Routine Blood Filtration Now on German Horizon Says Pall Corporation, World Leader in Blood Filtration.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

EAST HILLS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 2000

Germany, which currently filters less than 25% of its four million plus blood donations intends to filter all of them to remove leukocytes. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut announced that it has the support of the Federal Ministry of Health to proceed with plans to improve the safety of Germany's blood supply using leukocyte reduction technology. Support from Germany's Health Ministry paves the way for mandatory filtration of all plasma, red cells and platelet products.

With its decision to filter all donor blood, Germany becomes the twenty-third nation committed to universal blood filtration. Several of these counties have mandated routine blood filtration as a matter of public policy. Among them are France, Canada and the United Kingdom. Germany is expected to join this list. Many others, including the US, Japan, and Austria are moving without mandate to filter all donor blood.

In the US, the FDA's Blood Products Advisory Committee, an independent board upon which the Federal Government relies to furnish expert advice, unanimously agreed that, "the benefit to risk ratio associated with leukoreduction is sufficiently great to justify routine leukoreduction of all non-leukocyte transfusion blood components...." Since this September, 1998 recommendation, blood filtration in the US has nearly doubled from about 16% to about 30% today. The American Red Cross, which manages about 45% of the US blood supply, has publicly stated its intention to filter all of its blood collections by the end of the year.

The Paul-Ehrlich-Insititut is an independent Federal agency within the jurisdiction of the German Federal Ministry of Health. It is responsible for licensing and batch control of drugs for human and veterinary use. In 1994, it assumed additional responsibility for all blood products calling them "a particularly precarious group of drugs carrying a sizeable risk of viral contamination and variations in efficacy." Much like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Institut is authorized to issue directives to pharmaceutical companies and transfusions centers to prevent or reduce risks associated with biological products. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut is a strong proponent of leukocyte reduction as a means to enhanced blood safety.

Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL), the market leader, offers the broadest range of advanced blood filtration products and the support services to help blood centers meet the challenges of implementing routine, high volume, blood filtration. The Company is prepared to meet the growing requirements of its customers for products, logistics and regulatory support. Pall reported fiscal 1999 blood filter sales in excess of $185 million and sales for the first half of fiscal 2000 have increased 20%, reflecting the increased worldwide demand. The world market for blood filters is estimated at $1.2 billion.

Clinical and Economic Benefits of Blood Filtration:

Every three seconds someone needs blood. It is now widely accepted that leukocytes in donor blood can cause serious medical complications. Clinical studies have shown that leukocyte reduction by filtration reduces transfusion-related suppression of the immune system and helps protect against post-surgical infection. Based on medical risk and clinical benefits of filtration, hospitals and blood centers have been converting to 100% filtered blood. The economics of blood filtration are equally compelling. Patients who receive filtered blood typically spend two to six less days in the hospital, require fewer antibiotics and diagnostic tests and less time with medical personnel.

With annual sales over $1 billion, Pall Corporation is based in East Hills, New York, USA and operates directly in about 30 countries. Pall Corporation provides innovative solutions to complex filtration and separations problems in four major markets: Medical, BioPharmaceuticals, Aeropower and Fluid Processing. The Company's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (PLL). Further information is available on the Company's web site at http://www.pall.com.