SDI Receives Initial Order from Top Pharmaceutical Company for Genomic Antibodies(TM).

NEWARK, Del. -- Strategic Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq:SDIX) - a leading provider of biotechnology-based detection solutions for a broad range of food, water, agricultural, industrial, environmental and scientific applications, today announced that it has received an initial order for Genomic Antibodies(TM) from a top ten pharmaceutical company. Scientists from this company require Genomic Antibodies(TM) to classes of proteins for which conventional antibody generation is typically unsuccessful. These scientists have unsuccessfully attempted to make antibodies to some of the protein targets in this initial order, demonstrating the importance of these difficult targets in drug discovery and development and highlighting the potential for Genomic Antibodies(TM) to support their research. A scientist at this company considers Genomic Antibodies(TM) technology to be part of the "new frontier" of antibody generation. As for all Genomic Antibodies(TM) orders, these scientists supplied only sequence information. As a result, immunization work begins before traditional peptide or protein antigens have been produced, purified, tested, and shipped to SDI.

Matthew Knight, President and CEO of Strategic Diagnostics commented, "This initial order serves as a clear indication that world-class, diversified pharmaceutical companies are embracing our ability to provide Genomic Antibodies(TM) more quickly than conventional antibodies, while developing Genomic Antibodies(TM) to traditionally difficult antigen targets. This is the third major pharmaceutical customer to initiate a relationship with Strategic Diagnostics, and although these represent initially small projects, we are increasingly confident in the commercial viability of this capability. We are in the early phase of our commercial rollout, but the market reception has been exceptionally strong and significant conversations with customers are active. We continue to believe we bring significant value to our customers by decreasing the time to deliver new diagnostics and therapeutics to the market."

About Genomic Antibodies(TM)

SDI's proprietary approach to antibody generation enables research organizations in target market segments to increase their success rate of identifying potential therapeutic or diagnostic protein targets. This is accomplished by providing large numbers of unique antibody reagents generated from customer-specified genetic sequence information. Traditional methods of making antibodies to proteins require that the protein of interest be produced and purified in relatively large quantities prior to injection for antibody production. The SDI genetic immunization process eliminates the need to prepare peptide or protein antigen for injection. Instead, synthetic DNA, representing the genetic sequence of interest is injected directly, via a proprietary process that produces antibodies to the protein encoded by the DNA. SDI's Genomic Antibodies(TM) have demonstrated the ability to produce specific antibodies recognizing native protein. The process is capable of simultaneously delivering large numbers of antibody reagents, each with a unique specificity, facilitating large-scale biomarker identification, drug development, and academic research. The exponential increase in genetic information available from all types of living organisms has created a need for large numbers of antibody reagents to detect the proteins produced by these genes. The Company estimates the total market opportunity for antibody services available to Strategic Diagnostics, through its Strategic BioSolutions brand, and available to its competitors, to be $300 million and growing at 20 percent annually.

About Strategic Diagnostics Inc.

Strategic Diagnostics Inc. develops, manufactures and markets biotechnology-based detection solutions to a diverse customer base, across multiple industrial and human health markets. By applying its core competency of creating custom antibodies to assay development, the Company produces unique, sophisticated diagnostic testing and reagent systems that are responsive to customer diagnostic and information needs. Customers benefit with quantifiable "return on investment" by reducing time, labor, and/or material costs. All this is accomplished while increasing accuracy, reliability and actionability of essential test results. The Company is focused on sustaining this competitive advantage by leveraging its expertise in immunology, proteomics, bio-luminescence and other bio-reactive technologies to continue its successful customer-focused research and development efforts. Recent innovations in high throughput production of antibodies from genetic antigens will complement the Company's established leadership in commercial and custom antibody production for the Research, Human/Animal Diagnostics, and Pharmaceutical industries, and position the Company for broader participation in the pharmacogenomics market.

This news release contains forward-looking statements reflecting SDI's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate", "could", "enable", "estimate", "intend", "expect", "believe", "potential", "will", "should", "project" "plan" and similar expressions as they relate to SDI are intended to identify said forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ from those anticipated by SDI at this time. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes in demand for products, delays in product development, delays in market acceptance of new products, retention of customers and employees, adequate supply of raw materials, inability to obtain or delays in obtaining fourth party, including AOAC, or required government approvals, the ability to meet increased market demand, competition, protection of intellectual property, non-infringement of intellectual property, seasonality, and other factors more fully described in SDI's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.