OraSure Technologies Applauds New CDC Recommendations That All Baby Boomers be Tested for Hepatitis C
17 8월 2012 - 1:29AM
OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR), the market leader in oral
fluid diagnostics, today announced its enthusiastic support for the
expanded hepatitis C testing recommendations issued by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging that all U.S. baby
boomers get a one-time test for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Recommendations for the Identification of HCV Chronic Infection
Among Persons Born during 1945 through 1965, was published today in
the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Volume 61, Number
RR-4) --
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6104a1.htm?s_cid=rr6104a1_w.
The report, which augments the CDC's 1998 HCV testing guidelines,
recommends HCV testing of all persons born between 1945 and 1965 –
approximately 81 million people, according to the 2010 Census.
The CDC believes that identifying hepatitis C infections early
will allow more baby boomers to receive care and treatment, before
they develop life threatening liver disease. According to the CDC,
one in 30 baby boomers has been infected with hepatitis C –
approximately 2 million in total. Baby boomers are five times more
likely to be infected than other adults and most do not know it.
Hepatitis C causes serious liver diseases including liver cancer,
which is the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths and the
leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, according
to the agency. In addition, if left undetected and untreated, the
total medical costs for patients with HCV are expected to more than
double over the next 20 years – from $30 billion to $85 billion in
2024 according to the Millman Report entitled "Consequences of
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Costs of a Baby Boomer Epidemic of Liver
Disease."
"The implementation of birth-cohort based HCV testing is a
significant step toward halting the HCV epidemic in America," said
Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of
OraSure Technologies. "We applaud the CDC for issuing this
call to action, and we stand ready to work in collaboration with
our government, industry, community and healthcare partners to help
ensure that all Americans at risk for HCV have access to testing.
Implementation of the revised recommendations is a critical piece
to the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan issued by the U.S. Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Health back in May of 2011."
"Today, more than 4 million Americans are infected with
hepatitis C and the vast majority do not know it," said Dr. Eugene
R. Schiff, Director of the Schiff Center for Liver Diseases,
University of Miami School of Medicine, and Vice President of the
Chronic Liver Disease Foundation. "We enthusiastically support
the CDC's recommendations for broader and more accessible testing
for HCV and feel that we are rapidly approaching a time when it
will be 'test-and-treat.' Point-of-care testing, in
particular, can play a critical role in expanding testing
opportunities and facilitating immediate care for those diagnosed
with HCV."
The Company's OraQuick® HCV test is the only FDA-approved rapid,
point-of-care test for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis
C virus in persons with signs or symptoms of hepatitis and in
persons at risk for hepatitis C infection. The test, which utilizes
the OraQuick® technology platform, provides results in 20
minutes.
OraQuick® HCV is the centerpiece of numerous rapid HCV testing
programs currently being implemented across the nation, including
the Check Hep C NYC program, run by The Fund for Public Health in
New York, in partnership with the New York City Department of
Health & Mental Hygiene Office; as well as other programs in
Chicago, Columbus, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City,
Washington, D.C. and various other cities.
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
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Jennifer Moritz
Zer0 to 5ive for OraSure Technologies
917-748-4006
jmoritz@0to5.com
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