Global Needlestick Prevention Group Adds Six New Members -- Commemorates International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month

ISIPS, the first international sharps injury prevention group, today announced the addition of six new corporate members. These corporate members come from a broad range of industries, including two not-for-profit groups and 4 medical device manufacturers. These new corporate members include Hema Metrics, Clearstone Health, ITL Corporation, Phlebotomy West, Eureka Sharps Disposal and Deltec.

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah-December 17, 2002--ISIPS, the first international sharps injury prevention group, today announced the addition of six new corporate members. These corporate members come from a broad range of industries, including two not-for-profit groups and 4 medical device manufacturers. These new corporate members include Hema Metrics, Clearstone Health, ITL Corporation, Phlebotomy West, Eureka Sharps Disposal and Deltec. We are pleased that this broad coalition of companies have joined with us in reducing sharps injuries," said Ron Stoker, Executive Director of ISIPS.

In addition, a variety of articles and posters have been generated in Managing Infection Control magazine to commemorate December as the first-ever International Sharps Injuries Prevention Awareness month," Stoker said. An old adage states that it is far better to prepare and prevent than to repair and repent. This old adage has great meaning to workers that are at risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. ISIPS believes that it is better to help healthcare workers identify and use sharps injury prevention products than it is to treat workers that have been accidentally cut or stuck with contaminated sharps."

About the new corporate members:

HemaMetrics Corporation (HMC"), formerly In-Line Diagnostics, is a medical technology company with a proprietary and patented photo-optical technology allowing for real-time/non-invasive monitoring of vital whole blood parameters. HMC possesses a unique technology platform that can be broadly applied in numerous medical applications in the extracorporeal and transcutaneous markets. HemaMetrics will be releasing in 2003 the Crit-Scan Monitor, a non-invasive hematocrit measuring device that measures hematocrit optically without the need for the painful finger stick. For more information contact Hema Metrics at 800.546.5463 ext 155 or visit their website at www.hemametrics.com/Default.jsp

Clearstone Health helps improve healthcare worker and patient safety through premium-quality online education. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao stresses, "The more emphasis we place upfront on education and prevention, the better able we are to protect workers." Clearstone's TrainingHarborÔ system (www.trainingharbor.com) enables manufacturers to provide complete and consistent product training to practitioners who use (or evaluate) their products. TrainingHarbor also features continuing education and compliance training courses authored by respected industry experts. With courses ranging from new products to Bloodborne Pathogens, along with Clearstone's complimentary learning management system, healthcare facilities have the tools they need to provide, track, and document training activities that promote a culture of safety. For more information contact Clearstone Health at 801.932.6474 or by visiting their website at www.clearstonehealth.com

ITL is a fast growth company and was established in 1994 in Canberra, Australia. ITL specializes in creating innovative medical devices with an emphasis on safety. Their success is measured by numerous Occupational Health and Safety and Design awards. Their major products are designed to prevent needle stick and other sharps injuries to medical personnel as well as to patients and ancillary staff in the health industry. One of their first products, DonorCare®, was launched in 1994. DonorCare® is a needle protection device designed for use with Whole Blood Collection sets. Fore more information about ITL Corporation, call 703.716.4521 or visit their website at www.itlcorporation.com/index.htm.

Phlebotomy West is an organization dedicated to the certification and education of all phlebotomists. Phlebotomy West encourages and promotes legislative initiatives that require the certification of all healthcare professionals who perform blood collection procedures for diagnostic testing upon successful completion of a comprehensive training curriculum. For more information about Phlebotomy West contact 812.633.4636 or visit their website at www.phlebotomywest.com.

Eureka Sharps Disposal (formally SharpSmart) is the solutions to a National Problem. Eureka is an easily replicable, cost effective, highly marketable program developed to collect residential needles and remove them from landfills. Eureka Sharps Disposal was designed to help properly dispose of syringes, prevent injury to humans and animals, provide an environmentally safe option for disposing of sharps, keep sharps out of household trash and recycling bins, prevent the spread of infectious diseases, remove used needles from circulation and prevent the sharing of needles. For more information call 401.725.7800.

Deltec is a world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of medical devices. Deltec is the manufacturer of the Gripper Plus Huber needle. The new GRIPPER PLUS Safety Needle is used to deliver medications intravenously through a patient's implanted port. Its unique feature is a safety arm that is lifted to lock the needle into a protected position when de-accessing it from an implanted port. An audible click provides clinicians with confirmation that the de-accessed needle is in its locked safety position. The GRIPPER PLUS Safety Needle is safe for clinicians, comfortable for patients, and easy to use. For more information about this product contact Deltec at 800 426 2448 or check on their website at www.deltec.com.

Other corporate members of ISIPS include:

Medamicus, Inc., 800.559.2613, www.medamicus.com
TYCO Healthcare/ Kendall Sharp Safety, 800.962.9888, www.kendallhq.com
Bio-Plexus, 860.870.6112, www.bio-plexus.com/
SuturTek Incorporated, 978.251.8088, www.suturtek.com
Biomedical Disposal, Inc., 888.393.9595, www.biodisposal.com
Becton Dickinson, 201.847.6800, www.bd.com/safety/
Inviro Medical Devices, Inc, 604.681.9399, www.inviromedical.com
B. Braun Medical, Inc, 800.523.9676, www.bbraunusa.com/
Greiner Bio-One GmbH, +43 7583 6791-0, www.greiner-bio-one.com
Immunization Branch - California Department of Health Services
510.540.2067, www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/izgroup/
Portex, Inc., 603.352.3812, www.portexusa.com
Retractable Technologies Inc., 888703-1010, www.vanishpoint.com
Terumo Medical Corporation, 800.283.7866, www.terumomedical.com/safety
PenJet Corporation, 310.201.0800,www.penjet.com/
ANFIM - Association of Needle-free Injection Manufacturers, 315.463.4999
www.anfim.com./
APIS MEDICAL,+ 31 705179451, www.apis-medical.com/html/default2.htm
Surgilance, Inc.,888.808.6494,www.surgilance.com/
Safeguard Medical Devices, 877.797.4277, www.safeguardmd.com
SafeGard Medical Ltd.,407 876-5298, www.safegardmedical.com
NowMedical,610.455.0258, www.now-med.com
AM Labs, Inc.,877.800.5005,www.amlabsinc.com/index.html
Gimbel Glove Company, LLC,888.667.8425, www.gimbelglove.com/index.htm
Univec, Inc.,631.777.2000,www.univec.com/
MYCO MEDICAL,800.454.6926,www.mycomedical.com/
OMI,+ 61 7 3209 3099,www.omiltd.com/home/home.htm
Horizon Medical Products, Inc, 800.472.5221,www.hmpvascular.com/index.html
MediSafe-guard Products, Inc,732.981.9099,
ECM Corporation,360.341.6788,www.whidbey.com/ecm/index.htm
Abbott Laboratories, Inc.,847.936.0676,www.abbotthosp.com/NPS/
Medi-Dose, Inc -EPS, Inc.,800.523.8966, www.medidose.com/catalog/ivpharm/index.html
International Association of EMTs and Paramedics, 617.376.0220,www.iaep.org