Overview
- A woman from Guadeloupe is the only known carrier of a newly identified human blood system.
- The French Blood Establishment confirmed the finding and named the system “Gwada negativo” for the patient’s Guadeloupe origin.
- International transfusion experts recognized the system at a scientific meeting in Milan, placing it on the official roster of blood group systems.
- Specialists say she may be incompatible with any donor, making her effectively compatible only with herself for transfusion.
- The case began about 15 years ago with an unknown antibody found in Paris, and DNA sequencing in 2019 traced it to a mutation inherited from both parents, prompting a global search for other carriers.