Haemonetics 4% Sodium Citrate --Anticoagulant-- Cleared for Sale In US; Company's First FDA Approved Intravenous Solution.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

BRAINTREE, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--March 13, 2000

Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE) announced today that the Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Company's 4% sodium citrate anticoagulant for sale in the US. This regulatory clearance is part of Haemonetics' strategy to provide its customers with the full range of products required to automate the collection of blood.

4% sodium citrate is the preferred anticoagulant used during the automated collection of plasma. Approximately 12 million automated plasma collection procedures are performed annually in the US, and each procedure uses one unit of anticoagulant. Historically, Haemonetics' customers have sourced their anticoagulant needs for plasma collections from other third party suppliers.

James L. Peterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Haemonetics, said, "This is the first Haemonetics' brand intravenous ("IV") solution to be approved for sale in the US and is an important milestone for us. From 1-3 units of IV solutions are required with every blood component collection kit that we sell, so providing our own brand IV solutions will mean better service and ease of use for our customers. We will have the flexibility to control costs while improving margins."

Haemonetics expects to begin gradual roll out of this anticoagulant to customers within three months.

Haemonetics' long term worldwide strategy is to supply directly to its customers all of the IV solutions required for use with its automated blood collection disposable kits. These IV solutions include other anticoagulants, saline solutions, and nutrient solutions used to prolong the shelf life of stored red blood cells. Haemonetics currently has a full line of CE approved anticoagulants and red blood cell nutrient fluids for sale in Europe and has several New Drug Applications pending in the US with the FDA.

All of Haemonetics' brand IV solutions are manufactured at its plant in Union, SC.

Haemonetics President, James L. Peterson, will be reviewing this and other Company opportunities on March 22nd at the Banc of America Healthcare Conference in Las Vegas, NV.

Haemonetics is a global company engaged in the design, manufacture and worldwide marketing of automated blood processing systems. These systems address important medical markets: surgical blood salvage, blood component collections and plasma collections. Over sixty percent of the Company's business is outside the US. To learn more about Haemonetics' products and markets, visit the Company's web site at http://www.haemonetics.com.