OraSure Technologies Opens NASDAQ Stock Market in Honor of World AIDS Day; Cities Across the U.S. Launch Rapid Oral Fluid HIV Testing with OraQuick ADVANCE
BETHLEHEM, Pa., Dec 1, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today opened The NASDAQ Stock Market in recognition of World AIDS Day, commemorated annually on December 1. OraSure President and CEO, Douglas A. Michels, presided over The NASDAQ Market Open ceremony this morning in New York City.
This year's World AIDS Day is dedicated to women and girls. Nearly half of the estimated 37.2 million adults living with HIV worldwide are women. Millions of young women become sexually active each day with little or no access to prevention services.
"We are honored and proud to open The NASDAQ Stock Market on such an important date," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "In order to help control HIV/AIDS and provide treatment to those in need, it is critical that individuals who may be infected learn their HIV status. OraQuick(R) ADVANCE is the only FDA-approved, CLIA-waived rapid HIV test available that can be used with oral fluid and screen for both HIV-1 and HIV-2. We believe it is the most versatile and comprehensive rapid HIV test available and are committed to making the test available to the widest possible range of customers in the United States and abroad."
The OraQuick(R) ADVANCE Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, manufactured and sold by OraSure Technologies, is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") 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 and plasma specimens.
In recognition of World AIDS Day, major cities across the United States are launching rapid oral fluid HIV testing initiatives with OraQuick(R) ADVANCE in conjunction with World AIDS Day activities.
NASDAQ Open and OraSure Interview Footage and B-Roll Available December 1
A satellite uplink with World AIDS Day and OraQuick(R) ADVANCE interview footage and b-roll are available via satellite today, Wednesday, December 1 at 2:00 - 2:15 PM EST. Coordinates for the satellite uplink are:
Date: 12-01-04
Time: 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM EST
Satellite: KU Band - Analog
SBS6 Transponder 18 lower
74 degrees West
Downlink Frequency: 12152 Vertical
Audio: 6.2 and 6.8 full program mix
World AIDS Day footage will include: statements from NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Ceremony; b-roll of OraQuick(R) ADVANCE HIV Test procedure with oral fluid and fingerstick whole blood; additional scenes including HIV counseling; and test manufacturing.
To obtain a hi-resolution photograph of the Market Open, please go to http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_events.stm.
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.
SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
OraSure Technologies, Inc. Investor Contact: Ronald H. Spair, 610-882-1820 Investorinfo@orasure.com www.orasure.com or Media Contact: Zer0 to 5ive Ron Ticho, 610-360-0205 rticho@orasure.com or Jennifer Moritz, 917-748-4006 jmoritz@0to5.com
