Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — France’s national blood service, Établissement Français du Sang (EFS), has announced the discovery of a new blood type, officially recognized as the 48th in the world. The rare blood group, named “Gwada negative,” was identified in a woman from the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe.
“EFS has just discovered the 48th blood group system globally. The finding was officially acknowledged in early June at a scientific meeting in Milan by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT),” the agency said, as reported by ScienceAlert on Monday (June 23, 2025).
The breakthrough traces back to 2011, when a 54-year-old woman living in Paris underwent routine pre-operative blood testing. Scientists detected an unusually rare antibody in her sample, but technological limitations at the time stalled further investigation.
It wasn’t until 2019, with the advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing technology, researchers were finally able to solve the mystery. Their research led to the discovery of a previously unrecorded genetic mutation.
The finding was officially recognized in early June 2025 by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) during a scientific conference in Milan, Italy.
Discovering a new blood type is exceedingly rare in modern medicine. “Gwada negative” now joins an elite list of 48 globally recognized blood group systems, expanding on well-known categories like ABO and Rh first identified in the early 20th century.
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According to Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at EFS involved in the discovery, the woman inherited the mutation from both parents, each unknowingly carrying this extremely rare gene. Remarkably, she remains the only known person in the world with this blood type.
“She is the only person who is compatible with herself,” Peyrard said.
The name “Gwada negative” comes from “Gwada,” a local slang term for Guadeloupe, chosen for its cultural relevance and phonetic simplicity across languages.
The discovery of new blood type has important implications for transfusion medicine. Individuals with ultra-rare blood types are at high risk during surgeries or medical emergencies, as compatible donors can be nearly impossible to find.
“Identifying a new blood group means we can offer safer, more tailored care for patients with rare blood profiles,” EFS noted.
Researchers now hope to locate other individuals with the same mutation. With the growing accessibility of advanced genetic sequencing, the chances of identifying similar cases are increasing.
(Raidi/Agung)
