Calypte Biomedical Corp (fka CBMC)

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Calypte Announces Donation of its Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 Oral Fluid Rapid Tests
Gifts to Kenya and UAE in Honor of World AIDS Day

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Calypte Biomedical Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: CBMC), medical diagnostic tests manufacturer for the detection of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for the professional point of care (PRO) and over the counter (OTC) segments of the market announced today that it is donating 10,000 Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 OMT (oral fluid) rapid tests to the Ministry of Health for the Republic of Kenya, and, through its Middle East distributor, Joseph and Gionis, LLC, 5,000 tests to the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These donations are in honor of World AIDS Day.

Calypte's Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 oral fluid rapid tests are approved for sale in both the Republic of Kenya and the UAE, which allows for immediate use of these donated tests.

Professor Jeckoniah Ndinya-Achola, Associate Professor and Consultant Clinical Microbiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, University of Nairobi noted "under my direct supervision, the Laboratories of the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi at Kenyatta National Hospital campus have participated in the evaluation of Calypte's rapid testing device for HIV detection using oral fluid specimens. We have found this device very sensitive and accurate in detecting HIV infection. Besides its ability to detect HIV with the same accuracy as blood based tests, other unique features of this test are its being non-invasive and the relative ease of sample collection. The device is ideal for use by individuals who would like utmost confidentiality and those who would like to be spared the discomfort of blood collection."

Dr. Walid Yousef, vice president of Joseph and Gionis stated, "We have 100,000 of Calypte's Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 oral fluid rapid OTC tests in transit to Dubai from Calypte's Thailand manufacturing site. Joseph and Gionis and Bin Salem GTE, our UAE representative, are working with the UAE government in their trial of free voluntary HIV testing for government employees. Joseph and Gionis will donate 5,000 test kits for the initial trial program. This begins the official launch of the HIV test kit with the December, 2006 World AIDS Day."

Mr. Roger I. Gale, Calypte's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are pleased to share our Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 oral fluid rapid tests in honor of World AIDS Day as we now have approvals in several key countries where such a non-invasive test can help. The relationships we are building with these donations are important to our efforts. Professor Ndinya is well respected and widely considered a dean in the HIV field, as one of the first to discover HIV in Africa. We also have the utmost respect for the work that Joseph and Gionis is doing in the Middle East. Their support on World Aids Day reflects on their attitude in dealing with this pandemic. We look forward to sales of our products expanding into many additional countries throughout the world in 2007 as we do our part in the fight against HIV/AIDS."

About Kenya and the Sub-Saharan Africa Region:

According to the December 2005 AIDS Epidemic Update, published jointly by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ("UNAIDS") and the World Health Organization, Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world's population, but is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV -- some 25.8 million. In 2005, an estimated 3.2 million people in the region became newly infected, while 2.4 million adults and children died of AIDS.

Kenya has a population of approximately 34 million people of whom approximately 1.3 million live with AIDS. An estimated 140,000 adults and children died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005. Kenya has a 5-year strategic plan targeting this disease and is one of three countries in the region that has seen a decline in its prevalence. Kenya's HIV prevalence rate in adults has fallen to 6.1% in 2004 from a peak of 10% in the mid-1990s. (Kenya HIV and AIDS Data Booklet, 2005)

About the UAE and the Middle East Region:

This region has a population of approximately 500 million people. According to the same December 2005 UNAIDS report, the advance of AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa has continued, with latest estimates showing that 67,000 people became infected with HIV in 2005. Approximately 510,000 people are living with HIV in the region and an estimated 58,000 adults and children died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005.

About Joseph and Gionis, LLC:

Joseph and Gionis (www.josephandgionis.com) (Newport Beach, CA) is a premier biotechnology consulting and distribution firm which is dedicated to promoting excellence of product service, biotechnology, health and welfare throughout the Middle East. Joseph and Gionis is a subsidiary of the Joseph and Gionis International Law Firm.

About Calypte Biomedical:

Calypte Biomedical Corporation (www.calypte.com) is a U.S.-based healthcare company focused on the development and commercialization of rapid testing products for sexually transmitted diseases such as the Aware(TM) HIV- 1/2 OMT test that are suitable for use at the point of care and at home. Calypte believes there is a significant need for rapid detection of such diseases globally to control their proliferation, particularly in developing countries, which lack the medical infrastructure to support laboratory-based testing. Calypte believes that testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases may make important contributions to public health, and could increase the likelihood of treating those with undetected HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. 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, the Company's ability to obtain additional financing, if and as needed, and access funds from its existing financing arrangements that will allow it to continue its current and future operations and whether demand for its test products in domestic and international markets will generate sufficient revenues to achieve positive cash flow and profitability. 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-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its subsequent filings with the SEC.

SOURCE Calypte Biomedical Corporation

CONTACT: Theodore R Gwin, Chief Financial Officer of Calypte Biomedical Corporation, [phone], [e-mail]; or Investor Relations - Tim Clemensen of Rubenstein Investor Relations, [phone], [e-mail]
/Web site: http://www.calypte.com
http://www.josephandgionis.com /