Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered Trademark- Holdings
358 South Main Street
Burlington, NC 27215
Telephone: 336-584-5171
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 336-436-4855 Shareholder Direct: 800-LAB-0401
Pamela Sherry www.labcorp.com
LABCORP-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- INTRODUCES HIV GENOSURE-
TRADE MARK-
A NEW HIV GENOTYPIC RESISTANCE ASSAY
Burlington, NC, December 12, 2000 - Laboratory Corporation
of America-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- Holdings (LabCorp-
REGISTERED TRADEMARK-) (NYSE: LH) today announced the
introduction HIV GENOSURE-TRADE MARK- , a new HIV genotypic
resistance assay, to its portfolio of HIV resistance
testing services. This latest offering from LabCorp,
called HIV GENOSURE- TRADE MARK- is designed to yield a
more sensitive assay at low viral load levels, improve the
turnaround time for results, and provide a more user
friendly, single page report. These attributes of HIV
GENOSURE-TRADE MARK- will aid physicians in providing
better and faster patient care.
Developed using the company's database of over 40,000
genotypic and phenotypic specimens, HIV GENOSURE-TRADE
MARK- allowed LabCorp to create a proprietary mutational
cluster analysis (MCA) software program to interpret
genotypic results providing an easily readable
"sensitive", "resistance possible" and "resistant"
interpretation for each antiviral drug. HIV GENOSURE-TRADE
MARK- was developed as a LabCorp in-house initiative to
improve the current resistance testing available to HIV
patients. As compared to other HIV genotypic resistance
tests currently available, HIV GENOSURE-TRADE MARK- has
improved: the sensitivity at low viral load levels, the
turn around time for results, and the completeness of the
patient report by providing delineation of mutations
identified per antiviral drug.
LabCorp was one of the first laboratories to offer
innovative HIV resistance testing to physicians in the
United States, and is a leader in terms of experience and
expertise in this field. Additionally, LabCorp now
provides more options for ordering genotype analysis: an
HIV genotyping test with MCA interpretation (HIV GENOSURE-
TRADE MARK-) or a genotyping test plus a predictive
phenotype result using a correlation database
(HIV GENOSURE-TRADE MARK- Plus). Besides these genotype
offerings, LabCorp will continue to provide phenotype
testing through its existing corporate partnerships. This
will allow physicians to choose the most appropriate
resistance test for their patients when they utilize
LabCorp as their reference lab.
"As one of the largest providers of HIV testing services
in the United States, we are committed to advancing the
state of the art in genotypic resistance testing," said
Myla P. Lai-Goldman, M.D., executive vice president, chief
scientific officer and medical director at LabCorp. "The
introduction of HIV GENOSURE-TRADE MARK- will give
physicians and patients improved resistance testing
options."
Laboratory Corporation of America-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-
Holdings (LabCorp-REGISTERED TRADE MARK-) is a national
clinical laboratory with annual revenues of $1.7 billion
in 1999. With 18,000 employees and over 100,000 clients
nationwide, the company offers more than 2,000 clinical
tests ranging from simple blood analyses to sophisticated
molecular diagnostics. LabCorp leverages its expertise in
innovative clinical testing technology with its Centers of
Excellence. The Center for Molecular Biology and
Pathology, in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North
Carolina, develops applications for polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) technology, and National Genetics Institute
in Los Angeles is an industry leader in developing novel,
highly sensitive PCR methods for testing hepatitis C and
other infectious agents. Its Center for Occupational
Testing in RTP is one of the world's largest substance
abuse testing facilities, and the Center for Esoteric
Testing in Burlington, North Carolina, performs the
largest volume of specialty testing in the network.
LabCorp's clients include physicians, state and federal
government, managed care organizations, hospitals,
clinics, pharmaceutical and Fortune 1000 companies, and
other clinical laboratories.
Each of the above forward-looking statements is subject to
change based on various important factors, including
without limitation, competitive actions in the marketplace
and adverse actions of governmental and other third-party
payors. Further information on potential factors that
could affect LabCorp's financial results is included in
the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and subsequent SEC
filings.
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