Hycor Biomedical Receives Patent On ESR Control.

GARDEN GROVE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 8, 1999--Hycor Biomedical Inc. (Nasdaq:HYBD) Monday announced it has been issued a U.S. patent (No. 5,863,799) on its Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Control ("ESR").

The ESR Control provides a method to monitor the accuracy and precision of ESR test apparatus and methods. Related patent applications including international applications are pending.

J. David Tholen, president and chief executive officer, said, "Hycor was the first company to develop a functional quality control product for this important diagnostic test. We estimate that the market size has already grown to over $5 million.

"Because of the broad scope of the allowed claims of the patent, we believe that any method practiced using any other ESR control product would be encompassed by the patent. This provides Hycor with a substantial intellectual property position in this product area."

Hycor Biomedical discovers, develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic products for a variety of human medical conditions. These products include high-quality automated instrument and reagent systems that use blood samples to test for more than 900 different allergies and autoimmune disorders, and urinalysis controls and disposable products under the KOVA(R) brand, the market leader in standardized microscopic urinalysis.

Hycor products are used by physician's offices and clinical laboratories all over the world to provide accurate, reliable test results for physicians and their patients.

With headquarters in Garden Grove, and with facilities in Germany, Scotland and France, Hycor employs more than 175 people worldwide and serves customers in more than 50 countries.

The matters discussed in this report are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the company's operations, markets, products, services and prices and other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.