OraQuick(R) In-Home HIV Test Named a "Best Invention of 2012" by TIME Magazine

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Nov. 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. OSUR today announced the company's OraQuick^® In-Home HIV Test, the first ever in-home rapid infectious disease test made available directly to consumers, has been named one of the "Best Inventions of 2012" by TIME. The OraQuick^® In-Home HIV Test is the only health innovation included on this prestigious list for 2012.

"With just a swab of saliva and 20 minutes, OraQuick^® can identify the antibodies that signal HIV infection," TIME reported in its annual story on the most important inventions of the year. This is the second such recognition for OraSure from TIME, as the OraQuick^® ADVANCE HIV 1/2 Antibody professional test was honored in 2004. At that time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first oral fluid rapid HIV test for health care professionals and this year, the same proven technology was made available for consumers to use at home.

"The OraQuick^® In-Home HIV Test is a breakthrough product in the fight against HIV and AIDS because it empowers more people to learn their HIV status in the comfort and privacy of their own homes," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "OraSure is extremely proud to be recognized by TIME for this innovation."

The OraQuick^® In-Home HIV Test, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2012, detects antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 with an oral swab, providing a confidential in-home testing option with results in as little as 20 minutes. The in-home test, which is now available at major retailers nationwide, is an over-the-counter version of OraQuick ADVANCE^®, an oral swab rapid test with more than 25 million units sold in the professional market, including doctors, hospitals, clinics and other trained professionals. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is available at thousands of retailers nationwide and online at OraQuick.com.

To ensure optimal support for individuals using the OraQuick^® In-Home HIV Test, OraSure offers live support and comprehensive referral services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, through a toll-free support center and comprehensive consumer website. The OraQuick^® Support Center is staffed with highly trained, bi-lingual (English/Spanish) representatives who are available by telephone at 866-436-6527 to answer questions about HIV/AIDS and using and interpreting the test. They also provide referrals to follow-up and care, and can take orders for the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test. Additionally, the product website provides access to resources and referral to follow-up counseling, confirmatory testing and medical care.

Visit OraQuick.com for more information.

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 July 2012, the Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Company's OraQuick^® In-Home HIV Test for sale directly to consumers in the over-the-counter (OTC) market – making it the first and only rapid OTC HIV test approved in the U.S. 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

Important Information Regarding the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test - You must be 17 or older to use this test. A positive result with this test does not mean that you are definitely infected with HIV, but rather that additional testing should be done in a medical setting. A negative result with this test does not mean that you are definitely not infected with HIV, particularly when exposure may have been with in the previous three months. If your test is negative and you engage in activities that put you at risk for HIV on a regular basis, you should test regularly. This product should not be used to make decisions on behavior that may put you at increased risk for HIV.