MEDFORD, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2006--Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCBB: CEMI) has appointed Setema, Ltd. to distribute its rapid HIV tests in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a population of over 73 million of which an estimated 1.5 million are infected with HIV. Under the auspices of the President's $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the United States recently signed an agreement to provide Ethiopia with over $84 million to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. This will include a significant scale-up of rapid testing programs. Chembio believes these programs are crucial in Ethiopia and other countries ravaged by the AIDS epidemic. Rapid tests effectively identify patients that may require anti-retroviral treatment. Ethiopia is currently evaluating rapid HIV tests including Chembio's two HIV 1/2 STAT-PAK(TM) tests for possible inclusion in Ethiopia's testing protocol.
