Haemonetics is First U.S. Supplier of Integrated Sampling System for Bacterial Detection of Platelets.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BRAINTREE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2004

Haemonetics Corporation announced that it received U.S. regulatory clearance to integrate a new blood sampling system into its platelet collection disposable. This innovative system is specifically designed for bacterial detection tests and simplifies the sampling process.

To reduce the risk to patients, effective March 1st the American Association of Blood Banks ("AABB") is implementing new standards that require all platelets to be tested for bacteria. Bacterial contamination is the second most common cause of transfusion-related death in the U.S., but contamination also has other risks, which can result in longer hospitalization. Bacteria grow readily at room temperature which is also the optimal storage temperature for platelets. It is estimated that bacterial contamination occurs in one of 2,000-3,000 platelet units.

Haemonetics' new sampling system has features which simplify the customers' testing process. Other systems require manual connection, then extraction of a sample.

Kenra Ford, Vice President of Operations for the Oklahoma Blood Institute, commented, "An integrated sampling system eliminates the cost and process of sterile connecting the platelet product and enhances our blood center's good manufacturing practices. Haemonetics is the first company to make it easy to implement the new AABB requirement for bacterial detection of all platelets."

Mark Popovsky, M.D., Vice President and Corporate Medical Director for Haemonetics, said, "Bacterial detection is a critical step in reducing life-threatening platelet transfusion reactions, and the Haemonetics sampling system is a simple and efficient way of obtaining a sample of blood for bacterial testing."

For more information on bacterial detection of platelets, please see the Fact Sheet at http://www.haemonetics.com/site/pdf/bd_fact_sheet.pdf.

Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE) 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 collection, plasma collection, and blood component safety. To learn more about Haemonetics' products and markets, visit its web site at http://www.haemonetics.com.

The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) is a regional not-for-profit blood center providing blood to 92 hospitals across Oklahoma. OBI's mission is to provide the safest and highest quality blood, services and health programs to the patients and communities we serve.