<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001756089</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Weber Kathleen Gallagher</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 EAST FIRST STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHLEHEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18015-1360</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp;amp; BU Lead - Molecular</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9066</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8008</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.7149</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2015-02-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-02-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4129</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-02-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-02-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10404</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">RSA  with   vesting schedule</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of restricted shares under OraSure Technologies, Inc. Stock Award Plan, all of which vest February 1, 2019. Vesting shall cease upon voluntary termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Grant of restricted shares under OraSure Technologies, Inc. Stock Award Plan, one-half of which vest on February 1, 2019 and the other half on February 1, 2020. Vesting shall cease upon voluntary termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Grant of restricted shares under OraSure Technologies, Inc. Stock Award Plan, one third of which vest on February 1, 2019, the second third on February 1, 2020 and the final third on February 1, 2021. Vesting shall cease upon voluntary termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Non-qualified stock options granted on February 3, 2014, vesting 25% at the end of 12 months after the grant date and 75% ratably on a monthly basis over the next 36 months. Vesting shall cease upon voluntary termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Non-qualified stock options granted on February 3, 2015, vesting 25% at the end of 12 months after the grant date and 75% ratably on a monthly basis over the next 36 months. Vesting shall cease upon voluntary termination of employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Jack E. Jerrett As Attorney-In-Fact For Kathleen G. Weber</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
