New Recommendations Advocate Testing for Both At-Risk Individuals and All Individuals Born Between 1945 and 1965
June 25, 2013 08:00 | Source: OraSure Technologies, Inc.
BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OSUR) announced today its support for the new recommendations issued today by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), giving both hepatitis C (HCV) screening for at-risk individuals and age-cohort screening a 'B' grade. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive services that have received an 'A' or 'B' grade from the USPSTF must be covered by insurance policies without cost-sharing and be part of the essential health benefits for those individuals eligible for Medicare.
The new recommendations, entitled "Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement," are a significant expansion of the USPSTF's previous recommendation of screening for HCV. This new recommendation is in response to the higher prevalence of HCV infection in Baby Boomers (those born between 1945 and 1965), approximately 80 million individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one out of every 30 Baby Boomers is living with hepatitis C infection. The USPSTF is recommending that all Baby Boomers be tested for hepatitis C at least once.
According to the CDC, the hepatitis C virus infection is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States. Up to 75 percent of people with hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the United States. If left undetected and untreated, the total medical costs for patients with HCV are expected to nearly triple over the next 20 years – from $30 billion to $85 billion according to the Millman Report entitled "Consequences of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Costs of a Baby Boomer Epidemic of Liver Disease."
"We applaud the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, which will help to make hepatitis C screening much more accessible as a regular part of medical care," said Douglas A. Michels, President and Chief Executive Officer of OraSure Technologies. "As a result of the recommendations, we believe that over time more individuals will get tested and learn their hepatitis C status, and we expect that our OraQuick® Rapid HCV test will enable individuals presumed to be infected to be referred immediately for follow-up care."
The OraQuick® HCV Rapid Antibody Test is the first and only FDA-approved, CLIA-waived rapid, point-of-care test for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. OraQuick® HCV results are available in 20 minutes, which can help increase the delivery of test results, allowing early diagnosis and linkage to care, treatment and prevention services, particularly for those at risk for hepatitis C.
The USPSTF is an independent group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. USPSTF recommendations have formed the basis of the clinical standards for many professional societies, health organizations, and medical quality review groups.
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.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Moritz
Zer0 to 5ive for OraSure Technologies
917-748-4006
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