BETHLEHEM, Pa., Nov. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR), a leader in point of care diagnostic tests and specimen collection devices, today announced several new HIV testing-related initiatives, in recognition of World AIDS Day. OraSure is working with The AIDS Institute to launch a grant program to encourage the development of innovative HIV self testing programs and collaborating with both The AIDS Institute and Walgreens to promote rapid HIV testing in cities across the U.S.
"We are very proud to launch several programs aimed squarely at enabling HIV testing in support of World AIDS Day," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "A key challenge to ending HIV is to test as many individuals as possible who have not been previously tested so they can know their status and be linked to care."
In addition to supporting numerous community testing events across the country, highlights of OraSure’s World AIDS Day initiatives include:
NASDAQ Open & Expert Panel Discussion
OraSure will host the NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Ceremony followed by a special HIV testing industry panel discussion focused on Global Leadership in HIV Self-Testing: Innovative Approaches to Achieve HIV Testing Goals. The panel members will share their best practices for implementing HIV testing. The panel discussion will be webcast live starting at 10 am EST on December 1st and can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/rpk5r7es.
Guests for the NASDAQ market opening ceremony and panel discussion will include Karl Hofmann, President and CEO of Population Services International (PSI); Lelio Marmora, Executive Director, UNITAID and Dr. Jeffrey Klausner MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Public Health UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health. A live webcast of the NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: https://new.livestream.com/nasdaq/live at 9:30 am EST on December the 1st.
Walgreens Retail Access Card Program Launch & Free Testing Event
OraSure and Walgreens are launching the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test Retail Access Card, available for public health organizations and advocacy groups across the country to distribute to their at-risk program participants during outreach events. Each card will be redeemable for one OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test kit at no cost, at any one of the 8,000+ Walgreens and Duane Reade drugstores nationwide.
Initially, Walgreens and OraSure will provide the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test Retail Access Cards to Housing Works, a New-York City-based public health organization for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. And, in honor of World AIDS Day, OraSure, Walgreens and Housing Works will host a free HIV testing event on December 1, from 11 am until 4 pm EST at the Duane Reade located at 1430 Broadway in New York City. Free, OraQuick Advance® HIV1/2 tests will be offered on a first come, first served basis as space and supplies permit.
“The Walgreens OraQuick® HIV Test Retail Access Card will allow public health entities to utilize our expansive retail network to help get in-home HIV tests into the hands of customers who need one,” said Glen Pietrandoni, Senior Director, Patient Care and Advocacy at Walgreens. “In collaboration with OraSure, we are looking forward to working with Housing Works as well as other HIV/AIDS advocacy groups across the country as we continue to build on our 35-year history of community support in highly impacted communities.”
OraSure and The AIDS Institute Launch OraQuick® HIV Testing Grant Program
As part of OraSure’s and The AIDS Institute’s grant program, grant recipients will receive OraQuick® In-Home HIV Tests in addition to financial support for program implementation. The grant is structured to encourage new providers and outreach programs to evaluate and use the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test for at-risk patients with a variety of test access methods including in clinic, on-line and retail.
“The AIDS Institute is excited to participate in this project. Any opportunity we can find to encourage innovation and identify new ways of encouraging people to get tested is important to us and our mission. We believe the big win for everyone is this project will ultimately expand education about HIV testing, provide test kits to people who would otherwise not get tested, further identify individuals with HIV, and work diligently to link them to services," comments Michael Ruppal, Executive Director, The AIDS Institute.
About OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test
The OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test is the first FDA-approved oral swab in-home test for HIV-1 and HIV-2. It's an oral swab test that doesn't require blood. It's completely private. And it's based on the same HIV test that healthcare professionals have used since 2004.
About World AIDS Day
Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day, which occurs on December 1, is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. According to UNAIDS, an estimated 36.7 million people globally live with HIV and 30% don’t know their status.
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, and 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. For more information on OraSure Technologies, please visit www.orasure.com.
About Housing Works
Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The mission of Housing Works is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.
About The AIDS Institute
The AIDS Institute is a national nonprofit organization that promotes action for social change through public policy, research, advocacy and education. TAI began as a grass roots community mobilization effort in 1985. Over the years, The AIDS Institute has expanded its vision to become a respected national leader dedicated to supporting and protecting health care access for people living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and patients living with chronic diseases.