DPC's Sample Management System -- SMS -- Now Available.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 2003

Diagnostic Products Corporation (NYSE: DP) is pleased to announce that it has begun shipments of its Sample Management System (SMS) worldwide. The SMS is an optional module designed to increase the productivity of the IMMULITE 2000, while assisting the laboratory in achieving immunoassay-processing efficiency.

Designed for use with any new or existing IMMULITE(R) 2000 system, the SMS is a robotic sample-moving device that interfaces with the IMMULITE 2000 system through a robotic arm and SMS software to load and retrieve samples continuously. The SMS increases the productivity of the IMMULITE 2000 by providing no-pause sample loading and unloading, and by accommodating up to 200 sample tubes, thereby more than doubling the on-board sample capacity of the system. Future development will enable the SMS to link to two IMMULITE 2000 systems, creating a large-volume IMMULITE 2000 Workcell. A universal sample-loading interface will also be available that will enable linking to any open-track system.

"This is terrific news for both DPC and our customers," said Michael Ziering, President and Chief Executive Officer, DPC. "With approximately 2,600 IMMULITE 2000 systems placed worldwide, it is clear that the system is meeting the needs of many laboratories in a variety of testing environments. The addition of our SMS will offer flexibility in processing immunoassay tests and will increase productivity by providing more usable walk-away time to perform other duties in the lab. The fact that the SMS will soon be able to be configured to link two IMMULITE 2000 systems together or be linked to a track-based laboratory automation system further expands our flexibility to meet the needs of our customers. This is a great addition to our family of products."

The IMMULITE product line offers customers a solution to their immunoassay testing needs, whether they are large reference labs, hospital labs or physician office labs. The extensive breadth of the test menu, with over 100 assays and 270 different specific allergens and allergy panels, and the ease of use and reliability of the IMMULITE systems have made them widely accepted throughout the world. For more information on the automated chemiluminescent IMMULITE immunoassay systems, please call toll-free 800/444-5757, fax [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

Founded in 1971, Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC) is the global leader dedicated exclusively to immunodiagnostic testing. The Company's product menu includes over 400 tests to measure microorganisms, hormones, drugs and other medically important substances present at infinitesimal concentrations in body fluids and tissues. DPC also designs and manufactures automated laboratory instrumentation which provides fast, accurate results while reducing labor and reagent costs. DPC sells its products to hospitals, clinics and laboratories domestically and in over 100 international countries. Additional Company information can be found on the Company's web site at www.dpcweb.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward- looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include the effects of governmental or other actions relating to the Company's Chinese subsidiary; the rate of customer demand for the Company's products; the Company's ability to successfully market new and existing products; its dependence on certain suppliers; domestic and foreign government regulation; its ability to keep abreast of technological innovations and to translate them into new products; competition; political and economic instability in certain markets including the movements of foreign currencies relative to the dollar; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports and filings.