Cytyc Announces Exclusive ThinPrep Pap Test Contract with Largest Private Laboratory in The UK.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BOXBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2003

Cytyc Corporation (Nasdaq:CYTC) today announced it has signed a five-year exclusive contract with the British United Provident Association (BUPA) to provide the ThinPrep(R) Pap Test to all patients in the BUPA Hospital System. The BUPA National Cervical Cytology Screening Service, based at BUPA Hospital Bristol, provides cervical screening for 35 BUPA hospitals in the UK. BUPA is the leading independent health and care organization in the UK.

After evaluating a range of available cervical screening technologies, BUPA selected the ThinPrep Pap Test. "We are very impressed with both the technology and reliability of the equipment offered by Cytyc," said Sandie Foxall Smith, general manager of the BUPA Hospital, Bristol. "The purpose of cervical screening is to identify as many women as possible who have abnormalities whilst not identifying women as being at risk when they have nothing wrong - this technology is a step closer to achieving this ideal."

"We are very pleased with the recent successes in the adoption of the ThinPrep Pap Test by sizeable screening programs in the United Kingdom and Scotland," said Patrick J. Sullivan, Cytyc's chairman, president, and chief executive officer. "We hope to build on this momentum, should the UK National Health Service elect to adopt liquid-based cytology."

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been evaluating the clinical and cost benefits of liquid-based cytology. A preliminary report recommended the use of liquid-based cytology "as the primary means of collecting samples in the cervical screening programme in England and Wales." The NICE Final Appraisal Determination is expected this month and final guidance to the UK's National Health Service is currently scheduled for September of this year.

In March of this year, Cytyc announced that the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme had selected the ThinPrep Pap Test as the new technology for total conversion of all cervical screening centers in Scotland. The Scottish contract with Cytyc UK is for five years, with a commitment to full conversion in Scotland by March 2004.

Cytyc Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets the ThinPrep(R) System for use in medical diagnostic applications primarily focused on women's health. The ThinPrep System is widely used for cervical cancer screening and is the platform from which the Company has launched its expansion into breast cancer risk assessment with the FirstCyte(TM) Breast Test. The ThinPrep System consists of the ThinPrep(R) 2000 Processor, ThinPrep(R) 3000 Processor, ThinPrep(R) Imaging System, and related reagents, filters, and other supplies. Cytyc is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CYTC.

Cytyc and ThinPrep are registered trademarks of Cytyc Corporation. FirstCyte is a trademark of Cytyc Corporation for which registration has been applied.

Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's financial condition, operating results and future economic performance, and management's expectations regarding future growth opportunities, product acceptance and business strategy, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among others, dependence on key personnel and proprietary technology, uncertainty of product development efforts, product acceptance, management of growth, risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures, risks associated with the FDA regulatory approval processes and any healthcare reimbursement policies, risks associated with litigation, and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading "Certain Factors Which May Affect Future Results" in its 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in Company expectations or events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.