Overview
- Hospital Nacional Posadas, which has identified over half of Argentina’s rare blood phenotypes, confirmed Monday six Gerbich-negative cases validated by the Japanese Red Cross.
- The group includes three pregnant patients, two sisters identified through a family study, and one volunteer donor.
- Because their red cells lack Gerbich antigens, carriers need precisely matched blood and, in pregnancy, careful monitoring to avert hemolytic disease in newborns.
- Specialized centers and rare-donor registries help find compatible units fast in emergencies and reduce risky delays.
- Rare blood types occur in fewer than one in a thousand people, and some Gerbich variants are found only once in millions.