Quidel and bioMerieux Announce a Global Strategic Alliance in Rapid Diagnostics

SAN DIEGO, Calif. & MARCY L'ETOILE, France--(Business Wire)--Regulatory News:

Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL) and bioMerieux (Paris:BIM) have
agreed to form a long-term global alliance in the area of rapid
clinical diagnostics for the point-of-care. bioMerieux will become
Quidel's primary distributor for its QuickVue(R) rapid diagnostic
tests outside the United States and the two companies intend to
co-develop new rapid tests using Quidel's market leading rapid test
development capability and bioMerieux's expertise and extensive
library of antibodies and antigens. The companies will especially
leverage their mutual expertise in the area of infectious diseases.

bioMerieux will be the exclusive distributor of all of Quidel's
current QuickVue rapid diagnostic tests in all countries with the
exception of the United States, Japan and Scandinavia, starting in May
2008. Branding for these products will reflect the strength and market
power of both companies. bioMerieux has over 1,900 sales, marketing
and service representatives and a base of more than 45,000 instruments
installed in over 150 countries worldwide. bioMerieux is a world
leader in diagnostics for infectious diseases and has developed a very
large library of biologics for its automated immunoassay systems,
VIDAS(R) and VIDIA(R).

"Quidel is pleased to be entering into a mutually beneficial
alliance with a globally respected diagnostics leader that increases
the reach of our products to markets around the world. Our intention
is to create a partnership for co-development of a pipeline of new,
high-value point-of-care tests intended to be sold in the U.S. by
Quidel and in the rest of the world by bioMerieux exclusively," said
Caren Mason, president and CEO of Quidel Corporation.

"We are delighted with this very synergistic partnership with
Quidel," said Stephane Bancel, CEO of bioMerieux. "Quidel is
recognized for the high quality of its products and its focus on
providing accurate and cost-effective solutions to detect and minimize
the spread of infectious diseases. Together, we will establish a
global brand supporting clinicians' decisions at their patients'
point-of-care," he added.

About bioMerieux

Advancing Diagnostics to Improve Public Health

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for over 40
years, bioMerieux is present in more than 150 countries through 35
subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2006, revenues
reached over EUR 1 billion with 83% of sales outside of France.

bioMerieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments,
software) which determine the source of disease and contamination to
improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Our products are
used for diagnosing infectious diseases and providing high medical
value results for cardiovascular emergencies and cancer screening and
monitoring. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in
agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. bioMerieux is listed
on Eurolist by Euronext. Other information can be found at
www.biomerieux.com.

About Quidel Corporation

Quidel Corporation serves to enhance the health and well-being of
people around the globe through the discovery, development,
manufacturing and marketing of rapid diagnostic solutions at the point
of care (POC) in infectious diseases and reproductive health. Marketed
under the leading brand name of QuickVue(R), Quidel's portfolio of
products currently includes tests that aid in the diagnosis of several
disease or condition states, including influenza, respiratory
syncytial virus, Fecal Occult Blood, Strep A, pregnancy, bacterial
vaginosis, H. pylori and Chlamydia. Quidel's products are sold to
healthcare professionals with a focus on the physician office lab and
acute care markets through leading medical distribution partners on a
worldwide basis. Quidel's Specialty Products Group (SPG) develops
research products in the fields of oncology and bone health with
potential future point-of-care applications. By building value in
rapid diagnostic tests, Quidel provides leadership to the industry and
among healthcare professionals allowing for the movement of patient
testing out of the central laboratory setting and into the physician
office, urgent care and other outpatient settings where rapid testing
and treatment has an impact on clinical outcomes and provides an
economic benefit. For more information, visit www.quidel.com,
www.colorectal-test.com or www.flutest.com.

Quidel Forward-looking Statement: This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal
securities laws that involve material risks, assumptions and
uncertainties. Many possible events or factors could affect our future
financial results and performance, such that our actual results and
performance may differ materially. As such, no forward-looking
statement can be guaranteed. Differences in actual results and
performance may arise as a result of a number of factors including,
without limitation, seasonality, the length and severity of cold and
flu seasons, uncertainty surrounding the detection of novel influenza
viruses involving human specimens, adverse changes in the competitive
and economic conditions in domestic and international markets, actions
of our major distributors, technological changes and uncertainty with
research and technology development, including any future
molecular-based technology, the reimbursement system currently in
place and future changes to that system, manufacturing and production
delays or difficulties, adverse actions or delays in product reviews
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA"), intellectual
property, product liability, environmental or other litigation,
required patent license fee payments not currently reflected in our
costs, potential inadequacy of booked reserves and possible impairment
of goodwill, and lower than anticipated sales or market penetration of
our new products. Forward-looking statements typically are identified
by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "might,"
"expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and similar words, although some
forward-looking statements are expressed differently. The risks
described under "Risk Factors" in reports and registration statements
that we file with the SEC from time to time should be carefully
considered. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only
as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to
publicly release the results of any revision or update of the
forward-looking statements.

Quidel(R) and QuickVue(R) are registered trademarks of Quidel
Corporation.

Quidel:
Quidel Corporation
John Radak, +1 858-552-7962
Chief Financial Officer
Or
Porter Novelli Life Sciences
Susan Neath, +1 619-849-6007
Or
bioMerieux:
Investor Relations
bioMerieux
Herve Laurent, + 33 4 78 87 22 37
investor.relations@eu.biomerieux.com
Or
LT Value
Nancy Levain, + 33 1 55 27 15 88
nancy.levain@ltvalue.com
Or
Media Relations
bioMerieux
Koren Wolman-Tardy, + 33 4 78 87 20 08
media@eu.biomerieux.com
Or
Image Sept
Laurence Heilbronn, + 33 1 53 70 74 64
lheilbronn@image7.fr
Thiphaine Hecketsweiler, + 33 1 53 70 74 59
thecketsweiler@image7.fr

Copyright Business Wire 2008