Miss Dominican Republic to Take OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV Test to Promote National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Kickoff – Wednesday October 7th, 3pm-6pm

Miss Dominican Republic USA, Mariela Lucas, to Hold Press Conference with Other

Advocates to Raise AIDS Awareness and Encourage Latinos to Get Tested;

NY Ranks #1 Among States with Latinos living with HIV/AIDS;

– Interviews and Photographs Available –

WHO:

OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR), Latino Commission on AIDS, Hispanic Federation, NYC DOHMH, Harlem United, Iris House, FACES, Union Settlement, Sisterlink, Gilead Sciences, Boriken Health Center, Manhattan HIV Care Network and S.M.A.R.T University

WHAT:

Prior to National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) on October 15th, the New York City NLAAD Planning Committee and Council member Melissa Mark-Viverito will host a kickoff event on October 7th to draw attention to the critical role of HIV testing and prevention education play in stemming the spread of AIDS.  Miss Dominican Republic USA, Mariela Lucas, will take the OraQuick ADVANCE® HIV test with Dr Monica Sweeney (NYC DOHMH) and Carlos Santos using a simple oral fluid sample, in front of the public to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS prevention among Latinos.

Free rapid HIV testing with OraQuick will be available to the general public between 3-6pm.

The test is a simple, highly accurate rapid HIV test –- it can be used with just a swab of oral fluid or with blood and is greater than 99% accurate. Results are available in 20 minutes

NLAAD is a nationwide call to action for Latinos to protect their lives and the lives of those they love by getting tested and learning about HIV. With the theme, “United we can Stop HIV and Prevent AIDS”, NLAAD is a day of action and awareness.

OraSure has donated rapid HIV tests to community health organizations across the U.S. for NLAAD, to help educate the Latino community about the importance of testing and prevention of HIV.

WHEN:

Wednesday October 7th, 3pm-6pm (press conference with advocates taking HIV test at 3:15pm)

WHERE:

Union Settlement Association, 237 E. 104th St., (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave), NY, NY

WHY:

Latinos continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic:

· Latinos comprise over 24.3% percent of HIV/AIDS cases nationwide (CDC).

· There are 94,000 people known to be living with HIV/AIDS in NYC; of that total number, 28 percent are Hispanic/Latino. (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene).

· New York State is the state with the highest number of Latinos living with HIV/AIDS (CDC).

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