CUNO and Xtrana to Develop Membranes for Nucleic Acid Capture and Detection.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BROOMFIELD, Colo.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 20, 2001

Xtrana, Inc. (OTCBB:XTRN), and CUNO Incorporated, Meriden, CT (NASDAQ:CUNO), have signed a joint development and license agreement to combine Xtrana's Xtra Bind(TM) proprietary nucleic acid extraction technologies with CUNO's nylon microporous membranes for improved nucleic-acid sample preparation. The new product, Xtra Bind Nylon-XBN membrane, will become the key component of a fully-integrated sample preparation, amplification, and detection system to be developed and marketed by Xtrana. XBN membranes will also be made available through CUNO as an enabling nucleic acid sample preparation platform.

Rapid testing for the identification of microorganism species and strain is an enabling technology for detecting and diagnosing disease-causing pathogens, ensuring the safety of food products, and specifying corrective actions. Currently, sample preparation and speed of analysis are bottlenecks for microorganism molecular diagnostic applications. Researchers, physicians, and food/beverage microbiologists are limited in available options to capture, concentrate, purify, amplify and detect nucleic acids from target organisms present at low concentration in large sample volumes. XBN membrane is targeted for these applications.

XBN membranes will enable both the capture of microorganisms from samples through filtration (such as drinking water, bodily fluids, food homogenates and beverages) and the irreversible binding of nucleic acid released from these organisms following lysis. The bound nucleic acids can then be amplified directly from the XBN membrane through PCR or isothermal methods using strain-species-specific primers.

Timothy Dahltorp, Xtrana's chief executive officer, said, "The partnership with CUNO and the development of the XBN membranes add a new dimension to our extraction products utilizing Xtra Bind(TM). By combining filtration with extraction and amplification, our SCIP (Self Contained Integrated Particle) diagnostic platforms will significantly reduce the enrichment time currently necessary for existing technologies."

According to Mark Kachur, CUNO's president and chief executive officer, "This agreement positions CUNO for growth in the emerging nucleic acid extraction market, which is an important aspect of our overall Life Sciences Strategy."

CUNO is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a comprehensive line of filtration products for the separation, clarification and purification of liquids and gases. CUNO's products, which include proprietary depth filters and semi-permeable membrane filters, are used in the diagnostics, potable water, healthcare, and fluid processing markets.

Xtrana's mission is to simplify the analysis of DNA/RNA, so that nucleic acid based detection systems can be utilized in point-of-care, point-of-service applications. The proprietary assays developed by Xtrana are designed to be easy to use outside of a traditional molecular biology laboratory at a cost per test that is competitive with existing rapid test technologies. These diagnostic tests are intended for use in drug discovery, detection of environmental and food contaminants, forensics and identity testing, human and animal diseases, genetic predisposition to disease, and other applications. The Company's first commercial nucleic acid product is Xtra Amp(TM), DNA or RNA extraction kits that enable high throughput extraction in as little as 3 minutes, versus competing technologies that can take 30 minutes to 3 hours. To learn more about Xtrana, visit the Company's website at www.xtrana.com.

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements (identified by the words "estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions), which are based upon management's current expectations and speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements and include, but are not limited to, competitors' pricing strategies and technological innovations, changes in health care and government regulations, litigation claims, foreign currency fluctuation, product acceptance, as well as other factors discussed in the Company's last Report on Form 10-KSB.