Syllabus:

GS3: Science and Technology - Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life

Context: Recently, a French woman from Guadeloupe, has been identified as the only known carrier of a new blood type, "Gwada negative," discovered 15 years after her blood sample was taken for routine surgery preparation

More on the News

• The new group, has been officially recognised this month by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), and has been named “Gwada Negative” after the woman’s Caribbean heritage.
• As of June 2025, only one person in the world is known to possess this blood type, making it the rarest ever recorded.
• Scientists believe the condition is inherited, with both her parents carrying mutated genes.
• The ABO-Rh system of blood group typing is an immensely successful method that helps medical professionals safely perform blood transfusions throughout the world.
• The French Blood Establishment (EFS) held that expanding blood group knowledge means offering patients with rare blood types a better level of care.

Gwada Negative

• The newly classified EMM-negative blood group system, officially registered by ISBT as ISBT042.
• It is characterized by the absence of the EMM antigen, a high-incidence antigen presents in nearly all humans.
• The lack of such a common antigen is extremely rare, posing challenges for blood compatibility.
• This discovery expands the known blood group systems from 47 to 48, marking a milestone in transfusion science.

Discovery of Gwada Negative 

• 2011: A rare antibody was first detected in the patient’s blood, but limited resources delayed further investigation.
• 2019: Researchers at EFS used next-generation DNA sequencing to identify the unique mutation causing the absence of the EMM antigen.
• June 2025: After years of validation, the ISBT officially recognized the new blood group, confirming its unique serologic profile.

Significance of the Gwada Negative

• It enhances understanding of blood diversity and genetic variations.
• It helps blood banks identify, catalogue, and preserve rare blood units for emergencies.
• It encourages advanced genetic screening for precise blood matching in complex medical cases.

International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)

• Founded: 1935
• Role: A scientific society dedicated to advancing transfusion medicine through research and best practices.
• Activities:
  It operates 16 working parties focusing on different aspects of transfusion science.
  It organizes global and regional congresses, webinars, and workshops.
• Headquarters: Amsterdam