POCATELLO — Hundreds of participants turned out Thursday for the Idaho State University Health Fair 2013, which also runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the ISU Pond Student Union Ballroom and Wood River Room.

The event features more than 90 learning centers on a variety of health issues, and participants can get blood draws and interpretation of their blood draw results.

“Our turnout has been great and we have largest number and variety of learning centers that the fair has ever featured,” said Steve Wright, event coordinator for the ISU Health Fair. “There is still a day left for community members to invest in their health, by coming and checking out the fair’s learning centers and activities.”

Among the services offered at the fair are body-fat screenings and tests of grip strength, nervous system evaluations and home health and hospice information.  

The ABCs of Diabetes Community Health checks are available. Other learning centers will provide blood pressure readings and hearing screening tests, to name a few. For more information on the fair, visit www.isu.edu/healthfair.

The annual free Health Fair is sponsored by the ISU Division of Health Sciences and Portneuf Medical Center.

For those who have fasted 12 to 14 hours, Portneuf Medical Center will provide laboratory services and blood draws at the fair today through March 30 at the PMC lab at 777 Hospital Way with access to the lab through the main entrance.

Results for blood drawn at or after the Health Fair will be mailed.

PMC offers a general health blood profile for $43. 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 $22 confidential HIV screening and a $18 prostate antigen test. Other tests that will be offered this year include thyroid function screen for $16, iron level for $5, uric acid level for $5, glycohemoglobin for $27; and vitamin D level, a test for osteoporosis, $18.   

On the day of the Health Fair during fair hours attendees can park in the Pond Student Union parking lot.

For more information, contact Stephen Wright, wrigstep@isu.edu or 208-282-2325, or visit http://www.isu.edu/healthfair.