Molecular Diagnostics Awarded US Patent for Personal Cervical Cell Collector; Novel Cervical Sampling Device Compliments and Further Strengthens IP Portfolio.

Health/Medical Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2002

Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCBB: MCDG) announced today that it has received notification from the United States Patent and Trademark Office that it has been awarded a patent for the InPath PCD (Personal Collection Device), a novel personal cervical cell collection device. The device is designed for use by a patient in self-collecting a cervical sample for analysis in a laboratory.

According to Eric Gombrich, vice president of Molecular Diagnostics, Inc., "While the device is not intended to replace a woman's need to visit her physician routinely where this is an option, in parts of the world where lack of physicians, or other sociological or religious obstacles preclude the woman from allowing such a collection, the device may dramatically improve the options for disease detection and treatment."

The device is currently in trials in China as part of a broad study being managed in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Beijing Cancer Institute. The device, after collection of a sample, is deposited in a liquid preservative for transport to a laboratory for analysis. Testing options include the company's proprietary In-Cell HPV and Cocktail CVX assay, as well as conventional Pap testing, HPV DNA testing, Gonorrhea, Chlamydeous, and other molecular tests.

About Molecular Diagnostics

Molecular Diagnostics develops cost-effective cancer screening systems, which can be utilized in a laboratory or at the point of care, to assist in the early detection of cervical, gastrointestinal, and other cancers. The InPath(TM) System is being developed to provide medical practitioners with a highly accurate, low-cost, cervical cancer screening system that can be integrated into existing medical models, or at the point of care. Other products include SAMBA(TM) Telemedicine software used for medical image processing, database and multimedia case management, telepathology and teleradiology. Molecular Diagnostics also makes certain aspects of its technology available to 3rd parties for development of their own screening systems.

Certain statements throughout this release are forward-looking. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve many risks and uncertainties, such as the possibility that clinical trials will not substantiate the Company's expectations with respect to the InPath(TM) System, and other factors set forth in reports and documents filed by Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein.