OraQuick ADVANCE(R) to Be Centerpiece of Expanded HIV Testing in Philadelphia

Initial $1.5 Million Funding Increase Approved for the City's HIV/AIDS Programs

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2006--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR), the leader in oral fluid diagnostics, announced that its OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test will be the centerpiece of a planned initiative in the City of Philadelphia to provide oral fluid rapid HIV 1/2 testing to populations that are traditionally underserved and in many instances unable to access routine medical care. The initiative is being made possible through an initial $1.5 million in increased funding to expand local HIV/AIDS testing and treatment programs, the largest increase of its kind in the history of Pennsylvania.

The announcement was made today by State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.) and Dr. Calvin B. Johnson, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, at a press conference held in Philadelphia at the Strawberry Mansion Health Center.

"Knowing your status is critical to curtailing the spread of this disease. By expanding our use of state-of-the-art oral fluid rapid testing products, we will be able to test more people and get them into care sooner," said Senator Hughes. "The Commonwealth and the City's ongoing partnership with OraSure Technologies provides an ideal opportunity for us to attack this devastating disease head on -- ensuring that the standards established for our HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts continue to be considered among the best in the nation."

The City of Philadelphia will be using the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) HIV 1/2 test for this initiative and has committed to purchase 16,500 tests by the end of 2006 in support of a broad-scale campaign.

"OraSure is thrilled to be working with the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on this HIV testing campaign. This campaign illustrates the commitment of individuals like Senator Hughes and Secretary Johnson who recognize the importance of knowing your HIV status in order to help stem the spread of the disease," said OraSure President and Chief Executive Officer, Douglas A. Michels speaking at the press conference. "Our OraQuick ADVANCE(R) HIV 1/2 test is ideally suited for broad-scale testing initiatives because of its simplicity, its high accuracy, and very importantly, its oral fluid capability. We are extremely pleased to be a partner in this effort."

In June 2006, Washington D.C. announced a broad-scale campaign to test residents in the district for HIV-1 and HIV-2 using OraQuick ADVANCE(R). Philadelphia's campaign represents the second city-based HIV testing initiative launched this year, and is expected to serve as an additional model for large cities across the country in support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recently issued recommendations for routine HIV testing in healthcare settings.

The OraQuick ADVANCE(R) 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.

Important Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including with respect to product purchases and testing initiatives. 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 or other products and changes in market acceptance based on product performance; continued bulk purchases by customers, including governmental agencies, and the ability to fully deploy those purchases in a timely manner; ability to fund research and development and other products 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, 2005, 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 Contact:
Jennifer Moritz, 917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com

SOURCE: OraSure Technologies, Inc.