Spartan Bioscience and Cooperative Diagnostics Collaborate to Develop Cost-Effective and Fast PCR Testing for HIV/AIDS

ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 19 (MARKET
WIRE) --
Spartan Bioscience Inc and Cooperative Diagnostics, LLC, each private
companies with a vision to help the developing world test for diseases in
a cost-effective and timely manner, have signed a cooperation agreement
that will bring this vision a step closer to reality. By using the custom
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) assays designed and manufactured by
Cooperative Diagnostics in the Spartan DX-12(TM) DNA analyzer, the
companies hope they can bring PCR testing for viruses such as HIV/AIDS to
the Global South region.

"Spartan's vision is bringing the power of DNA testing to everyone. This
means both the developed world and the developing world. There is
enormous potential for remote and under-served regions to benefit from
fast, affordable, and easy-to-use DNA analysis." said Dr. Paul Lem, CEO
and co-founder, Spartan Bioscience. "Too often, cost issues prevent the
developing world from receiving life-saving medical technologies. This is
why the collaboration agreement with Cooperative Diagnostics is so
exciting - we have the potential to bring highly-accurate DNA-based
HIV/AIDS testing to countries and regions who have been severely
under-served and often forgotten."

"Cooperative Diagnostics was founded with a singular purpose: to make the
highest quality diagnostics available to the people who need them most,"
said Brent C. Satterfield, Ph.D., President and Founder, Cooperative
Diagnostics. "When traditional marketing approaches don't meet the needs
of the underserved populations in the world, then there is a need for
people who care enough to think outside of the box - people who can find
creative ways to generate sustainable change. We are pleased with our
relationship with Spartan, because we feel that their approach to
cost-effective PCR testing is a step in the right direction towards
meeting the needs of the world's nations."

The agreement reached between the two companies is to form and execute a
Joint Research Collaboration Project with the scope of conduct to include
all necessary validation testing of the Cooperative Diagnostics HIV PCR
Assay technology on the Spartan DX-12 DNA analyzer.

The Cooperative Diagnostics designed SimplexTM HIV-1 RNA kit is part of a
blood screening kit manufactured and distributed by Cooperative
Diagnostics International, S.A. in Guatemala. The research collaboration
with Spartan is intended to provide additional validation for the HIV-1
test in applications for infant diagnosis and viral load testing in
resource limited settings. With anticipated pricing of less than $10
U.S., the test will bring significant reductions to the cost of infant
diagnosis and viral load testing.

The Spartan DX-12(TM) DNA analyzer, developed and manufactured by Spartan
Bioscience Inc. is now available for world-wide commercial use. Priced at
less than $12,500 U.S. and designed for non-batched PCR applications, the
DX-12 is an easy-to-use, lightweight stand-alone instrument that produces
both qualitative and quantitative results typically in 30 to 60 minutes.

About Spartan Bioscience

Spartan Bioscience Inc. is a privately-held molecular diagnostic
instrumentation company developing, manufacturing, and marketing DNA
analyzers for on-demand applications. Founded in 2005, the company is
focusing on applications where rapid and convenient DNA testing is
particularly important, such as low-throughput research experiments or
time-critical diagnostic testing for infectious diseases. Other
applications include human genetics, veterinary, food and water safety,
and many others. The company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. For more
information visit the website at www.spartanbio.com.

About Cooperative Diagnostics

With an R&D facility located in Greenwood, South Carolina, and a
manufacturing and distribution facility located in Guatemala City,
Guatemala, Cooperative Diagnostics combines superior real-time PCR assay
design skills with proprietary informatics solutions for the rapid and
efficient development of clinical molecular diagnostic assays. Since its
inception in January of 2008, the company emphasis has been 100% focused
on identifying and implementing ways to create sustainable change in
diagnostics for global health. The company currently has four tests,
HIV-1, HBV, HCV and Chagas together with a nucleic acid sample
preparation kit available in Guatemala. Further tests are being developed
for other neglected tropical diseases. For more information visit
www.codiagnostics.com.

Contacts:
Spartan Bioscience Inc.
Shelley Mullins
PR and Communications
613-866-8803
shelley.mullins@spartanbio.com
www.spartanbio.com

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