Blood group testing of ancient material with particular reference to the mummy Nakht

An international multidisciplinary team performed an autopsy on the mummy of Nakht, a 16-year-old Egyptian boy who died 3200 years ago. Excavation records and translation of hieroglyphics provide a positive identification. The histological techniques, both at the light and electron microscope levels, demonstrate remarkable preservation of normal and diseased structures. Splenic material and dark brown substance obtained from the inside of the sigmoid sinus of Nakht, during the examination of the contents of the cranial cavity, were tested using the SMM and IAT procedures. Repeated testing of the splenic material using SMM produced no agglutination and was complicated by hemolysis of the absorbed group O cells due to contaminating bacteria and fungi. However, when used in the IAT, splenic material gave a positive result for blood group B. The sigmoid sinus material produced a positive reaction for blood group B when used with the SMM and with the IAT. The blood cells recovered from Nakht are believed to be the oldest known preserved human red and white blood cells. The authors also believe that the testing techniques employed in this study are reliable and hence feel confident that the Egyptian boy Nakht, who is 3200 years old, was blood group B.