KMC Doctors identify rare blood group ‘P Null’

A team of doctors, led by Shamee Shastry from Kasturba Medical College (KMC) has identified a rare blood group called ‘pp’ or ‘P null’ phenotype.

A blood type is considered rare if fewer than 1 in 1,000 people have it. The Blood Bank at Kasturba Hospital received samples from a patient who required urgent blood transfusion. The doctors were unable to find a compatible blood unit even after cross-matching with more than 80 units.

Extensive immunohematology workup was performed by the blood bank team and further for confirmation, samples were referred to the International Blood group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL), Bristol, UK for serological testing. With the help of a reference laboratory, it was confirmed that the patient’s cells had the rare ‘pp’ phenotype.

ABO and Rh D are the commonly typed blood group systems. However, there are more than 200 minor blood group antigens known besides A, B and Rh, a press release issued by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) said.