Which of the following statements about blood group systems other than ABO and Rh is INCORRECT?

• A. The Kell blood group system can cause hemolytic disease of the newborn.
• B. The Lewis blood group antigens are not produced by red blood cells but are adsorbed onto their surface.
• C. The Duffy blood group system is associated with resistance to Plasmodium vivax infection.
• D. The MNS blood group system is not clinically significant in blood transfusions.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of blood group systems beyond ABO and Rh, focusing on their clinical significance and biological characteristics.
2. Step 2: Review the Kell blood group system, noting that it can indeed cause hemolytic disease of the newborn due to maternal antibodies attacking fetal red blood cells.
3. Step 3: Examine the Lewis blood group system, recognizing that Lewis antigens are not synthesized by red blood cells themselves but are instead adsorbed onto the red cell surface from plasma.
4. Step 4: Consider the Duffy blood group system, which is known to be a receptor for Plasmodium vivax, and certain Duffy antigen variants confer resistance to this malaria parasite.
5. Step 5: Analyze the MNS blood group system, which is clinically significant in blood transfusions because antibodies against MNS antigens can cause transfusion reactions; therefore, the statement claiming it is not clinically significant is incorrect.