DiaSorin Provides Hepatitis Training to Laboratory and Healthcare Workers.

STILLWATER, Minn. -- DiaSorin Inc. and the National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN) are scheduled to provide interactive hepatitis training to healthcare workers performing public health, clinical and environmental laboratory testing beginning January 2007 via audio or web conference. The National Laboratory Training Network is a training system sponsored by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Infection with hepatitis viruses continues to be a health threat to the United States and many parts of the world. Any person with a hepatitis virus infection is a potential source of infection to others. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States it is estimated that 33.3% of the population have been infected with Hepatitis A at some point, and 4.9% of the population have been infected with Hepatitis B. However, both are considered to be vaccine preventable diseases.

"It is imperative that laboratory professionals understand new methods in place for testing to detect and defend the public against life-threatening infectious diseases such as hepatitis. We are pleased that DiaSorin, with their many years of experience in research, development and manufacturing of in-vitro diagnostic testing for hepatitis A, B and C, is partnering with the NLTN to provide these hepatitis training programs," said Karen Breckenridge, Knowledge Manager for APHL's NLTN program. Hepatitis testing is performed to prevent further transmission to others and to defend communities against hepatitis outbreaks. Testing can also be performed to identify those who require vaccination or to confirm immune status.

The DiaSorin and NLTN co-sponsored training conferences will be presented on January 17, 2007 for "Understanding Hepatitis A,' May 16, 2007 for "Understanding Hepatitis B" and June 6, 2007 for "Understanding Hepatitis C." Faculty includes Wendi L. Kuhnert, PhD, Centers for Disease Control, D. Robert Dufour, M.D., U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Dawn Franzmeier, B.A., Product Manager, DiaSorin Inc. Contact NTLN via e-mail at [e-mail], or visit www.nltn.org/courses or call 1-800-536-NLTN (6586) to register for any of the training sessions.

About DiaSorin

With corporate headquarters in Saluggia, Italy, and U.S. operations located in Stillwater, Minnesota, DiaSorin develops and manufactures over 300 disease state assays including infectious disease, blood virus, autoimmune, and bone and mineral metabolism. Please visit our website at www.diasorin.com for additional information.