Strategic Diagnostics Announces Exclusive License with Syngenta Seeds AG; USDA Certifies Use of Mycotoxin Test Kit.

Business Editors

NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2002

Strategic Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: SDIX) today announced the signing of an exclusive commercial license agreement with Syngenta Seeds AG.

The agreement confers to SDI the worldwide rights to manufacture and sell analytical tests to detect two of Syngenta's genetic traits in plants, seeds, grain and intermediate food products. These genetic traits are to be deployed in a variety of applications in agriculture and the food chain and will provide significant benefits to the users.

Dr. Bruce Lee of Syngenta commented, "We are delighted to work with SDI in connection with these significant assets of Syngenta. SDI has demonstrated throughout the course of our relationship, and to the AgBiotech industry generally, the ability to develop, manufacture and sell high quality, analytical methods that provide accurate information in a rapid test format. We believe these same attributes will benefit our customers in the years ahead."

Richard C. Birkmeyer, President and CEO of SDI commented, "We are gratified by the trust Syngenta, a leading developer of genetic innovations, has placed in SDI. We have worked diligently over many years to establish a market-leading position in analytical testing. With this relationship, we believe SDI is uniquely positioned to continue to provide the marketplace with tests for every significant genetic trait in commercial production."

In a separate development, the Company announced that the USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has issued its certification of the MycoCheck(TM) test kit for the detection of aflatoxin, which is the most common mycotoxin. The market for test kits for the detection of mycotoxins is estimated to be $22-25 million annually. SDI's family of tests offers meaningful competitive advantages. All the MycoCheck(TM) test kits are in a format that allows easy, visual, semi-quantitative analysis as well as instrument based quantitative analysis. The Company believes that these competitive advantages and its existing customer relationships established with major food manufacturers position the Company to attract a meaningful market share of mycotoxin kit sales.

About Strategic Diagnostics Inc.

SDI is a leading provider of biotechnology-based diagnostic tests for a broad range of agricultural, industrial, and water treatment applications. Through its antibody business, Strategic BioSolutions, Strategic Diagnostics also provides antibody and immunoreagent research and development services. SDI's test kits are produced in a variety of formats suitable for field and laboratory use, offering advantages of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, portability, and rapid response. Trait Check(TM), GMO QuickCheck(TM), and GMO Check(TM) are pending trademarks for SDI.

This news release contains forward-looking statements reflecting SDI's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate", "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, the successful integration and consolidation of the Maine production facilities, inability to obtain or delays in obtaining third 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.