DADE Dade Behring Holdings (MM)

Dade Behring Inc. (NASDAQ:DADE), the world's largest company solely dedicated to clinical diagnostics, and Novation, the health care contracting services company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), have announced the signing of a three-year agreement that provides Novation's 2,500 alliance members with continued access to all of Dade Behring's chemistry products. The agreement also includes an option for a two-year extension. Novation alliance members will have access to Dade Behring's full line of Dimension� chemistry systems, including the recently introduced Dimension Vista� 1500 Intelligent Lab System. In addition, Novation alliance members will have access to Dade Behring's scalable automation systems--the StreamLAB� and Dimension� Lynx analytical workcells. The Stratus� CS Acute Care� Diagnostic System and the Syva� drug testing and plasma protein product lines are also included in the agreement. "This agreement reaffirms the positive relationship we have with Novation," said Jim Reid-Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO, Dade Behring. "We are confident that Dade Behring's broad range of chemistry products can help Novation's alliance members optimize efficiencies in their clinical laboratories." "Novation is pleased to offer VHA and UHC members with Dade Behring's chemistry systems that meet the needs of patients in the acute and non-acute care settings," said Sherry Dobis, Director, Contract Services at Novation. Dade Behring and Novation also have pre-existing agreements for Dade Behring's MicroScan� microbiology products, coagulation products and the PFA-100� System, which is used for automated platelet function testing. In addition to the signed agreement, Novation recently featured Dade Behring's Dimension Vista� 1500 Intelligent Lab System in its 2007 Novation New Medical Technology Catalog. This catalog features innovative products which have been shown to have a positive impact on improving patient care, patient safety or health care worker safety. About Dade Behring With 2006 revenue of more than $1.7 billion, Dade Behring is the world's largest company solely dedicated to clinical diagnostics. It offers a wide range of products, systems and services designed to meet the day-to-day needs of clinical laboratories, delivering innovative solutions to customers and enhancing the quality of life for patients. Additional company information is available on the Internet at www.dadebehring.com. About Novation Based in Irving, Texas, Novation is the leading health care contracting services company, delivering unmatched savings and value to nearly 2,500 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances. Through its competitive bid process, Novation develops and manages contracts with more than 500 suppliers, both large and small. By combining scale and agility with clinical knowledge and product expertise, Novation offers the most extensive range of innovative contracting services, including: contract development, contract and supplier management, custom contracting, enhanced savings programs, online contract management and analytical tools, order management and online supplier connectivity. VHA and UHC members used Novation's contracts to purchase more than $30 billion in supplies in 2006. This press release may contain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward statements include information regarding the intent, belief or current expectation of the company and members of its senior management team, including, without limitation, expectations regarding prospective performance and opportunities and the outlook for the company's businesses, performance, opportunities and regulatory approval. In addition, the company is in the process of a major new product launch, which involves risks and uncertainties regarding product performance, costs of introduction and support, and customer acceptance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the company.