PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Tuesday October 28 10:31 AM EST

Extensive trials in Europe and Africa have shown the new Murex HIV 1+2+0 test to have superior sensitivity for HIV-1 -- especially during the critical phases of early infection -- for HIV-2 and for the variant form of HIV-1 known as HIV-0. This extreme sensitivity is obtained, while also achieving excellent specificity, through the use of the Company's patented Antigen Sandwich Assay technology. This technology involves preparation of recombinant proteins of similar structure in two different organisms. These proteins are used in enzyme immunoassays in order to nullify substances which would normally interfere in immunoassays. This allows the development of assays of high sensitivity and specificity.

Aspects of the technology utilized in the new HIV screening test are the same as were licensed to Abbott Laboratories on a non-exclusive basis in 1994. Since that date, Murex has received royalty payments of over $11 million and management anticipates receiving an additional $24 million to $34 million over the life of the licensing arrangement.

Devised and developed by Murex's internal Research and Development department, the new HIV 1+2+0 test also utilizes an improved version of the Company's trademarked Sample Addition Monitor (SAM(TM)) technology. Murex's proprietary SAM technology utilizes color-coded reagents which change color after each testing step. This attribute minimizes the chance of human or machine error and enhances confidence in results by decreasing the chance of missed positive samples.

"Our internal R&D department continues to develop market leading tests as evidenced by our new HIV screening, HTLV and ICE Syphilis tests," stated C. Robert Cusick, International Murex's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe our new HIV screening test may set a new industry standard in terms of the balance of sensitivity and specificity. This specificity is achieved through the use of our patented Antigen Sandwich Assay technology. In order to compete with our new test, we may see other companies seeking to license from Murex our superior technology."

By gaining French registration for the new HIV 1+2+0 test, Murex is able to compete in the important French 1998 blood screening tender season. This market has an estimated size of $6 million per year. Murex will have a formidable package of screening products to offer for the tenders including the new HIV 1+2+0 tests and the market leading HTLV (Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus) and ICE Syphilis tests. The Company anticipates launching the new HIV screening test worldwide, excluding North America, early in the first quarter of 1998.

Murex's new HIV screening test is part of the Company's strategy to offer a complete range of assays that have uniform key components and procedures in the blood testing market. Other tests in this group included ICE-HIV, ICE Syphilis, HCV, HBsAg, HTLV and tests for markers of Hepatitis B infection.

International Murex Technologies Corporation is a vertically integrated, medical diagnostic products company that through its subsidiaries is dedicated to the research, manufacture and marketing of products for the detection, monitoring and screening of infectious diseases and other medical conditions. The Company manufactures and markets more than 600 products on a worldwide basis. Murex has marketing and distribution activities in more than 100 countries, with direct local representatives in 35 leading markets.

This press release may contain or refer to forward-looking information including future revenues, products, and income and is based upon current expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, technological innovations of competitors, delays in product introductions, changes in health care regulations, litigation claims, changes in foreign economic conditions or currency translation, product acceptance or changes in government regulation of the Company's products, as well as other factors discussed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE International Murex Technologies Corporation

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