Rock River Valley Blood Center to Offer Free A1c Diabetes Screening
Grant funding from five regional foundations makes screening free for donors

ROCKFORD, Ill. (August 3, 2026) – Beginning today, the Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC) offers every blood donor a free A1c screening, a simple test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months and serves as a key indicator of diabetes risk. The new screening gives blood donors across the region a no-cost way to learn about a health risk many don’t know they have, while also helping save lives through their donation.

If done independently, an A1c test can cost up to $100 out of pocket for individuals.

The new A1c screening builds on RRVBC’s existing safety testing, which already includes 14 tests on every unit of blood donated, and identifies diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis.

The need for accessible diabetes screening in the region is urgent:

  • In Winnebago County, 1 in 10 people have diabetes.
  • In Boone County, 1 in 10 residents are diabetic, and 1 in 5 of them have no idea.
  • More than a third of the local population is obese, which is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. And an estimated 80% of people with prediabetes are unaware they have the condition.
  • More than 1 in 6 Winnebago County residents who live in poverty now have access to the free test, making early detection more feasible.

“Many donors may not know their risk for diabetes, and this program gives them a free, life-saving piece of awareness with every donation,” said Lisa Entrikin, CEO of RRVBC. “This is about helping our community take charge of their own health while also helping others through blood donation.”

The A1c testing program grant was awarded by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) through its Community Grants Program and funded more than half of the program’s total funding. Additional grant support came from the Boone County Community Foundation, Rochelle Area Community Foundation, Reno Family Foundation, and Durand American Legion.

Donors can access their A1c results securely through their Donor Portal account approximately two weeks after donating, along with information explaining what their results mean and recommended next steps.

For more information about the RRVBC and the new A1c testing program, visit rrvbc.org or call 815-965-8751.

About Rock River Valley Blood Center
The Rock River Valley Blood Center is your community blood center and is the only provider of blood products and services to Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, Mercyhealth Freeport, Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Janesville, Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center-Harvard, Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center-Walworth, Mercyhealth Hospital and Physician Clinic-Crystal Lake, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, UW SwedishAmerican Carbone Cancer Center, SwedishAmerican Medical Center-Belvidere, Beloit Health System, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services and Rochelle Community Hospital. The center has four convenient donor centers in Rockford, Freeport, and Belvidere, and the ability to support up to three mobile drives a day. The Rock River Valley Blood Center ensures that the right blood type is available at the right time for local patients whose lives may depend on it. Patients and their families rely on individuals to provide life-giving red blood cells, plasma, and platelets through blood donation.

About the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is to inspire endowment and promote philanthropy for the current and future needs of the people of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953 CFNIL has granted more than $90 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s history, grantmaking, and commitment to endowment at https://cfnil.org.

 

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