Why in news ?
- A new blood group of the world was discovered in a 38-year-old woman of Kolar district of Karnataka, which was named 'CRIB'. This is being considered a historic achievement in hematology.

Key points:
- In the name 'CRIB', 'CR' means Cromer (an existing blood group system) and 'IB' means India-Bangalore, where this discovery began. This new antigen is part of the Cromer blood group system.
- Despite the woman's blood being O Rh+, it was not matching with any normal O+ blood. Advanced serological techniques showed that it was "panreactive" i.e. incompatible with all normal blood.
- Samples of the woman and family members were sent to IBGRL (International Blood Group Reference Laboratory), Bristol, UK. After 10 months of molecular analysis, this new antigen was confirmed.
- The discovery was officially announced at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) held in Milan, Italy in June 2025.
- Following this discovery, Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre has launched a “Rare Donor Registry” in collaboration with Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council and ICMR’s Indian Institute of Immunohematology (IIH), Mumbai.
- This initiative is to provide timely and correct blood to patients with rare blood groups.
Blood Group System:
ABO System - Discovered by Karl Landsteiner in the year 1900.

|  Blood Group | Antigen | Antibody | Can Donate To | Can Receive From | 
| A | A | Anti-B | A, AB | A, O | 
| B | B | Anti-A | B, AB | B, O | 
| AB | A, B | None | AB | A, B, AB, O | 
| O | None | Anti-A, Anti-B | A, B, AB, O | O | 
 
- O group = Universal Donor
- AB group = Universal Recipient
Rh System (Rh Factor):
- It was discovered in 1940 by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander Wiener.
- It is named after the "Rhesus monkey" in which this factor was first discovered.
- Based on the presence or absence of Rh antigen:
- Rh+ (positive): Rh antigen present
- Rh– (negative): Rh antigen absent
 

| Blood Group | Antigen | Antibody | Rh Factor | Can Donate To | Can Receive From | 
| A⁺ | A, Rh | Anti-B | Rh⁺ | A⁺, AB⁺ | A⁺, A⁻, O⁺, O⁻ | 
| A⁻ | A | Anti-B, Anti-Rh | Rh⁻ | A⁺, A⁻, AB⁺, AB⁻ | A⁻, O⁻ | 
| B⁺ | B, Rh | Anti-A | Rh⁺ | B⁺, AB⁺ | B⁺, B⁻, O⁺, O⁻ | 
| B⁻ | B | Anti-A, Anti-Rh | Rh⁻ | B⁺, B⁻, AB⁺, AB⁻ | B⁻, O⁻ | 
| AB⁺ | A, B, Rh | None | Rh⁺ | AB⁺ (only) | All (Universal recipient) | 
| AB⁻ | A, B | Anti-Rh | Rh⁻ | AB⁺, AB⁻ | A⁻, B⁻, AB⁻, O⁻ | 
| O⁺ | Rh | Anti-A, Anti-B | Rh⁺ | A⁺, B⁺, AB⁺, O⁺ | O⁺, O⁻ | 
| O⁻ | None | Anti-A, Anti-B, Anti-Rh | Rh⁻ | All (Universal donor) | O⁻ (only) | 
 
Important information:
- pH of blood = 7.35–7.45  
- Total blood volume = about 7–8% of body weight (~5–6 liters)
- Site of blood formation = Bone marrow
- Most common cell in blood = RBCs
- Largest blood cell = Monocyte (type of WBC)
- Vitamin required for blood clotting = Vitamin K
| Q. What is the name given to the new blood group discovered recently in a woman from Karnataka? (a) IBGRL (b) CRIB (c) COMER (d) INBL |