Discovery of MAL Blood Group System (2024)
The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the University of Bristol have discovered the MAL blood group system, the 47th official blood group system, solving a long-standing mystery about the AnWj antigen. This breakthrough enables better blood transfusion safety, especially for rare cases, and allows precise genotyping tests for identifying AnWj-negative individuals. The MAL blood group includes M and N antigens linked to the glycophorin A protein, impacting disease susceptibility and infection risk. This discovery will help around 400 patients globally each year, highlighting the importance of accurate blood matching for safe transfusions.
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