AmeriPath Announces BCBS Agreement Expansion.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2002

AmeriPath, Inc. (Nasdaq:PATH), a leading national provider of cancer diagnostics, genomics, and related information services, today announced that it has expanded its current agreement with Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield to include its HMO products. Through this agreement, AmeriPath's dermatopathology services will now become available to approximately one million Keystone HMO members in the Philadelphia area.

Founded in 1938, Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Pennsylvania continues its commitment to provide its subscribers with unparalleled quality service and quality care. For over 60 years, Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield has been instrumental in not only meeting the health care needs of its residents and employer groups, but has set a standard as a nationally-recognized health plan organization.

"By expanding this agreement to include Keystone HMO membership, AmeriPath will now be able to extend its expertise in cancer diagnostics to the full complement of Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield lives," said James C. New, Chairman and CEO of AmeriPath.

AmeriPath is a leading national provider of cancer diagnostics, genomics, and related information services. During the first nine months of 2001, AmeriPath diagnosed approximately 2.9 million tissue biopsies, and interpreted approximately 1.6 million Pap smears. The company's extensive diagnostics infrastructure includes over 400 pathologists and doctorate-level scientists providing services to 42 independent pathology laboratories, more than 200 hospitals, the Center for Advanced Diagnostics (CAD) and Dermpath Diagnostics. CAD provides specialized diagnostic testing and information services including Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH), Flow Cytometry, DNA Analysis, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Molecular Genetics, Cytogenetics and HPV Typing. AmeriPath has over 60 board-certified dermatopathologists supporting Dermpath Diagnostics, one of the country's leading providers of dermatopathology services in the growing skin diagnostic market. Additionally, AmeriPath provides clinical trial and research development support to firms involved in developing new cancer and genomic diagnostics and therapeutics.

The statements contained in this press release include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements - which are sometimes identified by words such as "may," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" and similar expressions and which include any financial or operating estimates, forecasts or projections - are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company's control. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include: the extent of success of the Company's operating initiatives and growth strategies; ability to manage growth; access to capital on satisfactory terms; general economic conditions; terrorism or an escalation of hostilities or war; competition and changes in competitive factors; federal and state healthcare regulation (and compliance); reimbursement rates under government and third party healthcare programs and the payments received under such programs; changes in coding; changes in technology; dependence upon pathologists and customer contracts; the ability to attract, motivate, and retain pathologists; labor, technology and insurance costs; marketing and promotional efforts; the availability of pathology practices in appropriate locations that the Company is able to acquire on suitable terms or develop; and the successful completion and integration of acquisitions (and achievement of planned or expected synergies). The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof based on management's current beliefs and expectations, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such statements. Further information regarding risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect the Company's financial or operating results or that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, estimated or anticipated are included in the Company's annual, quarterly, and other reports and filings with the SEC.

Editor's Note: This release is also available at http://www.ameripath.com.