Quidel Corporation Receives CE Mark for Its Sofia(TM) Strep A Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA) Test

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - December 01, 2011) - Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL), a leading provider of diagnostic testing solutions, announced today that it has received the CE Mark for its Sofia Strep A FIA for use with its Sofia Analyzer.

Sofia is the brand name for Quidel's next generation, immunoassay system. The Sofia Analyzer and Sofia Strep A FIA combine unique fluorescent chemistry, advanced lateral flow technology, and failure alert and fail-safe systems to ensure a reliable, objective, rapid and highly accurate diagnostic result. This press release follows closely on the recent announcement (October 26th) of the FDA clearance of the Sofia Analyzer and Sofia Influenza A+B FIA.

The Strep A FIA is the second assay to incorporate Sofia-related immunochemistry. The CE Mark allows Quidel to launch the Sofia Strep A FIA just before the respiratory disease season in Europe as well as in other locations outside of the United States. The product is currently not for sale in the U.S.

"We are very pleased to receive the CE Mark for Strep A on Sofia ahead of schedule. In combination with our Sofia Influenza A+B FIA, this product will provide healthcare workers with added testing versatility during this respiratory disease season," said Douglas Bryant, president and chief executive officer of Quidel Corporation.

The Sofia Strep A and Influenza A+B FIAs use the Sofia Analyzer, an instrument that is designed to quickly incorporate software upgrades for new analyte-specific algorithms as the Sofia menu of products expands. The development of several additional FIAs for application to the Sofia Analyzer is well underway.

About Quidel Corporation

Quidel Corporation serves to enhance the health and well being of people around the globe through the development of diagnostic solutions that can lead to improved patient outcomes and provide economic benefits to the healthcare system. Marketed under the QuickVue®, D3® Direct Detection and Thyretain® leading brand names, as well as under the new Sofia™ and Quidel Molecular™ brands, Quidel's products aid in the detection and diagnosis of many critical diseases and conditions, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, Strep A, herpes, pregnancy, thyroid disease and fecal occult blood. Quidel's research and development engine is also developing a continuum of diagnostic solutions from advanced lateral-flow and direct fluorescent antibody to molecular diagnostic tests to further improve the quality of healthcare in physicians' offices and hospital and reference laboratories. For more information about Quidel's comprehensive product portfolio, visit quidel.com and Diagnostic Hybrids at dhiusa.com.

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 from those that may be described or implied in the forward-looking statements. 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 timing of onset, length and severity of cold and flu seasons, the level of success in executing on our strategic initiatives, our reliance on sales of our influenza diagnostic tests, uncertainty surrounding the detection of novel influenza viruses involving human specimens, our ability to develop new products and technology, adverse changes in the competitive and economic conditions in domestic and international markets, our reliance on and actions of our major distributors, technological changes and uncertainty with research and technology development, including any molecular-based technology, the medical 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"), our ability to comply with FDA, environmental and other regulations, our ability to meet unexpected increases in demand for our products, our ability to execute our strategy, including the integration of new companies or technologies, disruptions in the global capital and credit markets, our ability to hire key personnel, intellectual property, product liability, environmental or other litigation, potential required patent license fee payments not currently reflected in our costs, adverse changes in our international markets, potential inadequacy of booked reserves and possible impairment of goodwill, and lower-than-anticipated acceptance, 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, except as required by law.

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