<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209784-17-000043.txt : 20170517
<SEC-HEADER>0001209784-17-000043.hdr.sgml : 20170517
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170517164728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209784-17-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170517
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170517

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:			Patrick Charles W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001348789

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16537
		FILM NUMBER:		17852016

	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>2017-05-15</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001348789</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Patrick Charles W</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>2017-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4121</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.1275</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52475</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6295</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>58770</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Withholding of shares to pay the tax liability associated with vesting of restricted shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of restricted shares under the OraSure Technologies, Inc. Stock Award Plan, cliff vesting on May 14, 2018.  Vesting shall cease immediately if the named individual voluntarily ceases to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark L. Kuna, As Attorney-In-Fact for Charles W. Patrick (Power of Attorney previously filed)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
