MDEA

RNS Number:2382B
Axis-Shield PLC
10 April 2006



AFINION(TM) POINT-OF-CARE SYSTEM FROM AXIS-SHIELD PLC IS SELECTED AS A WINNER IN
            THE 2006 MEDICAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS COMPETITION


Dundee, Scotland, 10 April 2006: Axis-Shield (LSE:ASD, OSE:ASD), the
international in vitro diagnostics company, today announces that its novel
AFINION(TM) Point-of-Care System has been selected as a winner in the US-based
Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition, the prestigious awards
programme for the medical technology community. The awards recognize the many
people including engineers, scientists, designers, and clinicians, who are
responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of
healthcare.  MDEA-winning entries excel in the areas of product innovation,
design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in
manufacturing and healthcare delivery.  Whether the product can change
traditional medical attitudes or practices and the ability of the product
development team to overcome design and engineering challenges so that the
product meets its clinical objectives, are particularly relevant in the judging
process. A comprehensive review of the entries was performed by an impartial,
multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical
engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine, and diagnostics.

Svein Lien, Axis-Shield CEO, commented: "We are very pleased that our
AFINION(TM) System has been recognised in this way and that our significant
investment in this ground-breaking platform to improve diagnosis at the point of
care has achieved this US accolade. It complements the earlier European
acknowledgement we achieved through our award for innovation from Den Norske
Bank in Norway. We believe customers and patients will appreciate the elegance
and accuracy of AFINION(TM) and its ability to deliver quick test results using
a very simple procedure, when we launch the product in the USA later this year."


Enquiries:


Axis-Shield plc
Svein Lien, CEO                                           Tel:  [phone]
Paul Garvey, Finance Director                             Tel:  [phone]

Financial Dynamics
David Yates / Sarah Macleod                               Tel:  [phone]


Notes to Editors

About Axis-Shield

Axis-Shield is a global manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic kits with a focus on
new markers in cardiovascular, rheumatoid, infectious and alcohol-related
diseases, diabetes, dementia and near patient testing to facilitate improved
patient management. News releases and company information are available at
www.axis-shield.com


About MDEA

Visit www.MDEAwards.com



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