BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced its support of numerous rapid HIV testing initiatives in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, held annually on June 27th. Now in its 17th year, National HIV Testing Day is an annual event led by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) to encourage the millions of Americans who are at-risk for HIV to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.
OraSure's support of these initiatives includes collaborations with NAPWA, Greater Than AIDS and Walgreens to promote rapid HIV testing in cities across the U.S. Additionally, OraSure will host the NASDAQ Stock Market Open Ceremony and a special HIV testing industry panel discussion both taking place today.
"We are very proud to once again work with NAPWA and hundreds of city officials, public health departments, community-based organizations and hospitals nationwide in support of National HIV Testing Day," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "Of the 1.1 million Americans estimated to be infected with HIV, more than 200,000 are unaware of their infection. HIV testing is the first step to learning one's HIV status. We are proud that our technology is a driving force in getting more people tested and enabling HIV-positive individuals to learn their status earlier so they can access care sooner."
"It's more important this year than ever for all Americans to get tested regularly," said Frank J. Oldham Jr., NAPWA's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Not only do people with HIV do better medically when they start treatment, but we now have proof that people in treatment for HIV are less likely to infect others. Routine testing is the first step towards having more people with HIV in treatment."
Key highlights include:
Mayor's Campaign Against HIV
OraSure has collaborated with NAPWA to launch the seventh annual Mayor's Campaign Against HIV™, a national campaign to encourage testing for HIV and promote the benefits of knowing one's HIV status. The Campaign is part of the annual observance of National HIV Testing Day.
NAPWA and OraSure have worked with city public health departments and community-based organizations across the country to elicit mayoral support to urge HIV testing and prevention among their constituencies. More than 100 Mayors in cities nationwide have committed their participation and support, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Several Mayors have also committed to getting tested today while others are issuing proclamations or holding press conferences to encourage individuals to get tested for HIV.
NASDAQ MarketSite and HIV Testing Panel
OraSure will open the NASDAQ MarketSite today. Guests for the market open will include Frank Oldham, President and CEO of NAPWA, Johnny Ford, founder of the World Conference of Mayors and former mayor of Tuskegee, AL, Robert L. Bowser, Mayor of East Orange, NJ and President of the National Black Conference of Mayors and Ronald K. Davis, Mayor of Prichard, AL and President of the World Conference of Mayors. A live webcast of the NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm">http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm
Immediately following the opening, OraSure will also host at the NASDAQ MarketSite a panel discussion by experts who have successfully integrated routine rapid HIV testing in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. The panel members will share their best practices for implementing HIV testing.
HIV Testing in Times Square, NYC
In conjunction with the NASDAQ open and panel discussion, Community Healthcare Network will offer free rapid HIV testing today in Times Square using the OraQuick ADVANCE® test at its mobile HIV testing van.
Walgreens / Greater Than AIDS HIV Testing
OraSure is also collaborating with Greater Than AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local departments of health and community-based organizations across the U.S. to provide free screenings for HIV at select Walgreens retail pharmacies in major cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Oakland and San Francisco. This is part of an ongoing national campaign by Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS to respond to HIV/AIDS in the U.S. OraQuick tests were offered by the local agencies at select Walgreens locations from June 22 - 24.
OraQuick ADVANCE® 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 in rapid HIV testing, OraQuick ADVANCE® is used extensively throughout the country in public health settings, hospitals, community-based organizations, and physician offices where HIV testing is conducted.
About OraSure Technologies
OraSure Technologies develops, manufactures and markets oral fluid specimen collection devices using proprietary oral fluid technologies, diagnostic products including immunoassays and other in vitro diagnostic tests, and other medical devices. These products are sold in the United States as well as internationally to various clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and other public health organizations, distributors, government agencies, physicians' offices, and commercial and industrial entities.
OraSure Technologies is the leading supplier of oral-fluid testing solutions for drugs of abuse and for the detection of antibodies to HIV.
For more information on the Company, please go to www.orasure.com.
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