derived from the local nickname for the island of Guadeloupe, the woman’s place of origin, and is considered by experts to be “easy to pronounce in many languages.”
Scientists hope to find more individuals with similar blood types to improve healthcare for patients with rare blood types. The EFS emphasized: “The discovery of new blood types means being able to provide safer and more effective transfusion services for those who need special transfusions.”