OraSure's Intercept Oral Fluid Drug Test Results Comparable to Urine Drug Screening According to Landmark Five-Year Analysis

SAMHSA Sponsored Study of 650,000 Oral Fluid Specimen Drug Test Results Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 2008--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR) announced today that findings from a recent large-scale study of laboratory-based oral fluid drug testing results are comparable to urine drug testing positive rates for the same classes of drugs. The 650,000 oral fluid laboratory test results analyzed, of which 98% were conducted with the Intercept(R) oral fluid drug testing system, were collected over a five-year period of time in the non-federally regulated workplace market.

The results of this expansive study, which was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), were presented by Dr. J. Michael Walsh on October 29, 2008 at the annual meeting of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT). A copy of the abstract can be found later this week at the SOFT web site at www.soft-tox.org.

"The results of this analysis clearly indicate that oral fluid laboratory drug testing and in particular our Intercept(R) drug test are producing comparable outcomes to urine-based testing," said Dr. Stephen Lee, OraSure's Chief Science Officer.

Developed and manufactured by OraSure Technologies, the Intercept(R) Drug Test is the only FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic laboratory-based oral fluid testing system used for detecting commonly abused drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, PCP and amphetamines (including methamphetamine and ecstasy) and for detecting barbiturates, methadone and benzodiazepines. Intercept(R) testing is currently being used in workplace, drug treatment and criminal justice testing markets, as well as in public school systems.

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.

CONTACT: Investor Contact:
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
Ronald H. Spair
Chief Financial Officer
610-882-1820
investorinfo@orasure.com
or
Media Contact:
Zer0 to 5ive for OraSure Technologies
Jennifer Moritz
917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.