BOSTON, Apr 29, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a leading provider of drug discovery, life science research, and analytical solutions, today announced the launch of the DELFIA Celiac Disease Hybridization assay, the most sensitive, easy-to-perform test for ascertaining an individual's susceptibility to celiac disease. The new assay provides a powerful tool for the fast-growing area of celiac disease research.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in sensitivity to gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac disease affects up to one percent of the population in some countries. If left untreated, celiac disease keeps the body from absorbing needed vitamins and minerals, often leaving an individual anemic and malnourished. It can also increase the risk of serious long-term conditions, including gastrointestinal cancer and osteoporosis. Though difficult to diagnose, the disease can be managed effectively through strict adherence to a gluten-free diet for life.

"Our method provides the clinicians a new tool to exclude patients with gastric conditions who do not have celiac disease; it also is an excellent aid in defining predisposition to celiac disease for the first degree relatives of confirmed celiac patients," said Howard Grey, global business director, Genetic Disease Screening, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences. "Our product shows a potential to reduce the need for biopsy in celiac disease diagnosis, a potential reduction of an unpleasant and expensive procedure."

The new product is the only test to use the DELFIA method, which offers a number of benefits including sensitivity, reliability and ease of use. The test is suitable for use not only with liquid blood samples but also for blood samples on filter paper, which do not require prior extraction of DNA.

Factors Affecting Future Performance

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this press release that relate to prospective events or developments are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks related to our debt levels, our ability to comply with the financial covenants contained in our credit agreements, a downturn in our customers' markets, our failure to introduce new products in a timely manner, regulatory changes, risks related to our international operations, our inability to integrate acquired businesses into our existing business and to successfully combine our Life and Analytical Sciences businesses, and competition as well as other factors which we describe under the caption "Forward-Looking Information and Factors Affecting Future Performance" in our most recently filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global technology leader focused in the following businesses - Life and Analytical Sciences, Optoelectronics, and Fluid Sciences. Combining operational excellence and technology expertise with an intimate understanding of its customers' needs, PerkinElmer focuses on ensuring a higher quality of life by providing customers in health sciences and other markets with applications and services that require innovation and precision. The company serves customers in more than 125 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index. Additional information is available through www.perkinelmer.com or 1-877-PKI-NYSE.

SOURCE: PerkinElmer, Inc.

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