OraSure Applauds American Academy of Pediatrics Updated Recommendations for Routine HIV Screening for Adolescents
BETHLEHEM, Pa., Nov 1, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR) today issued a statement in support of updated recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics ("AAP") on HIV screening for adolescents. These recommendations, which advocate regular, routine HIV screening for all adolescents 16 to 18 years of age in healthcare settings when the prevalence of HIV in the patient population is more than 0.1%, were included in a policy statement entitled "Adolescents and HIV Infection: The Pediatrician's Role in Promoting Routine Testing." The statement was issued yesterday by the AAP and published in PEDIATRICS, Volume 128, Number 5, November 2011.
In addition to testing in high prevalence areas, the policy statement encourages routine HIV testing for all sexually active adolescents and those with other risk factors for HIV, and advises that adolescents of any age who are tested for other sexually transmitted infections also be tested for HIV. The statement also references point of care rapid HIV testing and specifically the use of oral fluid and its high acceptance by youth. The full policy statement can be viewed at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/10/26/peds.2011-1761.full.pdf+html.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 million Americans were living with HIV in 2006, including 55,320 adolescents and young adults. While approximately 20 percent of those with HIV are unaware of their infection, it is believed that among HIV-infected youth, up to 48 percent are unaware of their infection (CDC).
"America's youth are our greatest asset and it is important that they are aware of the risks associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "We are confident that as a result of these updated recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics that more individuals will get tested and learn their HIV status. We look forward to continuing our work with healthcare providers to help prevent HIV infection among our nation's young adults."
According to the AAP, the objective of the policy statement is to address some of the real and perceived barriers that pediatricians face in providing routine HIV testing and counseling for their patients, and to help prevent and control HIV infection among adolescents and young adults. The recommendations are directed at all pediatric physicians, including private physicians, as well as those who work in hospitals and other healthcare settings. This statement also promotes the goal of making discussions of sexual risk and HIV testing a routine part of adolescent health care. The AAP's previous policy recommended HIV screening only for those youth that self-identified as sexually active.
OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is the 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(R) 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 is a leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of oral fluid diagnostic and collection devices and other technologies designed to detect or diagnose critical medical conditions. Its innovative products include rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to HIV and HCV at the point of care and testing solutions for detecting various drugs of abuse. In addition, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, DNA Genotek Inc., the Company also is a leading provider of oral fluid sample collection, stabilization and preparation products for molecular diagnostic applications. 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, and commercial and industrial entities. 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.
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SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Jennifer Moritz
Zer0 to 5ive for OraSure Technologies
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