In a breakthrough hailed by transfusion experts, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) has officially identified a new blood group, nicknamed “Gwada negative”, in a woman from Guadeloupe. This marks the discovery of the 48th blood group system, a rare immunohematology milestone
🧬 What Is “Gwada Negative”?
- Discovered in a woman in her 60s from Guadeloupe, it’s the first and only known case to date
- The antigen is formally designated PIGZ, with “Gwada” referring to the woman’s Guadeloupean origin
- Confirmed through high-throughput DNA sequencing and recognized by the International Society for Blood Transfusion in early June during its Milan session
Why This Discovery Matters
- Medical Safety
The woman’s blood is only compatible with her own—raising awareness about rare antigens crucial for transfusions and pregnancy compatibility gizmodo.com. - Global Health Impact
Consent for wider testing among donors in Guadeloupe could help locate more cases, improving donor registry and patient matches - Advancing Science
Adds a new antigen to the growing catalog of blood types—now totaling 48 systems, each vital for safe blood transfusions
Similar Past Breakthroughs
- MAL (AnWj-negative): Identified by NHSBT and University of Bristol teams, solving a 50‑year mystery and introducing the 47th blood group system
- Rh-null (“golden blood”): One of the rarest blood types globally, lacking all Rh antigens, with fewer than 50 known cases
What Comes Next
- Targeted Screening: Researchers plan to screen Guadeloupean and Caribbean donors to find more Gwada-negative individuals.
- Clinical Protocol Updates: Hospitals may need new typing systems to detect PIGZ and improve transfusion safety.
- Data Integration: Transfusion databases will now include this antigen, enhancing compatibility matching internationally.
