Bio-Reference Laboratories and Visible Genetics Execute Agreement Regarding Gene-based Testing.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 25, 2001

Visible Genetics Grants BRLI Preferred Marketing Agreement for HIV 

Drug Resistance Testing

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRLI) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Visible Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: VGIN) to offer the Visible Genetics TRUGENE(TM) HIV-1 Genotyping Test to Bio-Reference customers treating patients with HIV infections.

In addition Bio-Reference will be the local reference and overflow laboratory for the test in the New York Metropolitan area. The TRUGENE(TM) HIV-1 Genotyping Test and OpenGene(TM) DNA Sequencing System are currently in the final steps of review by the FDA. This agreement is contingent upon Visible Genetics obtaining final FDA clearance to begin commercial marketing of the product.

Under the terms of the preferred agreement Bio-Reference and Visible Genetics will co-market and support the product in New York, New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area, and provide programs for physician and patient education. Additionally, the two companies will work together to identify, develop and secure primary payor contracts and policy procedures.

Marc Grodman, MD, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Bio-Reference, noted, "After a thorough review of the scientific evidence, it is our belief that the TRUGENE(TM) HIV-1 Genotyping Test provides the most informative, valuable and accurate HIV-1 resistance testing available for AIDS patients at this time. Although a small number of other clinical laboratories have developed homebrew genotyping test procedures, it is our belief, as it has been reported in the literature, that these other tests are not as timely, accurate, reproducible or cost effective as the TRUGENE(TM) HIV-1 resistance testing assay from Visible Genetics. Upon completion of the FDA review and clearance for commercial marketing of the product, we believe that this product can make a significant difference in the treatment of AIDS patients. Through our strong presence in the New York metropolitan area's HIV patient care market, together with our leading position in the prison health market throughout the country, we will be able to deliver the product to areas where it is highly needed. We expect Visible Genetics to be a valuable strategic partner in the effort to promote the acceptance of this important test as well as in our efforts to promote improved monitoring and care for AIDS patients. We also believe that this agreement will provide us with a technological advantage over the services offered by other clinical laboratories in this area."

"We are very pleased to be working with a leading laboratory company such as Bio-Reference. Their extensive network and capabilities will extend and complement our sales and marketing presence in New York, New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. By combining our respective strengths, we will be able to quickly and efficiently serve those markets", stated Richard T. Daly, President and CEO of Visible Genetics. "The planned co-promotion efforts for the TRUGENE(TM) HIV-1 Genotyping Test will offer physicians access to a standardized HIV resistance test that allows them to personalize therapy for each HIV-infected patient. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

About Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc.

The Company is the largest independent regional clinical laboratory in the Northeast and has major market positions in physician offices, nursing homes and correctional institutions. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, CareEvolve, is a physician-centric connectivity solution that seeks to enhance physician-patient and physician-payor electronic communications on a secure basis, including communicating laboratory results, e-mail, prescriptions, payor verification and eligibility, as well as offering many other value-added Internet based services to its physician members. PSIMedica, a business unit of the Company, is a clinical knowledge management (CKM) organization offering an array of information solutions for reducing healthcare costs and improving quality performance.

About Visible Genetics Inc.:

Visible Genetics Inc. (www.visgen.com) is a leader in the emerging field of pharmacogenomics, which uses genetic information in the identification and analysis of genes to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. VGI manufactures and markets high performance automated DNA sequencing systems and complete kits for the analysis of genes linked to disease. The Company's OpenGene(TM) system employs patented CLIP technology - a single-step, bi-directional sequencing method that significantly reduces the time and cost involved in identifying clinically relevant genetic information. Visible Genetics' TRUGENE(TM) HIV-1 Genotyping Test and OpenGene(TM) System are currently under review at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements, as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and the actual results and future events could differ materially from management's current expectations. Such factors are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the regulatory authorities having jurisdiction.

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