Bio-Plexus Positions for Growth.

VERNON, Conn.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 16, 1999--

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated the nationwide use of the 'safest' safety needles in early November. "The national mandate has created significant positive market pressure to deliver Bio-Plexus Punctur-Guard needles to this new, wide-open safety market," according to Carl Sahi, Bio-Plexus president and CEO.

Using strong language, the OSHA directive clearly stated, "Where engineering controls will reduce employee exposure either by removing, eliminating or isolating the hazard, they must be used," and "If a combination of engineering and work practice controls used by the employer does not eliminate or minimize exposure, the employer shall be cited..... FDA clearance (for marketing) is not enough to guarantee the device will be effective in the workplace. The employer must rely on further evidence to ensure its effectiveness..." Bio-Plexus Punctur-Guard achieved the highest safety ratings in studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and by ECRI.(a) "The evidence clearly shows that Punctur-Guard internal blunting technology leads the competition in reducing accidental needlesticks. It is the only device that can be made safe while still inside the patient's vein, and it requires minimal training," Sahi added.

"Clear indicators that Bio-Plexus is in a strong position to gain a significant share of this new safety market include increases in sales volume, positive market pressure, and our ongoing hiring of product educators in the southeast and the west. Add to these the recently announced financing commitment of $17.5 million from Appaloosa Management, L.P. and Bio-Plexus is in an excellent position to grow," Sahi continued.

"To close the Appaloosa financing, we will conduct a special meeting of shareholders in late January or early February. Appaloosa remains strongly committed to working with Bio-Plexus to help direct the company and gain market share," Sahi concluded.

Bio-Plexus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPLX), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and holds U.S. and international patents on safety medical needles and other products under the PUNCTUR-GUARD(R), DROP-IT(R) and PUNCTUR-GUARD REVOLUTION(TM) brand names. Accidental needlesticks number about one million per year in the United States and can result in the transmission of deadly diseases including HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

(a) CDC MMWR (January 1997), ECRI, a non-profit agency, (Health

Devices, June 1998 and October 1999.)

Note: This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from those described in any such forward-looking statement as a result of factors described from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or discussed in other press releases issued by the company.