Filed by OraSure Technologies, Inc.
                                             pursuant  to  Rule  425  under  the
                                             Securities Act of 1933, as amended

                                         Subject Company: STC Technologies, Inc.
                                                   Commission File No. 333-39210


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


[Epitope logo]                                  [STC Technologies Inc. logo]


COMPANY CONTACT:                                COMPANY CONTACT:
Chuck Bergeron                                  Mike Gausling
Chief Financial Officer                         Chief Executive Officer
503-641-6115                                    610-882-1820 ext. 3039
investorinfo@epitopeinc.com                     mgausling@stctech.com



  EPITOPE'S MERGER PARTNER STC TECHNOLOGIES SIGNS WITH MERIDIAN DIAGNOSTICS TO

                  COMMERCIALIZE RAPID INFECTIOUS DISEASE TESTS


BEAVERTON,  ORE. (AUGUST 31, 2000) - Epitope,  Inc.,  (Nasdaq:EPTO) its proposed
merger  partner,  STC  Technologies,   Inc.,  and  Meridian  Diagnostics,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:KITS)   announced   today  that  they  have  entered  into   multi-year,
multi-million  dollar  exclusive  Research  and Supply  Agreements  to  develop,
manufacture,  and  sell a broad  range  of  point-of-care  tests  for the  rapid
detection of parasites, gastrointestinal, and upper respiratory diseases.

The tests  will  utilize  Up-Converting  Phosphor  Technology  - UPT(TM) - STC's
proprietary   diagnostic   label   technology   which  allows  high  sensitivity
multiplexed  diagnostic testing. In pilot feasibility  studies, STC and Meridian
demonstrated  that  UPT(TM)  improves  sensitivity  by up  to  three  orders  of
magnitude for selected prospective  biological  pathogens,  opening the door for
earlier disease  detection in clinical  practice.  UPT(TM) labels are stable for
use in a wide variety of biological  specimens and allow simultaneous  detection
of multiple biological markers.  When used in conjunction with antibodies or DNA
probes,   UPT(TM)  labels  eliminate   background   interference,   dramatically
increasing the potential sensitivity of test systems.

UPT(TM) labels are the heart of UPlink(TM), a point-of-care rapid testing system
being developed by STC. The UPlink(TM)  system consists of a proprietary  sample
collector, test cassette, and benchtop reader. The reader is designed to analyze
a biological specimen and provide results to laboratory information systems.

STC believes that its agreements  with Meridian  validate the flexibility of the
UPlink(TM) reader system and complement its current development  programs.  Mike
Gausling,  STC's  president  and CEO  stated,  "We  initially  targeted  UPT(TM)
development efforts to commercialize a rapid test for the simultaneous detection
of five drugs of abuse in oral fluid  samples.  The Company  expects to complete
development of an UPlink(TM)  system for that purpose by year-end.  The advanced
stage of the  UPlink(TM)  development  cycle,  coupled  with  Meridian's  market
leadership in infectious disease




testing,  make us  confident  that we can  bring a test  system  for  Meridian's
applications to the market in 2001."

"From  Epitope's  point of view, the merger with STC was driven in large part by
the  promise  of  the  Up-Converting  Phosphor  Technology,"  stated  Robert  D.
Thompson,  president and CEO of Epitope.  "This is the second major research and
supply  agreement closed by STC in the past nine months,  and represents  strong
validation of the technology and its market prospects."

Meridian  believes that its  agreements  with STC leverage the strengths of both
companies.  John A. Kraeutler,  Meridian's  president and COO, stated,  "Our new
relationship  with  STC is a  significant  step  forward  in  Meridian's  stated
strategy of investing in new technologies  and  partnerships  that offer earlier
disease  detection  with  greater  customer  ease and  convenience.  We  believe
UPT(TM), in combination with Meridian's broad range of source  biologicals,  has
the  potential to redefine and  dramatically  improve acute  infectious  disease
diagnosis.  Our  collaboration  with STC provides a template for rapid test menu
expansion with a new, highly advanced technology platform."

Epitope, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices and diagnostic
products  utilizing its proprietary oral fluid  technologies for sale to public-
and  private-sector  clients  worldwide.  The Company's  primary focus is on the
detection of HIV antibodies, with emphasis in the U.S. life insurance and global
public health markets, and on the use of oral fluid testing for the detection of
drugs of abuse and  other  analytes.  In May 2000,  the  Company  announced  its
intention to merge with STC. Epitope's web site address is www.epitopeinc.com.

