OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test Receives Popular Science Magazine's '2003 Best of What's New' Award

OraQuick(R) to be Featured in December 2003 Issue as Winner in Personal Health Category

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2003--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq NM:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, announced today that its OraQuick(R) Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test has been awarded a 2003 Best of What's New award by Popular Science magazine in the Personal Health category. The award was announced on November 6, 2003, at the Best of What's New Showcase Event at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

OraQuick(R) is the first and only rapid, point-of-care test approved by the FDA to detect antibodies to HIV-1 in fingerstick and venipuncture whole blood specimens within approximately 20 minutes. OraSure received FDA approval of the OraQuick(R) test for use on fingerstick whole blood on November 7, 2002, and a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments of 1988) waiver on January 31, 2003, permitting its use by more than 180,000 sites in the United States, including outreach clinics, community-based organizations and physicians' offices. On September 5, 2003, OraSure received FDA approval of the OraQuick(R) test for use on venipuncture whole blood samples.

Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products to select the 100 winners of the Best of What's New Awards for inclusion in the December Best of What's New issue of Popular Science, on newsstands November 12th. The annual awards recognize products and technologies that represent a significant step forward in twelve different categories, including Automotive Tech, Space & Aviation, Engineering, Cars, Computing, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health, Photography and Recreation. More information is available at http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown.

"Best of What's New is the culmination of a year's worth of searching, testing and deciding from among a huge range of products--all of which stand to change the way we live, work and play," said Scott Mowbray, editor in chief of Popular Science.

"This award validates the collaborative efforts of our research and development, manufacturing, regulatory and quality groups, who were responsible for bringing the OraQuick(R) Rapid HIV-1 test to the market," said Mike Gausling, Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "The commitment and expertise of our team has been the driving factor behind OraSure's history of innovation in the diagnostic industry."

The 2003 Popular Science Best of What's New Award winners are being featured on Thursday, November 6th and Friday, November 7th at the Best of What's New Showcase Event at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York. The showcase is a two-day consumer event open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.

Founded in 1872, Popular Science(R) is the world's largest science and technology magazine, with a circulation of 1.45 million subscribers and a readership of more than seven million people. Popular Science(R) is published by Time4 Media(R), the world's leading publisher of leisure-time magazines.

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 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
             Ronald H. Spair, 610-882-1820
             Investorinfo@orasure.com
             www.orasure.com
                 or
             William F. Bruckner, 610-882-1820
             wbruckner@orasure.com

    SOURCE: OraSure Technologies