BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR), a leader in point-of-care and home diagnostic tests and sample management solutions today announced its support of HIV testing initiatives taking place across the nation in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, held each year on June 27th. These testing initiatives will help encourage thousands of people across the U.S. to get tested for HIV.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, it is estimated that 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and approximately 14% do not know that they have it. Black/African American people disproportionately make up 40 percent of estimated HIV infections, also according to the CDC, even though they make up just 12 percent of the population.

"Testing is critical to stemming the spread of HIV and our OraQuick® HIV Self-Test has empowered millions of people around the world to learn their HIV status, get connected to care, and subsequently live healthier lives,” said Carrie Eglinton Manner, President and CEO of OraSure Technologies. “We have a longstanding history of empowering those at risk of contracting HIV through providing information about their health and are proud of our partnerships with community organizations across the country that promote HIV testing, especially for those communities who need it most.”

To highlight one such program, OraSure supplies its OraQuick® HIV Self-Test to the CDC’s Together Take Me Home HIV self-testing program, which aims to distribute one million free HIV test kits over five years. The program has been successful in reaching individuals disproportionately impacted by HIV, including Black and Hispanic/Latino communities.

The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test has been available direct to consumers in the U.S. since 2012. Since its launch, OraSure has been committed to providing consumers with access to critical information and connection to care. OraSure recently worked through the FDA to launch an updated and enhanced version of its OraQuick® HIV Self-Test. Aside from an updated look, this package delivers meaningful sustainability improvements through reduced packaging, including an expected 1,500 tons less paper and 450 tons less plastic usage annually, as well as increased shipping efficiencies, and lower transportation-associated emissions. The packaging now also contains even more robust educational material and linkage to care information, giving individuals information that they can use to make informed decisions, regardless of the test result.

National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to encourage Americans to get tested for the virus. OraSure provided OraQuick® HIV Self Tests to Greater Than HIV, a public information initiative of KFF, which will be used for free rapid HIV testing in more than 550 Walgreens stores today as part of National HIV Testing Day activities to encourage people to know their HIV status.

About OraSure Technologies
OraSure Technologies, Inc. (“OraSure”) transforms health through actionable insight and powers the shift that connects people to healthcare wherever they are. OraSure improves access, quality, and value of healthcare with innovation in effortless tests and sample management solutions. OraSure, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, DNA Genotek Inc., is a leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of rapid diagnostic tests and sample collection and stabilization devices designed to discover and detect critical medical conditions. OraSure’s portfolio of products is sold globally to clinical laboratories, hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, public health and community-based organizations, research institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, commercial entities, and direct to consumers. For more information on OraSure Technologies, please visit www.orasure.com.

Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements addressing expectations, prospects, estimates and other matters that are dependent upon future events or developments. These statements may be identified by words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "could," "would," "project," "continue," "likely," and similar expressions, and include statements reflecting future results or guidance, statements of outlook and various metrics, accruals and estimates. These matters are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. Known and unknown factors that could cause actual performance or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in these statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to manufacture or have manufactured products in accordance with applicable specifications, performance standards and quality requirements; our ability to achieve sustainability improvements through reduced packaging; changes in relationships, including disputes or disagreements, with strategic partners or other parties and reliance on strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative arrangements; ability to meet increased demand for OraSure’s products; and reduction or deferral of public funding available to customers. These and other factors that could affect our results are discussed more fully in our SEC filings, including our registration statements, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the SEC. Although forward-looking statements help to provide information about future prospects, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are aspirational and not guarantees or promises that goals, targets or projections will be met. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, except to the extent required by applicable law, OraSure Technologies undertakes no duty to update these statements.