STC Technologies, Inc. is a privately held company that develops,  manufactures,
and markets proprietary in vitro diagnostic products and medical devices for use
in clinical  laboratories,  physician offices and workplace testing.  STC is the
leading  supplier of oral fluid assays to the insurance risk assessment  testing
market and also manufactures and markets other substance abuse testing products.
STC is developing  Up-Converting Phosphor Technology - UPT(TM) for a broad range
of  diagnostic  applications  including,  but  not  limited  to,  use  in  rapid
point-of-care  oral fluid  testing for the  detection  of drugs of abuse and for
infectious disease testing. STC's web site address is www.stctech.com.

Meridian  Diagnostics,   Inc.   (Nasdaq:KITS)  is  a  fully  integrated  medical
diagnostic company that manufactures,  markets, and distributes a broad range of
innovative  diagnostic  test kits,  purified  reagents,  and  related  products.
Utilizing  a  variety  of  technologies,   these  products   provide   accuracy,
simplicity,  and speed in the early  diagnosis and  treatment of common  medical
conditions,   such  as   gastrointestinal,   viral,   urinary,  and  respiratory
infections. All Meridian products are used outside of the human body and require
little or no special  equipment.  The Company's products are designed to enhance
patient  well-being  while  reducing  the total  outcome  costs of health  care.
Meridian has strong market  positions in the areas of fungal disease  diagnosis,
parasitology, gastrointestinal infections, and upper respiratory conditions. The
Company  markets its products to  hospitals,  reference  laboratories,  research
centers,  and physician  offices in more than 60 countries around the world. The
Company's  shares  are traded  through  Nasdaq  National  Market,  symbol  KITS.
Meridian's web site address is www.meridiandiagnostics.com.

Statements  in this  press  release  about  future  events  or  performance  are
forward-looking statements. Actual results could be significantly different from
those  discussed in the  forward-looking  statements.  Factors that could affect
results include unanticipated  research and development  obstacles;  loss of key
personnel;  failure to comply with  regulations  of the FDA or other  regulatory
agencies;  obstacles  to  marketing  of  products;  ability to  develop  product
distribution channels;  development of competing products;  market acceptance of
oral fluid testing products; and changes in international, federal or state laws
or regulations.  Although  forward-looking  statements help to provide  complete
information about the Company,  readers should keep in mind that forward-looking
statements are much less reliable than historical information.




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT:

EPITOPE HAS FILED A  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  ON FORM S-4 UNDER THE NAME ORASURE
TECHNOLOGIES,   INC.,   IN  CONNECTION   WITH  THE  PROPOSED   MERGER  WITH  STC
TECHNOLOGIES,  INC., AND PLANS TO MAIL A PROXY  STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS  TO EPITOPE
AND STC  SHAREHOLDERS  CONTAINING  INFORMATION  ABOUT THE MERGER.  INVESTORS AND
SECURITY  HOLDERS  ARE URGED TO READ THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  AND THE PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS  CAREFULLY  WHEN THEY ARE  AVAILABLE  BECAUSE  THEY CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. YOU MAY OBTAIN FREE COPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS THROUGH THE
WEB  SITE  MAINTAINED  BY  THE  U.S.   SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  AT
HTTP//WWW.SEC.GOV.

EPITOPE FILES ANNUAL, QUARTERLY AND SPECIAL REPORTS, PROXY STATEMENTS, AND OTHER
INFORMATION  WITH THE  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION.  YOU MAY OBTAIN FREE
COPIES AT THE WEB SITE MAINTAINED BY THE SEC AT HTTP//WWW.SEC.GOV, OR BY WRITING
EPITOPE AT: EPITOPE  INVESTOR  RELATIONS,  8505 SW CREEKSIDE  PLACE,  BEAVERTON,
OREGON 97008.

EPITOPE,  ITS DIRECTORS,  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS,  AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT
AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE SOLICITING  PROXIES FROM EPITOPE  SHAREHOLDERS  IN FAVOR OF
APPROVAL OF THE MERGER. A DESCRIPTION OF ANY INTERESTS, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, THAT
EPITOPE'S  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS HAVE IN THE MERGER WILL BE INCLUDED
IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS.


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