Avitar Enters Rapidly Expanding Oral Fluid-Based Laboratory Drug Testing Market

Avitar Continues Track Record of Innovation and Improves Company's Ability to Compete in $1.5B Drug Testing Market 


CANTON, Mass., Nov. 29  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avitar, Inc. (OTC:AVRN) (BULLETIN BOARD: AVRN)  ("Avitar" or the "Company") developer of the world's first oral fluid-based, on-site screen for drugs-of-abuse, today announced ORALscreenLAB(TM), a comprehensive array of laboratory-based oral fluid drug screens.  With the addition of ORALscreenLAB (see more detailed product information below), Avitar now offers the industry's widest selection of oral fluid-based solutions to combat drug abuse.

"Our goal is to provide employers with all the necessary tools to significantly reduce the incidences of drug abuse on the job," said Peter Phildius, Chairman and CEO of Avitar.  "Industry experts recognize that random drug screening is an extremely effective deterrent to drug abuse, however, traditional urine testing is not well suited for random screening in the corporate sector.  Oral fluid-based testing is an enabling technology that provides corporations with a key component in establishing an effective drug- free workplace program."

Phildius explained, "Oral fluid-based technology removes the barriers to random testing associated with urine.  For example, urine drug testing presents gender issues, problems with sample substitution or adulteration (beating the test), and a general lack of social acceptance and convenience. Observed, on-site, oral fluid collection also eliminates the costly employee downtime associated with specialized urine collection facilities.  With the addition of ORALscreenLAB to our comprehensive group of drug tests and consulting services, Avitar is becoming a single source company for oral fluid-based drug free workplace solutions."

In practice, oral fluid-based testing for drugs-of-abuse has proven to be most efficient for organizations looking to reduce workplace drug use. Research shows that oral fluid testing yields results that are comparable in accuracy to urine tests, and can detect the presence of virtually all drugs within minutes of consumption.  Avitar will continue to focus its marketing and sales efforts on its on-site ORALscreen(R) DRUGOMETER(TM).  ORALscreenLAB, however, presents a viable option to corporations wishing to step away from urine testing, but are not yet ready to implement on-site testing technology.

About Avitar

Avitar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative and proprietary products.  Their field includes the oral fluid diagnostic market, the disease and clinical testing market, and customized polyurethane applications used in the wound dressing industry.  Avitar manufactures ORALscreen(R), the world's first non-invasive, rapid, onsite oral fluid test for drugs-of-abuse, as well as HYDRASORB(R), an absorbent topical dressing for moderate to heavy exudating wounds.  Avitar is also developing diagnostic strategies for disease and clinical testing in the estimated $25 billion in-vitro diagnostics market. Conditions targeted include influenza, diabetes, and pregnancy.  For more information, see Avitar's website at http://www.avitarinc.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement. This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including the development and marketing of new applications and other risks that are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  In view of such risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements.

Product Information: ORALscreenLAB

Based upon the most recent statistics published by Quest Diagnostics, Inc., one of the nations leading test laboratories, ORALscreenLAB tests for 99% of drugs typically found in the private U.S. workplace sector. ORALscreenLab is an inclusive laboratory-based screen and GS/MS confirmation test.  The solution is available in the three versions shown below.

  * ORALscreen LAB5+
    Amphetamines: (Dexedrine(R)), MDA (Love Pill), MDEA (Eve)
    Methamphetamines: (Desoxyn(R)), MDMA, Ecstasy
    THC: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (CAS No. 1972-08-3)
    Cocaine: Benzoylecgonine, (Coke)
    Opiates: Morphine (Durapmorph(R)), Codeine (Methylmorphine), 6-AM,
    Hydrocodone (Vicodin(R)), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid(R)), Oxycodone
    (Oxycontin(R), Percoset(R)), Oxymorphone (Nurmophan(R)), Dihydrocodeine
    PCP: Phencyclidine (Angel Dust)

  * ORALscreen LAB7 -- Detects: All drugs tested by ORALscreenLAB5+, and
    Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam (Xanax(R)), Clonazepam (Klonopin(R)),
    Chlordiazepoxide (Librium(R)), Diazepam (Valium(R)), Lorazepam
    (Avitvan(R)), Temazepam(Restoril(R)), Oxazepam (Serax(R)),Nordiazepam
    (Tranxene(R))
    Propoxyphene: (Darvon(R))

  * ORALscreen LAB8 -- Detects: All drugs tested by ORALscreenLAB7, and
    Barbiturates: Amobarbital (Amytal(R)), Butabarbital (Butisol(R))
    Pentobarbital (Nembutal(R)), Phenobarbital (Luminal(R)), Secobarbital
    (Seconal(R)), Butalbital (Fiorinal(R))


   Company Contact:                     PR Contact:
   Peter Cholakis                       Maura Landry
   Avitar Inc.                          SHIFT Communications
   781-821-2440 x117                    617-681-1229
                 

DATASOURCE: Avitar, Inc.



CONTACT:  Peter Cholakis of Avitar Inc., [phone] ext. 117,

; or Maura Landry of SHIFT Communications,

[phone],  



Web site:  http://www.avitarinc.com/

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