Beckman Coulter Signs Contract with HealthTrust Purchasing Group to Provide Chemistry Systems and Supplies.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

FULLERTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2003

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (NYSE:BEC) announced today it has signed a three-year agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group (HPG) in Brentwood, Tennessee to provide medical laboratory chemistry systems and tests as well as automation and centrifugation systems.

The new agreement encompasses Beckman Coulter's SYNCHRON(R) clinical systems, including the SYNCHRON LX(R)20 PRO clinical system, which features the company's proprietary closed-tube sampling technology for improved lab efficiency, higher quality patient test results and improved lab worker safety.

In addition, the agreement includes tests for routine, critical care, urine and esoteric chemistries, as well as tests for therapeutic drug monitoring, drugs of abuse and proteins. Beckman Coulter's popular high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test, which helps physicians determine a patient's risk of coronary artery disease by detecting inflammation, is part of the contract.

"This agreement complements our existing hematology contract with HPG and provides us with greater opportunities with HPG members," said Scott Garrett, president of Beckman Coulter's clinical diagnostics division. "And, as part of the agreement, HPG members will have the option to purchase centrifugation and automation systems such as our Power Processor. Beckman Coulter automation provides HPG members with even more choices and flexibility to increase lab productivity, eliminate sources of error, improve patient safety and upgrade conditions for lab workers simultaneous."

HealthTrust Purchasing Group is one of the nation's leading healthcare group purchasing organizations (GPO) with a current membership in excess of 900 facilities and contracting volume totaling more than $5 billion. HPG is committed to providing its customers with the highest quality, cost-effective supplies and services for their patients, physicians, nurses and other clinicians. HPG's membership includes hospitals, surgery centers, clinics, physicians, integrated delivery networks, and affiliate members. More information about HPG is available at www.healthtrustpg.com.

Beckman Coulter, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of instrument systems, chemistries and supplies that simplify and automate laboratory processes. At the forefront of medical discovery, in clinical research and through the often life-saving process of clinical diagnostics, Beckman Coulter's 200,000 installed systems provide essential biomedical intelligence to enhance health care around the world. The company, based in Fullerton, Calif., reported 2002 annual sales of $2.06 billion with 62 percent of this amount generated by recurring revenue from supplies, test kits and services. For more information, visit www.beckmancoulter.com.