BETHLEHEM, Pa., Sept. 24, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR), the market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced that it has been awarded a 36-month contract for its OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc.
The new agreement, effective November 1, 2009, provides Premier's more than 2,200 member hospitals with pre-negotiated pricing and terms for the purchase of the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) test, the first and only FDA-approved and CLIA-waived rapid point-of-care test that can detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood or plasma specimens.
Additionally, the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) test is the only rapid HIV test offered through Premier's ASCEND(TM) (Accelerated Supply Chain Endeavor) program, a group purchasing program designed to help participants achieve and sustain rapid improvements in supply chain performance. Currently, more than 90 participants representing approximately $2.7 billion in supply chain purchasing volume and close to 24,000 hospital beds are collaborating to share best practices in supply chain efficiency as a part of the program.
"I am very pleased that Premier has chosen OraSure to be their contracted rapid HIV test supplier," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "We believe this contract will expand our growth opportunities among Premier members, particularly as hospitals across the country expand their HIV testing programs. Our OraQuick ADVANCE(R) test will enable Premier member hospitals and health systems to offer HIV testing with a simple, rapid and highly accurate test, and we look forward to continuing to work with these institutions to meet their HIV testing needs."
About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
The Premier healthcare alliance is more than 2,200 U.S. hospitals and 63,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to improve healthcare quality and affordability. Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Premier has offices in San Diego, Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Washington. For more information, visit www.premierinc.com.
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. For more information on the Company, please go to www.orasure.com.
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