Idaho State University Health Fair 2011 set April 21-22; blood draws available now

The Idaho State University Health Fair 2011 – celebrating its 31^st year – is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 21-22, and will feature more than 60 learning centers on a variety of health issues.

Participants can get their blood drawn prior to the fair; those that get their blood drawn on or before April 15 can pick up their results at the fair, where health care professionals will help interpret results; if you have your blood drawn after April 15 or at the Health Fair, your results will be mailed to you.

Portneuf Medical Center (PMC) will provide laboratory services and blood draws at the fair on April 21-22. Blood draws will also be available on a walk-in basis from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 – April 20 at both the East and West PMC laboratory locations. A 14-hour fast is required prior to a blood draw for the lipid profile and general chemistry profile.

The PMC East lab is located at 777 Hospital Way with access to the lab through the main entrance. West Campus PMC lab draws will be at the Main Lab, 651 Memorial Drive. Access is on the ground floor (level 6 of the parking garage elevator). Parking is available in the parking garage. Participants who have their

PMC offers a general health blood profile for $35. The screening will include a chemistry profile, assessments for cardiac risk based on cholesterol levels, a complete blood count and a thyroid screen. Optional tests include a $15 confidential HIV screening and a $15 prostate antigen test. Other tests that will be offered include thyroid function screen for $15, iron level for $5, uric acid level for $5, glycohemoglobin for $25 and insulin level for $25.  

Examples of services offered at the fair include everything from body-fat screenings and tests of grip strength, to nervous system evaluations and home health and hospice information. Other learning centers will provide blood pressure readings, a medication brown bag for participants to bring in their medicines and ask pharmacy students about them, and hearing screening tests, to name a few.

The annual free Health Fair is sponsored by the ISU Division of Health Sciences and Portneuf Medical Center. It will be held in the ISU Pond Student Union Ballroom. Parking will be available in the Pond Student Union parking lot, and participants can park in the Holt Arena parking lot and ride free shuttle buses to the Pond Student Union.

For more information on learning centers, contact Wendy Moschella at 282-2132.  

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