BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSUR ) today announced its support of various rapid HIV testing initiatives and events taking place this week in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, held each year on June 27 th . A national campaign occurs on and around National HIV Testing Day each year to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to encourage individuals to get tested for the virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the more than 1.1 million people believed to be living with HIV in the U.S., an estimated one in six do not know that they are infected. Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives and is known to reduce the spread of HIV.
Key highlights of OraSure's National HIV Testing Day initiatives include:
Times Square HIV Testing Event and Press Conference
OraSure is teaming with Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS today, June 26, to offer rapid HIV testing with OraQuick ADVANCE ® from the GMHC mobile testing van in Times Square, directly in front of Walgreens. The testing event is part of the Greater Than AIDS national initiative taking place in more than 100 cities from June 26-28.
In conjunction with the testing event, a press conference will be held today from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m., and will feature appearances and comments by Dr. Rachael Ross, physician, sex expert, and co-host of the TV show, The Doctors , and reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler, among others. The press conference will focus on the critical role that HIV testing and prevention education play in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS across the U.S.
OraQuick ® In-Home Test Media Tours
Also this week, as part of the Company's "Life. As we know it." awareness campaign for its OraQuick ® In-Home HIV Test, OraSure has teamed with television host and best-selling author, Ross Mathews, and Dr. Rachael Ross, to promote the importance of testing through media tours in San Francisco and New York, respectively.
"National HIV Testing Day presents a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and encourage individuals to get tested," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "Testing is critical to stemming the spread of HIV and our rapid test technology has empowered millions of people to learn their HIV status and live longer and healthier lives."
The OraQuick ADVANCE ® test is the first and only FDA-approved and CLIA-waived rapid point-of-care test that can detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood or plasma specimens. As the market leader, OraQuick ADVANCE ® is used throughout the country in public health settings, hospitals, community-based organizations, and physician offices where HIV testing is conducted.
The OraQuick ® In-Home HIV Test is the first ever in-home rapid HIV test made available directly to consumers. It detects antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 with an oral swab, providing a safe, effective and confidential in-home testing option with results in as little as 20 minutes. It is available in most national drugstore and mass merchandiser retail outlets nationwide and online at CVS/CVS.com, Rite Aid/RiteAid.com, Walgreens/Walgreens.com, Walmart/Walmart.com, and on Drugstore.com and OraQuick.com. The OraQuick ® In-Home HIV Test is an over-the-counter version of OraQuick ADVANCE ® , the same test that doctors and healthcare professionals have relied on and used for 10 years.
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 tests for 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
