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CMBC - Calypte Reports Positive Results of Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 Oral Fluid Rapid Test Evaluation at 3rd Annual South African AIDS Conference
Jul 16, 2007 8:30:00 AM
LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Calypte Biomedical Corporation (OTCBB: CBMC), medical diagnostic tests manufacturer for the rapid detection of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) announced today the results and positive social implications of a field evaluation of its Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 OMT (oral fluid) rapid test in the Republic of South Africa . These results were recently presented in a poster at the 3rd South African AIDS Conference in Durban last month. Posters are scientific research papers (in poster presentation form) accepted by a conference for the education of its attendees, typically displayed in a Poster Section on the conference floor.

The field evaluation was conducted on 600 clients of unknown HIV status at two busy Voluntary Counseling and Testing ("VCT") clinics in South Africa. The expected HIV prevalence rate was 30-40%; overall, 44% of the clients tested positive. The poster reported that "the results obtained on OMT were comparable with results on serum, and were statistically significant."

Study nurses responsible for the collection of samples described OMT (oral fluid test) collection as "easy to do", and preferred the non-invasive oral fluid collection method to the blood collection currently in use. Laboratory personnel found the test procedure simple to perform and results easy to interpret. "This assay may be a suitable alternative for VCT practices," was the poster's conclusion.

Roger Gale, Calypte's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We have long known the accuracy of the Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 oral fluid rapid test. The usage studies that are now being reported are focusing on the social aspects of such a test and we are pleased that there is strong sentiment for adopting oral fluid testing. While changing long-established blood collection practice to the OMT method is a process, we believe we are gaining momentum in making oral fluid an acceptable alternative to blood testing. The recent approval of our oral fluid test in India and the subsequent interest we are seeing from the government, military and private sectors is very encouraging in this regard."

Johannes Viljoen, MBChB, FC Path (SA) Viro, at the College of Health Sciences of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa and principal investigator presenting this poster noted, "We specialize with individuals living in rural settings of South Africa. In South Africa there are ongoing public health and media campaigns to increase public awareness and uptake of HIV testing in an attempt to curb the spread of the epidemic. We anticipate that offering a non-invasive rapid test may quite possibly result in an enhanced uptake of testing, mostly as a result of it being more acceptable and painless, even more so for children. In our study, the technique was clearly preferred over finger-sticks by the health care providers."

Dr. Pravi Moodley, Acting Head of the Department of Virology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and National Health Laboratory Service, Durban, South Africa and a co-author of the poster commented, "The sampling of oral fluid for HIV antibody rapid testing in resource constrained settings has advantages over the conventional finger-prick blood which is currently used for HIV antibody rapid testing. The obtaining of an oral fluid sample is much simpler since a community health worker requiring minimal training will be able to obtain the sample. It is also much safer since no sharps and sharps containers are necessary, obviating the need for intensive health and safety training which may unnecessarily consume financial and human resources in already resource constrained settings."

Further, our field evaluation of Calypte's Aware(TM) HIV-1/2 OMT Rapid Test showed excellent correlation with blood samples," concluded Dr. Moodley.

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 AwareTM 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, 2006 and its subsequent filings with the SEC.

Company Contact:
Richard Brounstein, Executive Vice President
[phone]
email: [e-mail]

Investor Relations Contact:
Tim Clemensen,
Rubenstein Investor Relations
Phone: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
SOURCE Calypte Biomedical Corporation



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Company: Richard Brounstein
Executive Vice President
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[e-mail]
or Investor Relations: Tim Clemensen
Rubenstein Investor Relations
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