BETHLEHEM, Pa., July 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced its support of numerous rapid hepatitis C (HCV) testing initiatives for World Hepatitis Day, taking place on July 28, 2012. These testing initiatives will occur in various cities in the U.S., including Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., and in several foreign countries, to help encourage thousands of people to get tested for hepatitis C. OraSure manufactures the OraQuick® Rapid HCV test, the first and only rapid HCV test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
World Hepatitis Day, founded by the World Health Organization (WHO), focuses on raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis: what they are and how they are transmitted; who is at risk; and the various methods of prevention and treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than four million people are estimated to have hepatitis C in the U.S. – including 1 in 30 baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1965). It is estimated that up to 75 percent of those individuals infected with hepatitis C are unaware of their status.
Key highlights of OraSure's World Hepatitis Day initiatives include:
NASDAQ Marketsite Closing Bell and Hepatitis C Testing Panel
OraSure will preside over the closing of the NASDAQ Marketsite tomorrow, July 27. Guests for the market close will include:
-
Eli N. Avila, MD, JD, MPH, FCLM, Secretary of Health, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
-
Terry Hamilton, Director of HIV Services, Corporate Planning Services, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation;
-
Martha Saly, Director of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable; and
-
Dr. Robert S. Brown, Jr., Chronic Liver Disease Foundation, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
-
Diann Rohde, Vice President of Communications, American Liver Foundation
A live webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx.
OraSure will also host at the NASDAQ Marketsite a panel of experts who have successfully integrated routine rapid hepatitis C testing in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings and will share their best practices. The panel discussion, taking place from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, will feature the following participants:
-
Luis Freddy Molano, MD, Vice President of HIV Programs and Services, Community Healthcare Network, New York City;
-
Jill Wolf, LCSW, Assistant Clinical Director, Haymarket Center, Chicago;
-
Demetre Daskalakis, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, Bellevue Hospital Center, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation;
-
Christopher Murphy, MD, Ellis Medicine Family Center, Schenectady, NY; and
-
Caroline Teter, MD, Erie Family Health Center, Chicago.
The panel discussion will be webcast live. To register for the webcast, please visit: http://investor.shareholder.com/media/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=113224&CompanyID=OSUR&e=1&mediaKey=BBC6B28F08017AD65F5C9E3BF1CDDE48
Free Hepatitis C Testing in Times Square, NYC
In conjunction with the NASDAQ market panel and close event, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and the Community Healthcare Network will offer free rapid hepatitis C testing tomorrow with the OraQuick® HCV test from their mobile testing vans at Times Square.
"Hep C: Test It. Find It. Fight It." Website
This week, OraSure launched Hep C: Test It. Find It. Fight It. at www.testhepc.com, a website designed to increase broad awareness of the prevalence of HCV and need for increased testing. The website includes resources and materials to help organizations plan, execute and promote their OraQuick® HCV testing events throughout the year.
OraQuick® HCV is the only FDA-approved rapid, point-of-care test for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. The test, which utilizes the OraQuick® technology platform, provides results in 20 minutes.
About OraSure Technologies
OraSure Technologies is a leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of oral fluid diagnostic and collection devices and other technologies designed to detect or diagnose critical medical conditions. Its innovative products include rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to HIV and HCV at the point of care and testing solutions for detecting various drugs of abuse. In addition, the Company is a leading provider of oral fluid sample collection, stabilization and preparation products for molecular diagnostic applications. OraSure's portfolio of products is sold globally to various clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and other public health organizations, research and academic institutions, distributors, government agencies, physicians' offices, and commercial and industrial entities. The Company's products enable healthcare providers to deliver critical information to patients, empowering them to make decisions to improve and protect their health.
For more information on OraSure Technologies, please visit www.orasure.com.
The OraSure Technologies, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6440
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Jennifer Moritz
Zer0 to 5ive for OraSure Technologies
917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
