BETHLEHEM, Pa., May 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSUR ) today announced its support of numerous rapid hepatitis C (HCV) testing initiatives for National Hepatitis Testing Day, taking place on May 19, 2014. These testing initiatives, happening across the country, will help encourage thousands of people in the U.S. to get tested for hepatitis C with the OraQuick® HCV rapid test.
National Hepatitis Testing Day is an educational initiative of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Viral Hepatitis and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Today marks the third National Hepatitis Testing Day, which reminds people at risk, including those individuals born between 1945 and 1965, to be tested, and encourages health care providers to educate patients about chronic viral hepatitis and testing.
Key highlights of OraSure's National Hepatitis Testing Day initiatives include:
Walgreens Hepatitis C Testing with OraQuick® HCV
Walgreens will use the OraQuick® HCV rapid test in a new hepatitis C testing program now available at select Walgreens in 10 states. Tests are available daily during pharmacy hours with no appointment necessary, and administered by Walgreens pharmacists. To find the nearest Walgreens offering hepatitis C testing services, consumers can call 1-866-WAG-YESS (1-866-924-9377).
NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell
OraSure will preside over the closing of the NASDAQ Stock Market today, May 19. Guest speakers for the market close will include Walgreens representatives, New York City public health officials, NYC Council members, representatives from community-based organizations and others. A live webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx .
National Hepatitis Testing Day Events
There are special hepatitis C testing events, using the OraQuick® HCV rapid test, taking place across the country in 20 states. These include events in New York City, where community-based healthcare organizations BOOM!Health and Community Healthcare Network are offering testing in mobile vans stationed in Times Square, and also in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill, where a coalition of hepatitis advocacy organizations are sponsoring a hepatitis testing event, hosted by more than a dozen members of Congress.
"We are pleased to be working with so many organizations dedicated to addressing the hepatitis C epidemic by engaging in initiatives to raise awareness and educate those at risk," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "Of the 5 million Americans estimated to be infected with HCV today, most are unaware of their infection. Our OraQuick® HCV test enables healthcare providers to deliver rapid results, allowing early diagnosis and linkage to care, treatment and prevention services."
According to the CDC, HCV is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States, with approximately 5 million people infected. It is estimated that one in 30 Baby Boomers (adults born between 1945 and 1965) have chronic hepatitis C and up to 75 percent of the people infected with HCV are unaware of their infection. The CDC, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) have all issued guidance that recommends HCV testing for at-risk individuals including all Baby Boomers.
OraQuick® HCV is the first and only FDA-approved and CLIA-waived point of care test for detection of HCV infection in at-risk individuals. The simple platform enables healthcare providers to deliver a diagnosis based on lab-accurate test results in 20 minutes, using venipuncture or fingerstick blood.
About OraSure Technologies
OraSure Technologies is a leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of point of care diagnostic and collection devices and other technologies designed to detect or diagnose critical medical conditions. Its innovative products include rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to HIV and HCV at the point of care and testing solutions tests for detecting various drugs of abuse. The Company sells the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test, the first and only rapid HIV test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sale to the consumer over-the-counter market in the U.S. In addition, the Company is a leading provider of oral fluid sample collection, stabilization and preparation products for molecular diagnostic applications. OraSure's portfolio of products is sold globally to various clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and other public health organizations, research and academic institutions, distributors, government agencies, physicians' offices, and commercial and industrial entities. The Company's products enable healthcare providers to deliver critical information to patients, empowering them to make decisions to improve and protect their health.
For more information on OraSure Technologies, please visit www.orasure.com .
Media Contact: Jennifer Moritz Zer0 to 5ive for OraSure Technologies 917-748-4006
