OraSure Technologies, the National Association of People with AIDS and POZ Magazine to Open the NASDAQ Stock Market in Recognition of National HIV Testing Day
BETHLEHEM, Pa., Jun 22, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced it will participate in The NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell Ceremony on June 27th in recognition of National HIV Testing Day 2006, a national effort that is commemorated annually. Joining OraSure President and Chief Executive Officer, Douglas A. Michels, at the NASDAQ Market Open will be Frank J. Oldham Jr., Executive Director of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), and Regan Hofmann, Editor In Chief of POZ Magazine and member of the NAPWA Board of Directors.
"OraSure is honored to open NASDAQ alongside NAPWA and other influential leaders in the fight against HIV on such a meaningful day," said Mr. Michels. "As we continue to make significant strides in extending our national and global reach in the fight against HIV, the shared commitment of healthcare professionals, HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations, governmental leaders and the media to increase HIV testing and awareness is critical. And, with OraSure's donation of more than 15,000 OraQuick(R) ADVANCE(TM) test kits to cities across the country in connection with National HIV Testing Day, more individuals will be able to learn their HIV status and access prompt treatment and counseling services."
Now in its 12th year, National HIV Testing Day is led by NAPWA to encourage millions of Americans 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.
Each year to help commemorate National HIV Testing Day and encourage cities across the country to engage in HIV testing and prevention initiatives, OraSure Technologies and NAPWA sponsor the Mayors Campaign Against HIV, a national campaign to encourage testing for HIV and promote the benefits of knowing one's HIV status. As part of 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, 18 Mayor's offices are participating in the campaign, including San Francisco, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, and Phoenix.
As part of the Mayor's Campaign Against HIV, 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.
SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
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