CHICO, Calif. -- A blood drive was held at Chico State on Tuesday. It marks the beginning of a long series of drives across the Northstate, featuring a new incentive for donors this month.
All donors participating this month will receive a complimentary Hemoglobin A1c test, which evaluates the body's glucose levels over the past two to three months to determine an individual's risk for diabetes.
In September, nearly 30 blood drives are scheduled in response to a decrease in donations caused by the transition from summer to fall. Officials at Vitalant express enthusiasm for providing this testing, as it offers valuable insights into donor health while simultaneously contributing to the critical need for blood supply.
"An estimated 38 million people in the US have diabetes, that's one in ten Americans, and the scary thing is, 20% actually don't even know that they have diabetes. We've done our best to get as many blood drives on the books as possible to help the blood supply," said Michael Lawrence, Account Manager for Vitalant.
Vitalant encourages donors to consult with their doctor about the test results to discuss any necessary next steps. The blood drive at Chico State will continue through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sylvester's 100 on campus.
Drives will also be held throughout the month at the following locations: