New blood type discovered after 50 years of mystery
When a pregnant woman’s blood was drawn in 1972, doctors discovered that a surface molecule found on all other red cells known at the time was mysteriously missing. After 50 years, this strange molecular absence finally led researchers in the UK and Israel to describe a new blood group system in humans. In 2024, the team published their paper on the new discovery. “It is a huge achievement and the culmination of a long team effort to finally establish this new blood group system and to be able to provide the best care for rare but important patients.” This was said by haematologist Louise Tilley, of the UK’s National Health…


