Biopool International reports a 21 percent increase in sales for third-quarter 1996.

VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1996--Biopool International Inc. (NASDAQ:BIPL) Monday reported results for its third quarter and nine-month period ended Sept. 30, 1996.

Sales for the third quarter grew 21 percent to $2,006,000 from $1,660,000 in the same period last year. The company reported net income of $327,000, or 4 cents per share, vs. a net loss of $2,460 in the third quarter of 1995.

For the nine-month period, sales increased 18 percent to $5,873,000 from $4,978,000 for the comparable period a year ago. Net income increased 133 percent to $1,013,000, or 13 cents per share, for the first nine months of 1996, compared with net income of $435,000, or 6 cents per share, for the same period in 1995.

Michael D. Bick, Ph.D., Biopool's chief executive officer, stated: ``Sales continue to be strong in all product areas. Most notably, we are beginning to realize the efforts of our Eastern U.S. sales manager, who joined Biopool in the first quarter of 1996 and has focused on expanding our U.S. distribution network.

``In the third quarter, one of our new distributors, Columbia Diagnostics, began to make significant contributions to Biopool's sales growth. The success of this program prompted us to add a Western U.S. sales manager in September of this year.

``Further,'' continued Bick, ``our Bioclot Protein S Kit, which was approved by the FDA in February 1996, is being well received and is experiencing strong sales growth.

``During the second quarter, two new test kits received FDA 510(k) approval, LA Positive Control Plasma and Venom Time, for which we now have significant OEM orders in-house, scheduled for shipment in the fourth quarter of this year and first quarter of 1997.''

During the third quarter, Biopool received Food and Drug Administration approval to market two new hemostasis products: Spectrolyse ATIII and Chromolize tPA. These products are also expected to contribute to sales late in the fourth quarter.

Bick concluded: ``We are pleased to report that our strategies for growth are continuing to pay off for the company. Continued additions to our product line, new OEM contracts and expansion of our distribution network will continue to fuel our growth into the future.''

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, as well as specialty chemistry controls used to monitor and measure the presence of drugs of abuse.

The company's products are sold to hospitals and clinical and reference laboratories on a worldwide basis through an extensive network of distributors. -0-

                     BIOPOOL INTERNATIONAL INC.
                       Selected Financial Data
                            (Unaudited)

                          Operations Data

                           Three months ended       Nine months ended
                                Sept. 30,               Sept. 30,
                            1996        1995        1996        1995
Sales                 $2,006,000  $1,660,000  $5,873,000  $4,978,000
Operating income         295,000       6,285     982,000     502,000
Net income (loss)        327,000      (2,460)  1,013,000     435,000
Earnings (loss)
 per share               4 cents          --    13 cents     6 cents
Weighted average
 shares outstanding    7,994,049   7,905,276   7,972,778   7,897,336
-0-

                          Balance Sheet Data

                                                  Sept. 30,   Dec. 31,
                                                    1996        1995
                                                 (Unaudited) (Audited)
Working capital                               $4,888,000  $3,777,000
Total assets                                   8,520,000   7,436,000
Long-term debt                                   575,000     705,000
Total shareholders' equity                     7,030,000   5,934,000

CONTACT: Biopool International Inc., Ventura

Michael D. Bick or Carol Hill, 805/654-0643