Red Cross Offers Free A1C Testing to Donors
Blood donors who give successfully in November 2026 can receive a free A1C test during Diabetes Awareness Month.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Diabetes
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The American Red Cross is offering free A1C testing to donors who successfully give blood, platelets, or plasma between November 1 and 30, 2026. Donors receive one result per calendar year, and no fasting is required.
Why it matters
The testing is intended to help donors learn more about their own health during Diabetes Awareness Month. The Red Cross reports that 1 in 5 tested donors have had elevated A1C levels, underscoring how many people may be unaware of their blood sugar status.
The Red Cross reports that 1 in 5 tested blood donors had elevated A1C levels, and more than 1.3 million donors have received results since the program began in 2025. Because the figures are drawn from donors who volunteered for testing, they may not represent the broader U.S. population.
The players
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that supplies about 40% of the nation's blood.
The details
Donors who successfully give blood, platelets, or plasma during November receive the test, and only successful donations are sent to the Red Cross laboratory. Results are available in one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or RedCrossBlood.org, and donors who prefer not to have their donation tested are encouraged to schedule an appointment outside the November window.
Timeline
2025: Red Cross began free A1C testing of blood donors.
November 1-30, 2026: Free A1C testing offered with successful donations.
One to two weeks after donation: A1C results become available through the app or website.
Health Landscape
The Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation's blood, so its donor base gives it an unusually large reach for population-level screening. Using that donor pipeline to flag elevated A1C levels extends a blood-collection system into a diabetes-awareness role.
Donors who give blood in November can learn their A1C level without fasting or a separate clinic visit. Those with elevated results can follow up with a health care provider, while donors who prefer not to be tested can schedule a donation outside the November window.
The takeaway
Donating blood in November provides both a donation and a simple way to check your A1C. Anyone with elevated results should discuss them with a health care provider.
What happens next
Donors who give successfully between November 1 and 30, 2026 will receive A1C testing, with results available one to two weeks later.
Further reading
Learn more about diabetes testing and prevention in the Diabetes section.
More information
Find details on the program at the Red Cross diabetes and A1C testing information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hays Post.
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