OraSure Technologies Helps Expand Access to Rapid HIV Testing in Recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15, 2008
Company Joins the Latino Commission on AIDS in Urging All Latinos to Get Tested and Learn Their HIV Status
BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, announced today its support to expand access to rapid HIV testing in recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) taking place on October 15, 2008. The effort to help increase opportunities for Latinos to learn their HIV status is being executed in partnership with the Latino Commission on AIDS, the founding organization behind the day of awareness.
As part of the effort, OraSure is providing OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test kits and educational materials to the Latino Commission on AIDS, which in turn will distribute the test kits and materials to community testing sites and events nationwide in conjunction with NLAAD.
"Since the dawn of the epidemic, the HIV/AIDS crisis in the U.S. has disproportionately affected the Hispanic/Latino community and to this day the rate of HIV infection in this community continues to rise," said Dennis de Leon, president of the Latino Commission on AIDS. "National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to actively change this epidemic helping members of the Latino community learn their status earlier to help prevent the further spread of HIV. Rapid HIV tests like OraQuick ADVANCE(R) - a simple, highly accurate test that can be used with both oral fluid and blood - are helping us to reach this goal more effectively."
Observed on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, the sixth-annual NLAAD is a national day of awareness and prevention against HIV/AIDS in the Latino community. With the theme, United We Can: HIV/AIDS Stops Here! NLAAD is a call to action for Latinos to get tested for HIV and take a stand, as a cohesive community, against this devastating epidemic.
To kick-off NLAAD 2008, the Latino Commission on AIDS held a press conference on October 9 in New York, where Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza, took an OraQuick ADVANCE(R) test to demonstrate her commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS.
The Latino Commission on AIDS effort to expand access to HIV testing for Latinos involves the collective support and participation of The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). According to the Commission, several members of the CHC have pledged to publicly unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS by participating in a NLAAD event taking place in their constituency or by issuing an official proclamation in support of the day.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Latinos account for about 14% of the U.S. population but according to the newest estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (released in August 2008), Latinos represent at least 22% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2006.
"We are honored to partner with the Latino Commission on AIDS to support National Latino AIDS Awareness Day and to help empower the Latino community by providing access to rapid HIV testing - a critical step in stemming the spread of the disease and helping HIV positive individuals learn their status earlier, providing the opportunity to protect others and a better opportunity to live a longer, healthier life," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer, OraSure Technologies.
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day was created in 2003 by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with community based organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, Health Departments and others. More than 1,000 institutions in 350 cities across the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are actively participating in NLAAD 2008 by forging partnerships with like-minded organizations and hosting community events to encourage people to seek HIV testing and counseling.
OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments Act of 1988) 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.
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 collection devices and in vitro diagnostic assays to the employment, criminal justice, drug treatment, life insurance and public health markets for the detection of abused drugs and the antibodies to HIV. For more information on the Company, please go to www.orasure.com.
Source: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
