OraSure Launches OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test in Mexico; Event to Be Held at CENSIDA'S Ninth HIV/AIDS Conference on November 30th at 7:00 PM CST

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 2005--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, announced today the launch of its OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody test in Mexico. OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) is the only FDA approved and CLIA waived oral fluid rapid HIV-1/2 test currently available in the United States, and will be the only oral fluid rapid HIV test available in Mexico.

The OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) test will be sold by the Company's exclusive distributor in Mexico, Spite S.A. de C.V., to the National Health Sector, National Council for HIV/AIDS, State HIV programs, non-governmental organizations, hospitals, clinics, physicians and other members of the professional healthcare community in Mexico.

"Mexico is committed to the prevention of HIV/AIDS through increased HIV testing and education," said Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Director General of the Mexico Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS (CENSIDA). "Rapid tests such as the OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) test will be an integral part of Mexico's HIV prevention campaign, enabling us to provide the most versatile and comprehensive rapid HIV tests available to our HIV testing agencies across the country."

"Following the great success of the OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) test in the U.S. we are pleased to be launching the product into a market as important as Mexico," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "This launch represents a significant step in an international strategy to extend our distribution network south of the United States into Mexico and ultimately into Central and South America and the Caribbean. We look forward to working with the Mexico Ministry of Health and other national, state and local agencies to expand HIV testing in Mexico and help fight HIV/AIDS in that country."

Mexico has a current population of approximately 106 million people. According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Mexico has 160,000 adults and children living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS caused around 5,000 deaths in 2003.

OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, manufactured by OraSure Technologies, is the first and 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. OraSure received regulatory approval for its OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) test from the Mexico Ministry of Health in September 2005.

A press conference to announce the launch of OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) in Mexico will be held today by Spite and OraSure Technologies at 7:00 PM CST (19:00 hrs) at the 9th Mexican National HIV/AIDS Conference taking place at the Hotel Mision San Felipe in Oaxaca, Mexico. Representatives of CENSIDA and the Government of Oaxaca will also be in attendance.

OraSure will also be exhibiting at the 9th Mexican National HIV/Aids Conference, which will take place December 1 - 3, 2005 at the Hotel Mision San Felipe Oaxaca. Av. Jalisco No.15, Zona Residencial San Felipe del Agua Col. San Felipe del Agua, Ciudad de Oaxaca C.P. 68020 in booth # 11.

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 Spite S.A. de C.V.

Spite, S.A. de C.V. is a Mexican company created in 1991, dedicated to the distribution of general use health items, focusing mainly to the Health Sector having personnel with over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. For more information on the Company, please go to www.spitefarmacos.com

Important Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including with respect to revenues, product shipments and commercialization activities. Actual results could be significantly different. Factors that could affect results include the ability to market products; impact of competitors, competing products and technology changes; ability to develop, commercialize and market new products; market acceptance of oral fluid testing products and other new products or technology; ability to fund research and development and other projects and operations; ability to obtain and maintain new or existing product distribution channels; reliance on sole supply sources for critical product components; availability of related products produced by third parties; ability to obtain, and timing of obtaining, necessary regulatory approvals; ability to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; history of losses and ability to achieve sustained profitability; volatility of our stock price; uncertainty relating to patent protection and potential patent infringement claims; uncertainty and costs of litigation relating to patents and other intellectual property; availability of licenses to patents or other technology; ability to enter into international manufacturing agreements; obstacles to international marketing and manufacturing of products; ability to sell products internationally; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability to meet financial covenants in agreements with financial institutions; ability to retain qualified personnel; exposure to product liability, patent infringement, and other types of litigation; changes in international, federal or state laws and regulations; changes in relationships with strategic partners and reliance on strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative arrangements; customer consolidations and inventory practices; equipment failures and ability to obtain needed raw materials and components; the impact of terrorist attacks and civil unrest; ability to complete consolidation or restructuring activities; ability to identify, complete and realize the full benefits of potential acquisitions; and general political, business and economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed more fully in the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings of OraSure Technologies, including its registration statements, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and its other filings with the SEC. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about future prospects, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements may not be reliable. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and OraSure Technologies undertakes no duty to update these statements.

CONTACT: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
Investor Contact:
Ronald H. Spair, 610-882-1820
Investorinfo@orasure.com
www.orasure.com
or
Media Contacts:
Jennifer Moritz, 917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com
or
Ron Ticho, 610-882-1820
rticho@orasure.com

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.