Hundreds with rare conditions to benefit from new blood matching test

A new personalised “blood matching” test has been launched for people with rare conditions who require regular blood transfusions.

The move will allow donor blood to be matched to these patients more closely, to reduce the risk of severe reactions.

It is the first time it has been used for patients with rare inherited anaemias – with around 300 people eligible for testing, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).

The new test uses genetics to generate detailed blood group information.

The programme has been backed by the family of toddler Woody Mayers, aged 22 months, who has a rare inherited anaemia called congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) type 1.

The condition causes the bone marrow to struggle to produce healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.

It is estimated to affect between one to five out of every million babies.

Woody Mayers, aged 22 months, who has a rare inherited anaemia called congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) type 1 (NHSBT)

Patients have low haemoglobin levels, meaning Woody relies on blood transfusions every four weeks to stay alive.

However, the donor blood must be carefully matched to reduce the risk of patient’s developing antibodies against certain blood types, which can cause severe reactions and make transfusions more difficult in the future.

The new genotyping testing programme, a partnership between NHSBT and NHS England, uses genetics to identify more of the rarer blood groups.

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Source: The Independent, 21 August 2025