Calypte Biomedical Announces Management Changes.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 1999--

Calypte Biomedical Corporation, Inc (NASDAQ: CALY) announced today changes in several key management positions. John DiPietro, chief operating officer and chief financial officer, has left Calypte to pursue other business interests. Dick Van Maanen, currently the company's director of sales and marketing, has become general manager of Calypte's California operations. In addition, Don Kafader joined the company as its director of regulatory affairs on September 21.

In the newly created position of general manager of California operations, Van Maanen will assume many of DiPietro's operational responsibilities while maintaining his sales and marketing duties. A 16-year veteran of the diagnostics industry, Van Maanen joined Calypte in early 1993.

Kafader comes to Calypte with more than 20 years of experience in regulatory affairs. During the last five years, he served as manager of regulatory affairs for Organon Teknika Corporation, a Durham, N.C.-based company that sells a number of HIV-related tests for use with serum and oral fluid. Kafader was responsible for the company's FDA-licensed in vitro biologic products. Prior to his career at Organon Teknika, he held various positions at Murex Diagnostics, Wellcome Diagnostic Systems, and Mallinckrodt, Inc. Kafader has also been active in the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS).

"We are very pleased to have someone of Don Kafader's caliber come aboard. He brings to Calypte extensive industry experience and a long-standing relationship with the Center for Biologic Evaluation and Research (CBER) -- a branch of the FDA we work with regarding our three FDA-licensed HIV tests," said Bill Boeger, Calypte's president and CEO.

DiPietro, who had been with Calypte since 1995, will continue his involvement with the company. He was elected to the company's board of directors on September 21, 1999 and will also serve as a consultant on various projects. In the interim, Bill Boeger will assume DiPietro's executive responsibilities.

"During the last five years, John DiPietro has made a significant contribution to Calypte, and although he will no longer be involved as CFO and COO, we look forward to a continued relationship with him," Boeger added.

Calypte Biomedical manufacturers the only two FDA-licensed HIV-1 antibody tests that can be used on urine samples. These tests include the screening EIA and supplemental Western blot tests. Urine testing is non-invasive, less costly, does not require sample storage or a trained health care worker for sample collection, and it is safer because there are no risks of accidental needle sticks.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding market adoption of the HIV-1 urine testing system. Actual results may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be independent upon the Company's ability, directly or through third parties, to successfully manufacture and market the HIV-1 urine testing system. Factors which may impact the Company's success are more fully discussed in the Company's most recent quarterly report on forms 10-Q and 10-K.