Quidel Corporation and Scripps Hospital Partner in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Event.

Special event open to staff and community to be held March 1st

SAN DIEGO -- Quidel Corporation (Nasdaq:QDEL), a leading provider of rapid point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests, and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, announced today that they are co-sponsoring an educational program and special event to coincide with the first day of colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness month. On display will be "Coco," a 40-foot long, 4-foot tall, crawl-through model of the human colon. The display, along with extensive educational material, is designed to make people more aware of the importance of CRC screening.

Presented by Quidel Corporation, the San Diego-based manufacturer of the QuickVue([R]) iFOB (immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood) test, the event highlights the company's rapid diagnostic test that is used to screen patients to detect the presence of blood in stool specimens. Blood in stool is an indication of a number of gastrointestinal disorders, including colorectal cancer.

The event, to be held in La Jolla, Calif., on March 1, 2007 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Rose Garden at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, is open to staff and the public and includes snacks, giveaways and several informational booths providing education and promotional material from Quidel, the American Cancer Society and Scripps. Dr. Dana Launer, a renowned surgeon as well as Chief of Staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, will be on hand as the official spokesperson for the hospital and their cancer center.

"Quidel is committed to promoting the importance of CRC screening in San Diego and the rest of the nation with particular emphasis during colorectal cancer awareness month," said Caren Mason, president and CEO of Quidel. She continued, "This partnership with Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is especially gratifying as their leadership in cancer research and treatment has a reputation of excellence worldwide."

Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and in women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 112,340 new cases of colon cancer and 41,420 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2007. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is expected to cause about 52,180 deaths during 2007.

For more information, please visit www.quidel.com/CRCMONTH.

About Quidel Corp.

Quidel Corporation serves to enhance the health and well-being of people around the globe through the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of rapid diagnostic solutions at the point of care (POC) in infectious diseases and reproductive health. Marketed under the leading brand name of QuickVue([R]), Quidel's portfolio of products currently includes tests that aid in the diagnosis of several disease or condition states, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, Fecal Occult Blood, Strep A, pregnancy, bacterial vaginosis, infectious mononucleosis, H. pylori and Chlamydia. Quidel's products are sold to healthcare professionals with a focus on the physician office lab and acute care markets through leading medical distribution partners on a worldwide basis. Quidel's Specialty Products Group (SPG) develops research products in the fields of oncology and bone health with potential future point-of-care applications. By building value in rapid diagnostic tests, Quidel provides leadership to the industry and among healthcare professionals allowing for the movement of patient testing out of the central laboratory setting and into the physician office, urgent care and other outpatient settings where rapid testing and treatment has an impact on clinical outcomes and provides an economic benefit. For more information, visit www.quidel.com, www.flutest.com or www.colorectal-test.com.

About "Coco" the Colossal Colon([R])

The Colossal Colon([R]) is the creation of Molly McMaster, a colon cancer survivor who was diagnosed on her 23rd birthday, with help and support from Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y. The Colossal Colon([R]) is a project of The Colon Club and is dedicated to the memory of Molly's friend, Amanda Sherwood Roberts, who lost her battle with colon cancer at age 27. The Colossal Colon([R]) is sponsored nationally by Get Your Guts in Gear - The Ride for Crohn's & Colitis (GYGIG). GYGIG creates and produces three-day, 210-mile bicycle rides to raise awareness about Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and the needs of people living with ostomies. For more information about GYGIG, please visit www.ibdride.com. The Colossal Colon([R]) was designed and built by Adirondack Scenic, Inc., a custom design and fabrication company. For more information about Molly or about the Colossal Colon([R]), please visit www.colossalcolon.com.

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