OraSure Technologies and the National Association of People with AIDS Launch Second Annual ''Mayors Campaign Against HIV'' for National HIV Testing Day 2006; Mayors Across the U.S. Promote HIV Testing and Prevention

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 20, 2006--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR) and the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) announced today the launch of the second annual Mayors Campaign Against HIV, a national campaign to encourage testing for HIV and promote the benefits of individuals knowing their 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 (NHTD) on Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

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. To date, 18 Mayor's offices in major metropolitan cities across the country have committed their support, including San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, and Phoenix. In its inaugural year, the Mayors Campaign Against HIV generated participation from more than 10 U.S. cities and succeeded in raising awareness and testing for HIV across the country.

Now in its 12th 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 testing and counseling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as one-third of the estimated one million HIV-infected people in the United States may be unaware that they are infected with the HIV virus.

"We are thrilled to be joining forces with NAPWA and the participating mayors again this year as we publicly unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the Mayors Campaign Against HIV," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "As the only FDA-approved rapid, oral fluid HIV test in the U.S., the OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test is ideally suited for wide-spread use, thereby enabling more HIV-positive people to learn their status earlier so they can access care sooner. We are committed to working in partnership with national, state and local health agencies to make the OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) test available to all who need it."

"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 helps to further support this mission," said Frank Oldham, Jr., NAPWA's executive director. "By working in partnership with OraSure and mayors around the country, we hope 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 15,000 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 hospitals, 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.
by
Zer0 to 5ive
Jennifer Moritz, 917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com
or
National Association of People with AIDS:
Brent M. Canty-Sanchez, 240-247-1030
Cell: 917-623-1449
bcanty@napwa.org

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.