BETHLEHEM, Pa., May 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR), a leader in point of care diagnostic tests and specimen collection devices, today announced its support of numerous rapid hepatitis C (HCV) testing events for National Hepatitis Testing Day, taking place on May 19, 2015. These testing initiatives, happening across the country, will help encourage thousands of people across 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. The observance reminds people at risk for hepatitis to be tested, and encourages healthcare providers to educate patients about chronic viral hepatitis and testing.
The CDC estimates that 5.2 million Americans have been exposed to or are infected with HCV, including 1 in 30 baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1965). HCV is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the U.S., and a leading cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is estimated that up to 75 percent of those individuals with HCV are unaware of their infection.
Nasdaq MarketSite Opening Bell and Hepatitis C Testing Panel
OraSure will preside over the opening of the Nasdaq Stock Market today, May 19th in recognition of National Hepatitis Testing Day. Joining OraSure will be the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), members of New York City Council, and healthcare professionals and community advocates. A live webcast of the NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx.
Following the market opening ceremony, CLDF will be hosting a panel discussion featuring healthcare practitioners and leading public health officials who are implementing comprehensive HCV screening initiatives in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. The panel, "Fighting the HCV Epidemic: Best Practices in Rapid HCV Testing and Linkage to Care," will take place from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, and will be webcast live. To watch the webcast live or to view an archived version, please visit: http://www.chronicliverdisease.org/special_event/NATIONAL_HEP_TESTING_DAY/
New Rapid HCV Testing Initiative in Pharmacies
The CLDF announced today that it will collaborate with Walgreens to offer free HCV testing with the OraQuick® HCV Rapid Test at select Walgreens retail pharmacy locations in major cities throughout the country.
National Hepatitis Testing Day Events
OraSure is supporting numerous HCV testing events, using the OraQuick® HCV rapid test, taking place across the country in 25 states and in major cities including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. In New York City, community-based healthcare organization BOOM!Health is offering testing through its mobile van stationed in Times Square today in recognition of National Hepatitis Testing Day. A full listing of testing events can be found at https://npin.cdc.gov/htd/EventList.aspx
About the OraQuick® HCV Rapid Test
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 first-to-market, innovative products include rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to HIV and HCV on the OraQuick® platform, oral fluid sample collection, stabilization and preparation products for molecular diagnostic applications, and oral fluid laboratory tests for detecting various drugs of abuse. 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, commercial and industrial entities and consumers. The Company's products enable healthcare providers to deliver critical information to patients, empowering them to make decisions to improve and protect their health.