Calypte Biomedical Appoints New Government Relations Director.

Business Editors

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 9, 2000

Calypte Biomedical Corporation (Nasdaq: CALY) announced today that James J. Tuite, General Manager of Calypte Biomedical's Rockville, Maryland Manufacturing Facility, has accepted the newly-created position of Director of Government Relations, effective immediately.

In his new role, Mr. Tuite will identify and define corporate and/or distributor sales opportunities related to HIV prevention and treatment activities of the U.S. government, The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS. He will also pursue funding opportunities with the US Export-Import Bank and the World Bank. Mr. Tuite will continue reporting directly to Nancy Katz, president, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer.

Nancy Katz said, "Jim's credentials and extensive expertise will further position Calypte as a major player in HIV testing. As we pursue international funding opportunities and expand into new markets, Jim will build Calypte's growing presence in HIV diagnosis."

Mr. Tuite will also identify and advance opportunities regarding urine HIV testing in federal and state legislation and in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed rules regarding bloodborne pathogens and needlestick injuries. Mr. Tuite's focus will help to ensure urine HIV testing protocols are incorporated into government research programs, and maintain liaison activities with domestic and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to identify opportunities for the use of urine HIV testing.

Before joining Calypte, Mr. Tuite served as a professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Mr. Tuite was responsible for national security issues and the Export Administration Act. A retired federal law enforcement officer, Mr. Tuite spent four years in a federal forensic laboratory as a science and technology research and development coordinator. Mr. Tuite holds a M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and has completed additional postgraduate coursework in American government and international relations at Catholic University, also in Washington, D.C.

Calypte Biomedical Corporation (NASDAQ: CALY) is a health care company dedicated to the development and commercialization of urine-based diagnostic products and services for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), sexually transmitted diseases and other chronic illnesses. Carter-Wallace (NYSE: CAR) has the exclusive U.S. sales and marketing rights for Calypte's HIV products in the hospital, public health and reference lab markets. Calypte's tests include the screening EIA and supplemental Western blot tests, the only two FDA-licensed HIV-1 antibody tests that can be used on urine samples. The company believes that accurate, non invasive urine-based testing methods for HIV and other chronic diseases may make important contributions to public health by helping to foster an environment in which testing may be done safely, economically, and painlessly.