Biopool International Enters Into New Supply Agreement with i-STAT Corp.

VENTURA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 5, 1999--Biopool International Inc. (Nasdaq:BIPL) Tuesday announced that the Company has entered into a Supply Agreement with i-STAT Corp. (Nasdaq:STAT) to provide specialized control products designed for use on the hemostasis cartridges and instruments currently under development at i-STAT.

Michael D. Bick, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Biopool, stated: "Biopool developed these customized plasma control products to support the i-STAT test system during 1998 and, indeed, received FDA clearance on the products in June of last year. Since that time, we have delivered product to i-STAT to support their ongoing clinical evaluations. Full commercialization of the test system is expected to begin late in 1999."

Dr. Bick added, "The initial term of the Supply Agreement is three years, and we expect to add additional products to the agreement during that term."

i-STAT develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic products for blood analysis that provide health care professionals critical diagnostic information accurately and immediately at the point of patient care.

Through the use of advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, established principles of electrochemistry and state-of-the-art computer electronics and software, i-STAT developed the world's first hand-held automated blood analyzer capable of performing a panel of commonly ordered blood tests on two or three drops of blood in just two minutes at the patient's side.

Founded in 1987, Biopool International develops, manufactures, and markets a full range of test kits to assess and diagnose disorders of blood coagulation, thrombotic risk factors, fibrinolysis, platelet function, and the vascular system; specialty chemistry controls used to monitor and measure the presence of drugs of abuse; and blood group serology products used to screen for antibodies and group and type whole blood.

The Company's product line of over 150 FDA-approved products is sold to hospitals, blood bank facilities, and clinical and reference laboratories on a worldwide basis by the Company's own sales representatives, as well as through an extensive network of distributors. To learn more about Biopool, visit the Company's web site at http://www.biopool.com.

NOTE: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the expected commercialization of a new test system, which are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, technological innovations of competitors, changes in health care regulations, litigation claims, foreign currency fluctuation, product acceptance or changes in government regulation of the Company's products, as well as other factors discussed in the Company's last Report on Form 10-K-SB under "Risk Factors."