New Lower LDL Cholesterol Guidelines for Patients at Risk for Heart Disease Highlight Need for More Accurate Cholesterol Test Technology.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Atherotech's Comprehensive VAP(TM) Cholesterol Test Significantly Improves LDL Cholesterol Risk Assessment

What:       An important update to National Cholesterol Education
            Program (NCEP) clinical guidelines released this week
            establishes lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein)
            cholesterol goals for patients at high risk for heart
            disease -- highlighting the need for more accurate
            cholesterol test technology. A growing body of scientific
            evidence indicates that routine cholesterol tests, which
            calculate rather than directly measure LDL (the "bad"
            cholesterol), may provide inaccurate LDL measurements,
            especially at the low LDL levels recommended in the
            guidelines. In contrast, the next-generation VAP (Vertical
            Auto Profile) Cholesterol Test provides the more accurate,
            direct-measured LDL required to effectively assess and
            treat heart disease risk. The NCEP is coordinated by the
            National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National
            Institutes of Health.

How:        The VAP Cholesterol Test provides direct, detailed
            measurements of LDL cholesterol, improving on routine
            calculated values, and includes atherogenic LDL subclasses
            Lp(a), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and the
            emerging risk factor known as LDL cholesterol size
            pattern. Recognized by the NCEP as playing important roles
            in the development of heart disease, these measurements
            previously were unavailable in a single cholesterol test.
            Developed by Birmingham, Ala.-based Atherotech, the
            affordable VAP Test is available nationwide through
            leading national and regional reference laboratories and
            is reimbursed by Medicare and most insurance carriers.

Why:        With cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease killing
            nearly 1 million people annually, the NIH says Americans
            need to act now to prevent future heart attacks. The
            NCEP's updated clinical practice guidelines advise
            physicians to consider more intensive treatment for
            patients at high and moderately high risk for a heart
            attack. Specifically, the new guidelines suggest lower
            treatment goals for LDL cholesterol in high- and
            moderate-risk patients, and provide a therapeutic option
            to initiate cholesterol-lowering drugs at lower LDL
            thresholds. For patients at very high risk, such as those
            who have heart disease and multiple risk factors, the
            guidelines recommend an LDL of less than 70.  Calculated
            LDL provided by routine cholesterol tests, however, may
            underestimate LDL by up to 20 percent, especially at
            lower LDL levels -- possibly providing a false sense of
            security for some patients and their physicians. With the
            national availability of the VAP Test, physicians now have
            access to a fast, accurate, easy-to-use, and affordable
            method to obtain the accurate LDL readings that are vital
            for high-risk patients.

Who:        Atherotech is a pioneer in cardiodiagnostic technology.
            The company's VAP Cholesterol Test recently was named one
            of "Five Tests Worth Paying For" by The Wall Street
            Journal.

Where:      Consumers interested in the VAP Cholesterol test should
            speak with their doctors or visit www.thevaptest.com.
            Direct access to the VAP Test also is available at
            www.getavap.com.

Interviews: Richard Lanman, M.D., Atherotech's chief medical officer,
            is available to discuss the new NCEP guidelines update and
            the importance of obtaining accurate LDL cholesterol
            readings. To schedule an interview, contact Barbara
            Sullivan at Sullivan & Associates, [phone].