2-Millionen-Dollar-Auftrag für HIV-Schnelltests(20 Minuten).
CDC Commits Additional $2 Million for Purchase of
OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Tests
Monday December 1, 6:00 am ET
BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 2003--OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq
NM:OSUR - News), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, announced today that The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") has committed to purchase an additional
250,000 OraQuick® Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Tests for a total of $2 million. The CDC purchase is
expected to be fulfilled by September 1, 2004, and further supports its four-part HIV prevention
strategy, which was previously announced on April 17, 2003.
This is the second bulk purchase of OraQuick® tests made by the CDC and is clearly
indicative of the early success of this initiative. The first purchase of 250,000 tests for $2 million
was announced on June 26, 2003.
Today's announcement was made by OraSure's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike
Gausling, who presided over the NASDAQ Stock Market Open today in recognition of World
AIDS Day. The market open ceremony can be viewed online at
http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm. "We are extremely grateful for the CDC's continuing support of rapid testing and are pleased to
announce this additional procurement of OraQuick® on World AIDS Day," said Mike Gausling,
President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "With this purchase, the
Administration has again demonstrated its leadership in promoting rapid HIV testing as an
important component in its comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. I would especially like to
thank U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum for their support of OraSure and
commitment to combating the global AIDS crisis."
"It is particularly important to recognize the need for increased vigilance against the spread of
HIV, and to reaffirm the Administration's commitment to fighting the virus through all possible
means," said Senator Arlen Specter. "OraSure's development of the OraQuick® test is a giant
step in combating the global AIDS crisis. With this test, people will be able to more easily and
efficiently screen for HIV, which will help prevent those infected from passing the virus to others
and allow them to more effectively treat their disease."
"Clearly, one of the keys to addressing the significant public health problems that the spread of
HIV/AIDS poses for our country and the rest of the world is first identification of infected
populations, and then ongoing treatment," said Senator Rick Santorum. "OraSure's
ground-breaking rapid HIV test can play an important role in complementing our public health
strategies for research, prevention initiatives and efforts to expand access to quality health care
and services for those who need them."
OraQuick® is a rapid, point-of-care test designed to detect antibodies to HIV-1 within 20
minutes. OraSure has FDA approval of the OraQuick® device to test finger-stick and
venipuncture whole blood specimens for antibodies to HIV-1. In addition, OraSure has received
a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) waiver for this test, thereby
permitting the test to be used in more than 180,000 sites in the United States, such as
outreach clinics, community-based organizations and physicians' offices.
Please Note: "Live" coverage of the NASDAQ Stock Market opening ceremony on Monday,
December 1, from 9:20 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. EDT is available via satellite on Galaxy
4R/Transponder 20. The downlink frequency is 4100 vertical; audio: 6.2/6.8. The feed can also
be found on Waterfront fiber 1623. In addition, World AIDS Day interview footage and b-roll of
the OraQuick® test will be available via satellite on Monday, December 1 at 2 p.m. EDT via
satellite on Telstar 4C/Transponder 10, D/L Frequency: 3900 (V).
In addition, World AIDS Day interview footage and b-roll of the OraQuick® test will be available
via satellite on Monday, December 1 at 2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EST via satellite on the following
coordinates:
Ku Band - Analog (in the clear)
SBS 6, Transponder 19 Upper
Downlink Frequency: 12178
Downlink Polarity: Horizontal
Audio: 6.2 and 6.8
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 antibodies to HIV-1. In
addition, the Company supplies oral-fluid testing solutions for drugs of abuse testing. For more
information on the Company, please go to
www.orasure.com.