Calypte Biomedical Launches First Urine-based Testing Service in United States for HIV and STD Exposure.

Business & Medical/Science Editors

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2000

Fast and Affordable Program Can Increase Testing and Reduce

Anxious Waits for Patients

Calypte Biomedical Corporation (NASDAQ:CALY) announced today that its Sentinel(TM) testing service, the nation's first and only urine-based testing service dedicated exclusively to the detection of exposure to HIV-1, chlamydia, and gonorrhea sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), is now available throughout the United States.

The service offers healthcare providers and patients a new fast, affordable and painless testing method for STDs. Easier, more accessible testing could mean that hundreds of thousands of Americans unknowingly living with a STD could learn their status and seek treatment earlier, when therapies are most effective.

The Sentinel testing service is comprised of three separate tests -- HIV-1 antibody, chlamydia DNA, and gonorrhea DNA -- all of which can be performed on a single urine specimen. The simple process requires the patient to provide a urine specimen at a healthcare facility, which is then sent to a central testing laboratory. Results generally are reported three days after the sample is received by the lab. Currently, many clinics without in-house laboratories send samples to state public health labs for analysis, which can be a very slow process that forces patients to wait weeks for their results.

"The Sentinel testing service will help make these important tests more accessible and affordable - two keys to fostering widespread testing," says Dr. Niel Constantine, Director of Clinical Immunology at University of Maryland Medical Systems. "Knowing your HIV and STD status is critical to stemming the spread of disease and obtaining timely and effective treatment."

For healthcare providers, a major benefit of urine testing is that it eliminates safety concerns surrounding accidental needle sticks and other exposure-related dangers. And just as important, patients avoid the discomfort associated with blood draws, pelvic exams and urethral swabs.

Calypte's HIV-1 urine test is an FDA-cleared alternative to blood tests. Both the urine and blood of HIV infected people contain antibodies to HIV. However, unlike blood, urine does not appear to harbor the infectious virus itself and, according to the National Institutes of Health Fact Sheet on HIV Infection and AIDS, there is no evidence that HIV is spread through urine.

"We are pleased to announce that our Sentinel testing service is now operational and on schedule," said Nancy Katz, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Calypte Biomedical. "Collectively, HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia infect millions of Americans annually. By offering medical professionals testing services that are faster and more affordable than they may have been used to, this service can help to bring about better identification of these diseases. Ultimately, we believe that improved access to testing through our Sentinel service will foster appropriate counseling and treatment."

To further facilitate testing, Calypte is developing a Sentinel testing service web site (www.sentineltestservice.com) that will enable medical professionals and authorized institutions to order testing services directly over the Internet. The site is expected to be operational by May 12, 2000.

The Sentinel testing service, which is jointly marketed by Calypte Biomedical and Wampole Laboratories, a division of Carter-Wallace Inc. (NYSE:CAR), offers multiple combinations of HIV-1 antibody, chlamydia DNA, and gonorrhea DNA testing services. Anonymous HIV-1 antibody testing is available through the Sentinel testing service where permitted by local regulations. The HIV-1 urine antibody tests used in the service are manufactured by Calypte and the testing services are provided by Clinical Reference Laboratory of Lenexa, Kansas.

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.

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 products and the Sentinel(TM) service and statements regarding marketing and distribution arrangements and plans. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including the Company's ability, directly or through third parties, to successfully manufacture and market the HIV-1 urine testing products and the Sentinel(TM) testing service and the ability of the Company to continue to finance its operations and to enter into distribution and marketing arrangements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors which may impact the Company's success are more fully discussed in the Company's most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K.

Sentinel testing service is a registered trademark of Calypte Biomedical Corporation.