The American Red Cross is urging donors to help the national blood supply recover from a severe shortage by making an appointment to give blood during March.

As an added thank-you during Red Cross Month, the Red Cross says successful blood, platelet, or plasma donations made March 1 through March 31, 2026 will come with two incentives: free A1C testing (one result per calendar year) and a $15 Amazon gift card delivered by email.

The A1C test — commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes — does not require fasting and reflects an average blood sugar level over roughly the past three months. New Red Cross data from its first year of A1C screening shows 1 in 5 blood donors had elevated A1C levels, and among those, about 80% were in the prediabetes range, which the Red Cross notes can often be improved through lifestyle changes.

“Too many people still face gaps in access to preventive care, and the Red Cross is proud to help close them by giving our 2.5 million blood and platelet donors easy access to essential health information, like their blood sugar levels,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, Red Cross medical director.

After a successful March donation, donors can access their A1C result within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal. Anyone with an elevated result is encouraged to consult their health care provider.

To schedule a donation appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Details on the March incentives are available at RedCrossBlood.org/March.