Biopool International reports record sales and earnings for 1996.

VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1997--Biopool International Inc. (NASDAQ:BIPL) Monday reported results for its fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 1996.

Sales for the year advanced 20 percent to a record high of $8,020,000 from $6,662,000 in 1995, while net income increased to $1,295,000, or 16 cents per share, vs. net income of $141,000, or 2 cents per share, for the previous year. Included in the 1996 net income is a $400,000 tax benefit. This benefit represents a reduction of the allowance against the deferred tax asset.

For the fourth quarter, sales increased 27 percent to $2,147,000 from $1,684,000 in 1995. Biopool reported net income of $282,000, or 3 cents per share, for the quarter compared with a net loss of $294,000, or 4 cents per share, for the same period a year ago.

Michael D. Bick, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Biopool International stated, "1996 has been a landmark year for Biopool. We have successfully implemented many facets of our continued growth strategy. The company added two sales managers in 1996 responsible for both the eastern and western U.S. who, in turn, have brought on three new distributors covering all 50 states through a combined sales force of nearly 175 representatives.

"The fourth quarter has begun to show the results of these enhanced sales efforts and we are confident of continued high levels of performance in 1997 and beyond."

Bick continued, "Product development efforts have resulted in eight new products receiving Food and Drug Administration 510(k) approval during 1996, most of which serve to broaden and complement the company's leading-edge hemostasis products."

"Perhaps the most significant event at the close of 1996," concluded Bick, "was the Jan. 1, 1997, acquisition of the Blood Group Serology business from Organon Teknika. Now known as `BCA, Division of Biopool International,' this business unit considerably broadens Biopool's position in the worldwide diagnostic market.

"The BCA products, over 75 in number, cover a wide range of reagents and test kits used by hospitals and blood centers worldwide to type and group donor and patient blood, as well as detect a variety of antigen and antibodies in blood components.

"With this acquisition comes eight new sales representatives currently dedicated to the BCA product line who will also allow us to capitalize on the complimentary relationship between that product line and Biopool's historical market niche of hemostasis products."

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 products are sold to hospitals, blood bank facilities, and clinical and reference laboratories on a worldwide basis through an extensive network of distributors. -0-

                     BIOPOOL INTERNATIONAL INC.
                     1996 Financial Highlights

                          Operations Data

                         Three Months Ended            Year Ended
                            (Unaudited)                (Audited)
Dec. 31                  1996         1995         1996         1995

Sales              $2,147,000   $1,684,000   $8,020,000   $6,662,000

Income (loss)
 before taxes         192,000     (305,000)   1,180,000      261,000

Net Income (loss)     282,000     (294,000)   1,295,000      141,000

EPS
 Income (loss)
   before taxes    $     0.02   $    (0.04)  $     0.14   $     0.03
 Net income (loss) $     0.03   $    (0.04)  $     0.16   $     0.02

Average shares
 outstanding                                  8,341,967    7,907,494


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                     BIOPOOL INTERNATIONAL INC.
                         Balance Sheet Data
                             (Audited)


                          Dec. 31, 1996               Dec. 31, 1995

Working capital             $ 8,293,000                  $3,777,000

Total assets                 13,123,000                   7,436,000

Long-term debt                2,811,000                     705,000

Total Shareholders' equity  $ 8,352,000                  $5,934,000

CONTACT: Biopool International Inc., Ventura

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