OraSure Says CDC Has Placed an Order for Its Oral HIV Test
Posted on: Thursday, 18 May 2006, 15:06 CDT
By Linda Loyd, The Philadelphia Inquirer
May 18--OraSure Technologies Inc., maker of a 20-minute HIV diagnostic test, said today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed a $2.3 million bulk order for its rapid oral HIV test.
The Bethehem company increased 2006 financial guidance and now projects revenues of $80 million and earnings of 10 cents to 12 cents per share for the year.
OraSure said the latest order, the CDC's fourth bulk purchase since 2003, was in response to a growing demand among U.S. public health groups for an oral test, which uses saliva to diagnose HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The company said the demand for tests is "well in excess of the quantity covered by the CDC's latest bulk purchase."
OraSure said it is in discussions with federal agencies about additional purchases this year and with several cities that want to increase oral rapid HIV testing.
OraSure said its test can detect with more than 99 percent accuracy whether a person has HIV-1 or HIV-2, using a swab to collect cells in saliva in the mouth. The swab is placed in a vial of testing fluid, and 20 minutes later the result is known. The test can also screen HIV in blood.
The company is talking with U.S. regulators about selling a home-use HIV test that would be available over the counter like a home pregnancy test. The Food and Drug Administration has discussed home HIV tests for years, but has been reluctant to approve them, citing concerns that people might misinterpret the results or react badly -- or even become suicidal -- to news that they are HIV-positive.
But, the FDA said the benefits of a home test included more people knowing their HIV status, and earlier diagnosis of HIV infection and therefore earlier intervention.
More than one million people have HIV in the United States, according to the CDC, and roughly 25 percent do not know they are infected. About 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year.
OraSure shares were up 4 cents, or 0.43 percent, at $9.38 in late morning trading on the Nasdaq.
Contact staff writer Linda Loyd at 215-854-2831 or lloyd@phillynews.com.
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.
NASDAQ-NMS:OSUR,
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Related Articles
- Trinity Biotech Announces Important Performance Findings on the Uni-Gold Recombigen Rapid HIV Test
- OraSure Technologies Supports Global and Domestic Rapid HIV Testing Initiatives for World AIDS Day
- OraSure Technologies and the Latino Commission on AIDS Launch HIV Testing Initiative in Recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15, 2007
- OraSure Gets 2nd Big-City Order: New York Will Buy $6 Million in HIV Tests Over Three Years.
- OraSure Technologies, the National Association of People With AIDS and POZ Magazine to Open the NASDAQ Stock Market in Recognition of National HIV Testing Day
- OraSure Lands Big Order for HIV Tests: Federal Health Agency Wants $2.3 Million Worth of OraQuick.
- OraSure Applauds CDC's Expected Call for Routine HIV Testing Nationwide; CDC to Issue Revised HIV Testing Guidelines Recommending Routine HIV Testing
- Clinic halts use of OraSure HIV test
- L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Discontinues Use of Oral HIV Test, Loses Confidence in Reliability
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds