OraSure Technologies to Host HHS Deputy Secretary Claude Allen at Event on HIV Testing and Prevention

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2003--Claude Allen, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other leading federal healthcare officials will offer remarks on HIV testing and prevention strategies in the United States and abroad, on Monday, May 19, 2003, from noon to 1:00 p.m. EDT, at the headquarters of OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR) in Bethlehem, PA.

The event, hosted by OraSure in recognition of the FDA's recent approval of its OraQuick(R) Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, will acknowledge the work of federal, state and local agencies in their initiatives on national and global HIV/AIDS prevention.

Ambassador Jack Chow, M.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Science, U.S. State Department, Dr. Joe O'Neill, Director, White House Office of National AIDS Policy, William H. Gimson, III, Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Captain Maura Emerson, M.D., U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, and a representative from the office of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter are also scheduled to participate in the event.

"The United States is committed to the fight against AIDS on a national and international level, and we will continue in our efforts to enhance prevention services across the nation," said Claude Allen, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "The introduction of new, rapid testing technologies, such as the OraQuick(R) Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, has enabled us to reduce barriers to testing and help increase the number of people who know their HIV status, helping to stop the spread of AIDS."

Additionally, leading officials from the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (PACHA), the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Children's AIDS Fund, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), the Institute for Youth Development, and the National Minority AIDS Council will be in attendance.

Members of the local community are also welcome to attend this event.

"OraSure's development of the OraQuick(R) test is a giant step in combating the global AIDS crisis," said Senator Arlen Specter. "With this test, people will be able to more easily and efficiently screen for HIV, which will help prevent those infected from passing the virus to others and allow them to more effectively treat their disease."

"We are honored to host this event, bringing together so many people who play such a critical role in combating this global pandemic," said Mike Gausling, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "And, we are proud to continue working in partnership with the HHS, CDC and the Bush Administration to make rapid HIV testing available to all who need it."

The following is a complete list of officials scheduled to participate in the event:

--  Claude Allen, J.D., Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of
     Health and Human Services (HHS).

--  Ambassador Jack Chow, M.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for
     Health and Science, U.S. State Department.

--  Joe O'Neill, M.D., Director, White House Office of National
     AIDS Policy.

--  William H. Gimson, III, Chief Operating Officer, Centers for
     Disease Control and Prevention.

--  A representative from the office of Senator Arlen Specter,
     United States Senator, Pennsylvania.

--  Captain Maura Emerson, M.D., U.S. Navy Military Sealift
     Command.

--  Dr. Jim Driscoll, Advisor, AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Member,
     Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA).

--  Anita Smith, Vice President, Children's AIDS Fund; Member,
     PACHA.

--  Shepard Smith, President, Institute for Youth Development.

--  Debbie Rock, Executive Director, Baltimore Pediatric AIDS
     Program, Inc.; Member, PACHA.

--  Dr. Beny Primm, Chairman, National Minority AIDS Council.

--  Luciano Orsini, President, Philadelphia AIDS Consortium.

--  Laura Hannen, Director, National Alliance of State and
     Territorial AIDS Directors.

OraQuick(R) is the first FDA-approved rapid, point-of-care test designed to detect antibodies to HIV-1 in finger-stick whole blood within approximately 20 minutes. OraSure received FDA approval of the OraQuick (R)test on November 7, 2002.

On January 31, 2003, OraSure received a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments of 1988) waiver for the test, permitting its use by more than 180,000 sites in the United States, including outreach clinics, community-based organizations and physicians' offices.

About OraSure Technologies

OraSure Technologies develops, manufactures and markets oral fluid specimen collection devices using proprietary oral fluid technologies and diagnostic products, including immunoassays and other in vitro diagnostic tests and other medical devices.

These products are sold in the United States and certain foreign countries to various distributors, government agencies, clinical laboratories, physicians' offices, hospitals, and commercial and industrial entities.

OraSure Technologies is the leading supplier of oral-fluid collection devices and assays to the life insurance industry and public health markets for the detection of antibodies to HIV-1. In addition, the Company supplies oral-fluid testing solutions for drugs of abuse testing. For more information on the Company, please go to www.orasure.com.

CONTACT: OraSure Technologies, Inc. William Bruckner, 610/882-1820
wbruckner@orasure.com

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.