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Calypte Biomedical Corporation Plans New Initiative With The AIDS Action Council In Africa  
       WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2003 10:10 AM
- PR Newswire

ALAMEDA, Calif., Oct 1, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Calypte Biomedical Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: CYPT.OB) announced their participation in a new initiative with the AIDS Action Council to accelerate the accessibility of rapid HIV testing in Africa. The initiative will begin with a five-country tour of Africa -- Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe -- to examine the clinical utility of HIV rapid testing and to obtain data on current epidemiological trends in rural regions. Calypte Biomedical will be accompanied in Africa by senior federal legislators, leading activists, and public health officials.

HIV infection is a worldwide epidemic, creating an urgent need for increased identification and counseling of people infected with HIV. Without a vaccine against HIV and with the high cost of treatment, prevention of HIV transmission through testing and education is currently the most effective way to contain the disease. "We have no time to lose in Africa when it comes to accelerating early diagnosis of HIV infection," said Marsha Martin, Executive Director of the AIDS Action Council. "The fate of entire countries may very well be determined by the rate at which we obtain the support necessary to effectively introduce HIV rapid testing in Africa."

Jeannie Gibbs a board member of the AIDS Action Council states that rapid urine testing "offers the best possible option both clinically and economically as it circumvents an almost universal fear of blood tests given people's beliefs that they will catch HIV from the needles. Urine testing will ensure that precious resources are not expended on prohibitively expensive contaminated blood disposal, but is instead directed at expanding the number of people African health officials will be able to test."

According to Dr. Ron Mink Director of Research and Development for Calypte, "Calypte's urine testing eliminates the need for a blood draw, and the use of urine serves to enable an inexpensive and simple sampling process that provides plenty of specimen for followup testing which gives the urine rapid test some distinct advantages over all other approaches."

AIDS Action, founded in 1984, is the national AIDS organization dedicated to the development, analysis, cultivation, and encouragement of sound policies and programs in response to the HIV epidemic. AIDS Action does this through the dissemination of information and the building and use of advocacy on behalf of all those infected with/affected by HIV/AIDS. AIDS Action collaborates with its member organizations and the greater public health community to enhance HIV/AIDS prevention programs and care and treatment services; and to secure comprehensive resources to address community needs until the epidemic is over.

Calypte Biomedical Corporation is dedicated to creating testing solutions for HIV-1, STDs, and other chronic diseases. Calypte's mission is to develop and market in vitro diagnostic testing solutions that make positive contributions to public health and healthcare worldwide. Calypte's urine-based testing algorithm is designed to be safe, cost-effective, and painless, while Calypte's serum-based tests offer proven solutions in a traditional format. By offering both unique urine-based and traditional serum-based testing solutions for HIV infection and other chronic diseases, Calypte can create more opportunities for better healthcare worldwide.

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 for the year ended December 31, 2002 and its subsequent filings with the SEC.