Pubdate: Thu, 13 May 1999 Source: PR Newswire Website: http://www.prnewswire.com/ Copyright: 1999 PR Newswire EPITOPE ANNOUNCES ORASURE(R) ORAL FLUID DRUGS-OF-ABUSE TESTING PRODUCT To Be Used for STC Technologies/Lab One Agreement BEAVERTON, Ore., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Epitope (Nasdaq: EPTO) announced today that its OraSure(R) oral specimen collection device will be used for drugs-of-abuse testing under an agreement recently signed by STC technologies, Inc. and LabOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: LABS). STC has contracted with LabOne to provide oral fluid analysis for STC's Intercept(TM) Drugs of Abuse product line in the North American work site testing market. Recent studies of STC's Intercept Drugs of Abuse system indicate that it can accurately test for the NIDA 5 panel -- THC, Opiates, Cocaine, PCP and Amphetamines/Methamphetamines -- using oral fluids collected with the OraSure collection device. An individual being tested with Intercept is asked to place the OraSure collection device in his or her mouth for two to five minutes. Once the collection pad is saturated, it is placed in a collection vial. The vial is then sent to LabOne for analysis. Results are reported within 24 to 72 hours. John W. Morgan, Epitope's president and chief executive officer, commented, "We are pleased about the solid progress being made with our two business partners, STC Technologies and LabOne, in addressing the tremendous market need for drugs-of-abuse testing in the workplace. Both companies have made a significant financial investment in drugs-of-abuse testing and a commitment to the needs of employers. We are excited about the strong growth opportunity the workplace environment presents." Drug testing is now used in 90 percent of Fortune 1000 companies because maintaining a drug-free work environment can significantly improve safety and productivity, while reducing absenteeism and theft. The most common means to test for substance abuse involves collecting urine or blood samples, both of which can be considered invasive or inconvenient. The availability of the Intercept oral fluid test will allow administrators to test for impairment on demand, and will eliminate scheduling costs and streamline the testing process. It also will allow illicit drug testing to be performed using oral fluid rather than blood or urine. Pilot programs in key markets are expected to begin in the Fall. Epitope, Inc. is an Oregon-based corporation that develops and markets medical devices and diagnostic products. Its focus is on products that use oral fluid in the detection of HIV infection, with emphasis in the life insurance and public health markets, drugs of abuse and other analytes. Statements in this press release about future sales levels or other future events or performance are forward-looking statements. The company's actual results could be significantly different. Factors that could affect results include the extent of future use of oral fluid testing with OraSure in the insurance industry or other key markets; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability of the company to develop product distribution channels; ability of the company to develop new products; development of competing products; changes in international, federal or state law or regulations; uncertainties related to customers' and suppliers' ability to achieve year 2000 compliance; and loss of key personnel. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about the company, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are much less reliable than historical information. SOURCE Epitope 05/13/99 /CONTACT: Charles E. Bergeron of Epitope, Inc., 503-520-6256; or Lisa Carlton-Wilson of In-Site Communications, 212-759-3929, for Epitope//Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/285632.html or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 285632//Web site: http://www.epitope.com/ (EPTO LABS) CO: Epitope; STC Technologies, Inc.; LabOne, Inc. ST: Oregon IN:MTC SU: CON {PRNewswire:WallStreet-0513.01972} 05/13/99 - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D