ACCU-CHEK ACTIVE™ SYSTEM NOW OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE SITE TESTING OPTION

For some people with diabetes, alternative site testing means more flexibility and greater comfort.

Indianapolis, Indiana -- June 23, 2002 -- Roche Diagnostics introduces a new option for its Accu-Chek Active™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System - alternative site testing. Accu-Chek Active System users now have the choice of drawing blood samples from their fingertips or an alternative site on the body, such as the forearm, upper arm, thigh, and calf.

"Alternative site testing, along with the Accu-Chek Active System's other benefits, which include a small sample size, and fast, accurate results, gives people with diabetes greater flexibility, maximizes comfort, and helps them better manage their blood glucose levels," said Eric Pridemore, Product Marketing Manager with Roche Diagnostics.

Because alternative sites have fewer capillaries than fingertips, blood from these sites can be more difficult to draw to the surface. The Accu-Chek® Softclix® Lancet Device comes with 11 depth settings and a new clear cap attachment, allowing the device to draw blood from alternative sites to the surface.

"Because alternative testing can be more comfortable for some people with diabetes, the Accu-Chek Active System may encourage some of my patients to test their blood glucose levels more often. This is very important, because more testing can improve compliance and lead to better disease management, which can prevent or delay the onset of complications," Kurt Alexander, MD, said. Dr. Alexander practices in Indianapolis, Ind. "However, patients have to understand when forearm testing is and is not appropriate."

A study the makers of Accu-Chek® products, Roche Diagnostics, conducted prior to bringing the alternative site option to market, showed fingertip and forearm readings were not the same during periods when blood glucose levels were rapidly changing, especially during the two hours following meals.

During this time, forearm readings lagged behind fingertip readings. Released in June 2001, "A Study of Forearm Versus Finger Stick Blood Glucose Monitoring" was based on 18,036 data points collected from 192 participants at four clinical sites.

"I do not recommend alternative site testing during the two-hour period after meals," Dr. Alexander advised. "I also recommend that patients whose forearm test results do not match the way they feel confirm those results by testing again using fingertip blood."

In addition to alternative site testing, the Accu-Chek Active™ System includes several features designed to help make blood glucose testing easier and more convenient, including: the need for only one microliter of blood; ability to display results in five seconds; 200-value memory; and the ability to average results in 7 or 14-day increments. In addition, data from the Accu-Chek Active System can be downloaded to Accu-Chek data management systems, such as Accu-Chek Compass™ and Pocket Compass™ Diabetes Management Software, computers, other data storage devices and, via modem, to healthcare providers.

The Accu-Chek Active System and test strips are available in pharmacies nationwide. The clear cap, which is used in conjunction with the Accu-Chek Softclix Lancet Device to obtain alternative site blood samples, is included in Accu-Chek Active System packaging. For more information about the Accu-Chek Active System and other Accu-Chek products, please log on to www.accu-chek.com.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and vitamins. Roche's products and services address prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing well being and quality of life. Roche's Diagnostics Division, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics with a uniquely broad product portfolio, supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories worldwide. Roche Diagnostics Corporation, based in Indianapolis, is the North American headquarters for the diagnostics business of the company. Roche Diagnostics' website is located at www.roche-diagnostics.com.