Client & Alumni News

OraSure Receives Federal Contract for Rapid Oral Fluid Pan-SARS-Coronavirus In-home Self-test

OraSure Technologies, Inc.(NASDAQ: OSUR), has been awarded a $710,310 contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to develop a pan-SARS-coronavirus antigen rapid in-home self-test that uses oral fluid samples. This support from BARDA will enable OraSure to file for FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allowing for an in-home self-test to debut into the U.S. market.

Built on OraSure’s OraQuick® platform, the rapid test would allow for in-home self-testing by lay users as well as by medical professionals. OraSure’s portable rapid test platform uses an oral fluid sample and provides results in 20 minutes. No instrumentation or trained personnel would be needed to administer the test or to read the results. OraSure has a well-documented history of success with in-home infectious disease testing; the company’s oral fluid self-test for HIV has been used to diagnose millions of people around the world and connect them to life-saving care. OraSure got its start in 1987 as Solar Care Technologies at the Ben Franklin Business Incubator. Via: OraSure Technologies; Lehigh Valley Live.