The American Red Cross is sweetening its March blood drive with two incentives that go beyond goodwill: a $15 Amazon gift card and a free A1C test — a screening that measures average blood sugar over the past three months and can flag prediabetes before symptoms ever appear.

The offer runs from March 1 through March 31 and comes amid a national blood shortage that saw supply levels drop 35% in early 2026, driven by winter storms and a prolonged flu season. The Red Cross says it needs donations urgently and is pairing the drive with the health screening to address a quietly alarming trend it has uncovered in its own data: of more than 920,000 donors tested, 1 in 5 showed elevated A1C levels. Of those, 80% were in the prediabetic range.

Prediabetes is largely reversible through lifestyle changes, but most people have no idea they have it. Unlike a traditional fasting glucose test, A1C testing requires no fasting, making it easy to pair with a blood donation. The Red Cross confirmed that donors taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic for weight management are still eligible to give, as long as they are feeling well.

San Diego residents have multiple options to donate locally. The San Diego Blood Bank — which offered free A1C testing to local donors as early as November 2025 — continues to operate donation sites across the county. To schedule with the Red Cross, visit RedCrossBlood.org. To donate through the San Diego Blood Bank, visit SanDiegoBloodBank.org.

With the region still recovering from a heavy flu season and blood banks running lean, health officials say there has rarely been a better time to roll up your sleeve.