Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. SARS Order Update: $2 Million Increase in N-95 Mask & Eye Shield Orders.

Business Editors

NOGALES, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2003

Alpha Pro Tech (AMEX:APT; CHX:APT) a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of disposable protective apparel for the medical, dental, industrial safety, clean room and food service markets, today announced orders received for the Company's N-95 respirator mask and eye shields. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended an N-95 respirator mask to be used together with an eye shield to protect healthcare workers in the fight against the spread of the SARS virus.

Orders received primarily for Asia, for the N-95 respirator mask, continue to be strong and we have recently experienced an increase in demand for eye shields. Since the news release on April 9th, we have received an increase of approximately $2.0 million in orders in addition to our normal volume for these products. Orders have strengthened in the past two-weeks. Since March 28th, we have booked approximately $3.5 million dollars in SARS related orders.

Alpha Pro Tech is manufacturing the N-95 masks 24 hours per business day. Other US manufacturers of the N-95 have also experienced higher demand than production capabilities, causing delays for customers from around the world. Alpha Pro Tech is currently manufacturing approximately ten times more N-95 masks than it did before the SARS outbreak. In addition, new production lines are expected to be operational by July 1st, which should double current N-95 production capacity. The capacity for manufacturing eye shields has also been increased to meet current demands.

"At this time there is no way to predict how long the increased demand for N-95 masks and eye shields will continue, but we believe it will continue through the third quarter of 2003 at a minimum," commented Al Millar, President of Alpha Pro Tech. "However, with heightened awareness about infection control and Alpha Pro Tech's product line, we believe that our N-95 mask and eye shield will continue to be in higher demand than ever before," continued Al Millar.

Recent News Update on SARS

On Monday May 5th, the Chinese Premier said that the SARS crisis was "grave" with the disease striking hardest in Beijing. The SARS epidemic threatens to overwhelm the hospitals in China. The World Health Organization said the outbreak had yet to peak in China.

The disease emerged in China last year and has been spread by air travelers to almost 30 countries. As of May 6th, 478 people primarily in Asia and Canada have died from SARS and 6,700 have been infected. Beijing is reporting around 100 new SARS infections each day with a total of about 1,960 cases including 107 deaths. The capital has already closed schools and theaters and put nearly 25,000 people under quarantine.

Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (http://www.alphaprotech.com) develops, manufactures and markets innovative disposable and limited-use protective apparel products for the medical, dental, industrial, clean room and food service markets. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah; Nogales, Arizona; Janesville, Wisconsin; Valdosta, Georgia; and Benjamin Hill, Mexico. For more information e-mail Investor Relations at [e-mail].

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as described from time to time in registration statements, annual reports and other periodic reports and filings of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address the Company's expectations of sources of capital or which express the Company's expectation for the future with respect to financial performance or operating strategies, can be identified as forward-looking statements. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company's future results will not be materially different from those described herein as "believed," "anticipated," "estimated" or "expected," which reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events. We caution readers that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company hereby expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statement is based.