United States: It has emerged that thousands of lives could be saved globally after NHS scientists identify a new blood group system, the mystery they have been trying to solve for the last 50 years.
More about the news
The research team from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), working with scientists in South Gloucestershire and in association with the University of Bristol, identified a new blood group called the MAL.
About the new blood group
They are the previously known AnWj blood group antigen, which was discovered in 1972 but was not known until this world-first test was developed, BBC News reported.
Louise Tilley, who is the Senior research scientist at NHSBT, said this discovery entails that better care could be provided to rare patients.
Ms Tilley, who worked on the project for almost twenty years, said it is “quite difficult to a put a number” on how many individuals would benefit from the test.
However, the NHSBT is seen as the hope of the desperate for about 400 patients across the world annually.
New Blood group – the last resort
Every person has other proteins in his or her body other than the red blood cells called antigens, but few persons may possess them.
The scientists at NHSBT’s International Blood Group Reference Laboratory in Filton have, for the first time, thanks to genetic testing, come up with a test that would identify patients missing this antigen.
The test could be a lifesaver to those who would perform a reaction against the blood transfusion and would help to hunt for the potential blood developers for this rare blood type.
What more are the experts
The head of the lab, Nicole Thornton, told him: “Resolving the genetic basis for AnWj has been one of our most challenging projects,” BBC reported.
“There is so much work that goes into proving that a gene does actually encode a blood group antigen, but it is what we are passionate about, making these discoveries for the benefit of rare patients around the world,” she continued.
Moreover, “Genotyping tests can be designed to identify genetically AnWj-negative patients and donors” and “Such tests can be added to the existing genotyping platforms.”