Researchers analyze the blood of 544,000 people and find a hybrid type that only three have: “Future studies are needed”

A massive study of 544,000 blood samples has uncovered an astonishingly rare blood type: only three people carried what researchers are calling a B(A) phenotype. This hybrid type occurs in just 0.00055% of the population, making it a true genetic outlier.

Led by hematologist Janejira Kittivorapart at Thailand’s Mahidol University, the study found that these individuals, while clinically classified as blood type B, also carry traces of the A antigen. This subtle quirk can create discrepancies in routine blood tests, complicating both transfusions and diagnoses.

What makes B(A) blood type unusual

The B(A) phenotype arises from mutations in the ABO gene, producing a rare expression of the AB transferase enzyme. Researchers identified four distinct mutations responsible for this hybrid type, raising intriguing questions about human genetic diversity and evolution.

Though the condition affects only a tiny fraction of people, it has real-world implications. Accurate blood typing is critical for transfusion safety, and discoveries like this underscore the importance of advanced testing protocols and technology to prevent errors.

“Future studies are needed to understand the structural and functional consequences of the mutated AB transferase,” the researchers noted. The findings suggest that other hidden blood type variations may still await discovery.

How blood types are classified

Human blood is divided into eight main groups based on the presence or absence of sugars and proteins on red blood cells. Types A, B, and AB are defined by antigens, sugar molecules that can trigger an immune response. Type O lacks both A and B antigens.

Rh factors, proteins that determine whether blood is positive or negative, also play a key role in transfusion compatibility. Each blood type acts as a molecular marker, guiding the immune system to recognize which blood is compatible and which could trigger a reaction.

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