<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209784-17-000032.txt : 20170509
<SEC-HEADER>0001209784-17-000032.hdr.sgml : 20170509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170509184541
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209784-17-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170509
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170509

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001116463
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				364370966
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 WEBSTER ST
		CITY:			BETHLEHEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5036416115

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 WEBSTER ST
		CITY:			BETHLEHEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18015

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Celano Michael
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001377582

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16537
		FILM NUMBER:		17827964

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 EAST FIRST STREET
		CITY:			BETHLEHEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-05-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001116463</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OSUR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377582</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Celano Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 EAST FIRST STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHLEHEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>44962</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38117</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark L. Kuna, as Attorney-In-Fact for Michael Celano, (Power of Attorney previously filed).</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
