OraSure Technologies Opens NASDAQ and Donates OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Tests in Recognition of World AIDS Day; OraSure Also Receives Red Ribbon Leadership Award

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 2005--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced it will participate in opening the NASDAQ Stock Market and donate up to 100,000 OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test kits to several African countries and to India in recognition of World AIDS Day, a global effort that is commemorated annually on December 1st. OraSure President and CEO, Douglas A. Michels will announce this significant initiative at the NASDAQ Market Open ceremony this morning in New York City.

Following the NASDAQ open, Mr. Michels will participate in a special NASDAQ-sponsored panel discussion and press conference on global HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, featuring United States Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, M.D.

World AIDS Day is an international day of observance to honor those who have died from AIDS, as well as increase awareness of the disease in hopes of fighting the further spread of HIV. The United Nations estimates that there are now more than 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world, and of people living with HIV, only one in 10 has been tested and knows that he or she is infected.

OraSure Technologies also announced that it has been awarded a "Red Ribbon Leadership Award" by the National HIV/AIDS Partnership (NHAP). The Red Ribbon Leadership Awards, in their inaugural year, recognize individuals or entities that demonstrate outstanding leadership in promoting behaviors, directing activities, and exemplifying qualities that inspire others to take actions to stop HIV transmission. Award recipients were selected by a panel representing a range of public and private sectors. The award will be announced today at a special ceremony at the United Nations world headquarters in New York City by the membership of the NHAP.

In addition, OraSure announced yesterday the launch of its OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody test in Mexico, currently 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 Social Medicine Services, National Council for HIV/AIDS, State HIV programs, non-governmental organizations, hospitals, clinics, physicians and other members of the professional healthcare community in Mexico.

"This year's World AIDS Day is especially exciting for OraSure, as we've made significant strides in extending our global reach in the fight against HIV - first, by launching OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) in Mexico and, second, by donating a significant number of test kits to Africa and India - countries that have been hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic," said Douglas A. Michels, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. "Furthermore, OraSure is honored to once again open the NASDAQ Stock Market and to receive a Red Ribbon Leadership Award on such a meaningful day."

At the local level, OraSure is supporting World AIDS Day testing events in major cities across the United States, including Chicago and New York City, where partner sites are launching rapid oral fluid HIV testing initiatives with OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM).

The OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) 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.

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.

CONTACT: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
Investor Contact:
Ronald H. Spair, 610-882-1820
Investorinfo@orasure.com
www.orasure.com
or
Media Contacts:
Erika Freed, 212-699-3696 or 917-359-7974
erika@0to5.com
or
Ron Ticho, 610-882-1820
rticho@orasure.com

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.