NNRH provides free lab work at Health & Fitness Fair

(Elko, Nevada) -- Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital will once again provide free lab work to the community at this year's Health & Fitness Fair. The annual event is slated for Saturday, March 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Elko Convention Center.

"We look forward to providing this free lab work each year," said Steve Burrows, hospital director of community relations. "We realize that folks don't always want to come to the hospital. So on this day, we bring the hospital to them."

While the Health & Fitness Fair does not officially start until 9:00 a.m., the blood draws will begin in the Convention Center's main auditorium at 8:00 a.m. Community members are welcome to come get in line as early as 7:45 a.m.

"We realize many people will be fasting before their draw, so we don't want to make them wait too long," Burrows stated. "And we will provide coffee and refreshments after the blood draw."

Burrows clarified that the hospital is not requiring participants to fast before their blood draw, although many physicians recommend fasting at least 8 hours beforehand to garner the most accurate results. The letter the hospital mails out with the lab results will provide healthy ranges both for fasting and non-fasting samples.

Participants can expect to receive their results in the mail within two weeks of the event, and the results are completely confidential.

"We really hope these screenings will start a conversation between people and their primary care doctor. These blood panels can provide an overall snapshot of an individual's health. Therefore, we are happy to provide them to our community completely free of charge," Burrows concluded.

For more information about the free lab work, please call 775.748.2007.