The National Association of People with AIDS and OraSure Technologies Launch ''Mayors Campaign against HIV'' for National HIV Testing Day 2005; Campaign Urges Mayors across the U.S. to Promote HIV Testing and Prevention

BETHLEHEM, PA.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 2005--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR) and the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) announced today the launch of the Mayors Campaign Against HIV, a national campaign to encourage testing for HIV and promote the benefits of knowing one's HIV status. The Campaign is being sponsored by OraSure Technologies, the manufacturer of the OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, in observance of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2005.

NAPWA and OraSure Technologies are partnering with city public health departments and community-based organizations across the country to elicit mayoral support to urge HIV testing and prevention among their constituencies.

Now in its eleventh year, National HIV Testing Day is an annual event led by NAPWA to encourage the millions of Americans who are at-risk for HIV to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 280,000 HIV-infected people in the United States may be unaware that they are infected. Under the Mayors' Campaign, NAPWA and OraSure Technologies are partnering with city public health departments and community-based organizations across the country to elicit mayoral support to urge HIV testing and prevention among their constituencies.

"This year's National HIV Testing Day represents a milestone in HIV testing, as it marks the first observance when a rapid, oral fluid HIV test - the OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, is available in the United States," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "We believe that OraQuick(R) will help to get more people tested and enable HIV-positive people to learn their status earlier so they can access care sooner. We are honored to support NAPWA and the participating mayors as they publicly unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the inaugural Mayors Campaign Against HIV."

To date, the Campaign has confirmed participation from Mayor's offices across the U.S. including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, New Orleans, San Antonio and Cleveland, with mayors from numerous other major metropolitan cities across the country expected to join the initiative.

"Each year, National HIV Testing Day brings together hundreds of local health departments, community organizations and HIV/AIDS advocacy groups nationwide to educate people about the benefits of HIV testing, and the Mayors Campaign Against HIV will help to further support this mission," said Terje Anderson, NAPWA's executive director. "OraSure's support of the Campaign will enable us to educate thousands nationwide on the need for HIV testing and prevention. We are thankful for the dedication and support of both OraSure and each mayoral office participating in the Campaign."

In appreciation of the mayors' involvement in the Campaign, NAPWA and OraSure Technologies will donate more than 10,000 OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Tests to city health departments and community-based organizations throughout the country. OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration 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 or plasma specimens.

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 HIV. In addition, the Company supplies oral-fluid testing solutions for drugs of abuse testing. For more information on the Company, please go to http://www.orasure.com.

About the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US)

The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) is the oldest national AIDS organization in the United States and the oldest national network of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Founded in 1983, NAPWA is a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the pandemic and the human suffering it causes. NAPWA has several initiatives designed to promote access to and the utilization of HIV prevention and treatment and reduce stigma towards HIV-positive people. Nearly one million Americans are living with HIV and more than 40 million people around the world are infected. We will be here until there is a cure. More information on NAPWA and national HIV Testing Day can be found at http://www.napwa.org.

CONTACT: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Zer0 to 5ive
Ron Ticho, 610-360-0205
rticho@orasure.com
or
Jennifer Moritz, 718-623-0355
jmoritz@0to5.com
or
National Association of People with AIDS
LaWanda Johnson, 240-247-1024
ljohnson@napwa.org

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.