The Syva RapidTest assay, a specific urinebased assay, will be a small
handheld device that can be stored at room temperature. The simplicity of
the procedure decreases the possibility of human error. Only three drops of
urine added to the sample well will be required; an additional reagent will
not be required. A precise volume will not be required for accurate and
stable results. Negative outcomes will be indicated when lines appear in
both the test result and the control windows. A line appearing in only the
control window indicates a positive outcome.

"With ability to screen for multiple drugs of abuse at once, and to obtain
the results in five minutes or less, this product is expected to be a major
advance for Behring Diagnostics in the growing market segment for quick and
easytouse drugs of abuse testing," said David Kuhn, business line
manager.

The Syva RapidTest assay will have the broadest offering of multiple and
single tests for drugs of abuse available to emergency rooms, occupational
health treatment centers, the criminal justice market, and corporate
industry in the way of preemployment and onthejob testing. The reagents
are able to detect cocaine, THC (marijuana), methamphetamine, opiates,
amphetamines, phencyclidine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone, and
tricyclic antidepressants. The new Syva RapidTest in development has a
performance comparable to the Emit(R) assays. The Syva RapidTest assays
will be available shortly in Scandinavia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the
United States, and are expected to be launched in additional countries over
the next 6 months.

With headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, Behring Diagnostics GmbH,
manufactures and markets in vitro diagnostic systems used by healthcare
professionals in hospitals and laboratories throughout the world. The
company has five business lines: plasma proteins, coagulation and
microbiology, based in Marburg, Germany; the OPUS(R) business line, located
in Westwood, Massachusetts; and the Syva(R) business line, based in San
Jose, California. Behring Diagnostics acquired the former Syva Company in
1995. Behring Diagnostics had sales of DM 930 million, in 1996, and employs
approximately 3,000 worldwide. On July 10, 1997, Behring Diagnostics
announced that Hoechst AG and Dade International completed a definitive
agreement for the previously announced merger of Dade with Hoechst's Behring
Diagnostics business unit, pending regulatory approvals.

All products trademarked in this announcement are registered trademarks of
Behring Diagnostics GmbH.

CONTACT:

Jean Luc Devleeschauwer

telephone: +49 (69) 30583735

fax: +49 (69) 30583041

voice mail: +1 (800) 223 7982, box 8033

KEYWORD: GEORGIA

BW1159 JUL 21,1997