Business Wire - March 19, 2003

Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) initiated a "call to action" during the 14th annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, the nation's largest AIDS awareness program targeting African Americans, which was held February 28-March 7, 2003. The Prayer and Gospel Vigil also provided an opportunity to receive a free HIV test.

"The Vigil was very well attended, as over 2,500 people participated in the event. This was our first exposure to urine HIV testing and HCCI is very pleased with the way the Calypte tests performed during our recent program. As a result we have decided to expand the use of urine testing to our upcoming HIV testing day events and health fairs with the local New York City church community," said Deborah Levine, ACSW, Vice President of HCCI Health and Wellness Strategies. "We learned some good lessons about how to best implement urine HIV testing in a community setting that will be valuable for future programs."

"We are thrilled to hear that HCCI had such a positive experience with urine testing and plans to continue to incorporate our tests in their future programs," said Nancy Katz, Calypte's President and CEO. "HCCI's event is an excellent example of how urine HIV testing can be successfully executed for programs that take place in a non-clinic setting and has demonstrated that our urine tests are a viable option for getting people tested so that more will know their HIV status."

About Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI):

HCCI, located in Harlem, New York, was formed in 1986 as a diverse inter-faith consortium of more than 90 congregations. It is a large multi-service organization, with five major divisions, one of which is the Department of Health and Wellness Strategies. It was established to revitalize the physical, economic, cultural and spiritual conditions of the Harlem community. This goal is being accomplished by developing low to moderate income housing throughout central Harlem, creating supportive health and human service programs and facilities, expanding cultural programs, assisting families and individuals living with HIV/AIDS with housing, group support, advocacy and prevention programs. HCCI is a certified service partner of the Balm in Gilead organization.

About Calypte Biomedical:

Calypte Biomedical Corporation headquartered in Alameda, California, is a public healthcare company dedicated to the development and commercialization of urine-based diagnostic products and services for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases. Calypte's tests include the screening EIA and supplemental Western Blot tests, the only two FDA-approved HIV-1 antibody tests that can be used on urine samples. The company believes that accurate, non-invasive urine-based testing methods for HIV and other infectious diseases may make important contributions to public health by helping to foster an environment in which testing may be done safely, economically, and painlessly. Calypte markets its products in countries worldwide through international distributors and strategic partners. Current product labeling including specific product performance claims can be found on our website at www.calypte.com.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding announcements of financial results and presentations by the Company. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our product and testing service in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K/A(No.3) for the year ended December 31, 2001 and its subsequent filings with the SEC.

CONTACT: Calypte Biomedical Corporation

Pamela South, 510/749-5100, psouth@calypte.com

or

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates

Investor Relations:

Brendan Lahiff/Kirsten Chapman, 415/433-3777, brendan@lhai-sf.com

SOURCE: Calypte Biomedical Corporation

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