Blood supplies are running low, and Chattanooga donors are being offered some pretty compelling reasons to help out.

Blood Assurance

Starting Friday, May 1, donors who give blood at Blood Assurance’s downtown location (705 E. 4th St.) can get free comprehensive lab testing through Goodlabs.

The testing includes common panels like metabolic, lipid, hormone, and kidney function — services that typically cost up to $500 out of pocket. Results come with easy-to-understand explanations, giving donors a snapshot of their overall health.

If you're interested, book an appointment online. After you donate, you'll get a text when your results are ready, and you'll be able to see them on the Goodlabs website.

The goal: boost the local blood supply while giving donors some preventative health insights. Not a bad trade-off. Blood Assurance says the most-needed blood types right now are O-positive, O-negative, and B-negative.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is also offering incentives for blood and platelet donors.

Through Thursday, April 30, anyone who donates at a Red Cross blood drive will receive a $15 e-gift card. From Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 17, donors will receive a $20 Amazon gift card.

If you’re able to make the trip, there’s a blood drive this Friday, April 24 at the Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department (195 Turkey Trot Lane) from 2 to 6 p.m. You can register online using the 37347 zip code to find the event quickly.

Bottom line: If you’ve been meaning to donate, now’s a good time to do it. You’ll help meet a critical need and get a little something back in return.