MELVILLE, N.Y., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- V.I. Technologies, Inc. (VITEX)
(Nasdaq: VITX) announced today that the American National Red Cross (ANRC) has
recently entered into subdistribution agreements with three of the larger and
more influential independent blood banks in the United States, The Blood
Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, Central Indiana Regional Blood Center and
The New York Blood Center.  These agreements provide for the ANRC to supply
PLAS+(R)SD to the blood banks for distribution to hospitals and have built in
minimum guaranteed purchase quantities.  Please refer to the attached press
releases for further information.
    John Barr, VITEX President and CEO stated, "VITEX is committed to
providing safer blood products nationwide.  These agreements provide an
opportunity to expand distribution and will help to make PLAS+(R)SD broadly
available to the American public."
    PLAS+(R)SD is a transfusion plasma product that utilizes the company's
solvent detergent process to remove lipid enveloped viruses including HIV,
Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B, from the blood plasma.
    VITEX is a leading developer and manufacturer of a broad portfolio of
blood products that utilize its patented virus inactivation technologies
designed to ensure safe blood products.  The technologies are tailored for all
blood component applications and other blood-derived products, including
plasma, plasma derivatives, red blood cells and platelets.  The first of
VITEX's virus-inactivated products, PLAS+(R)SD, is the only FDA approved
method for virus inactivation of plasma.
    Central to VITEX's strategy are collaborations to accelerate the
commercialization of its products.  These include agreements with Bayer
Corporation to supply plasma fractions, the American National Red Cross to
distribute PLAS+(R)SD, United States Surgical Corporation for the development
and distribution of fibrin sealant and Pall Corporation for the development
and distribution of systems for the virus inactivation of red blood cells and
platelets.
    The American National Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian service
organization that annually provides almost half the nation's blood supply,
certifies more than 8.5 million people in vital life saving skills, mobilizes
relief to victims in more than 68,000 disasters nationwide, provides direct
health services to 2.8 million people, assists international disaster and
conflict victims in more than 40 countries, and transmits more than 14 million
emergency messages to members of the Armed Forces and their families.
    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These
statements involve risks and uncertainties, such as quarterly fluctuations in
operating results, the timely availability of new products, market acceptance
of the company's products, the impacts of competitive products and pricing,
government regulation of the company's products and other risks and
uncertainties set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results
to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made herein.

          Latest in Blood Safety Technology Available to Patients In
                            Southeastern Wisconsin

                  The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin
   Sign Agreement with the Red Cross to Distribute Solvent-Detergent Plasma

    ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 23 -- Patients in southeastern Wisconsin will
continue to benefit from the latest in blood safety technology following
today's agreement between The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin and the
American Red Cross to distribute Plas+SD (Pooled Plasma, Solvent Detergent
Treated).  Under the agreement the Red Cross will provide the solvent
detergent treated plasma to The Blood Center, one of the largest independent
blood centers in the country, for distribution to 35 hospitals in Wisconsin.
Plas+SD was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May 1998
and has been made available to hospitals in the Milwaukee area by BCSEW since
July 1998 under the terms of an agreement with Blood Centers of America (BCA).
    "American Red Cross, working with The Blood Center, is adding new layers
of protection to the blood supply for southeastern Wisconsin," said Brian
McDonough, Chief Operating Officer for American Red Cross Biomedical Services.
"This collaboration represents both organizations' mission to raise the
standard of care for patients in Wisconsin and nationwide by making blood
plasma transfusions as safe as possible."
    In October 1998, the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MASAC) of
the National Hemophilia Foundation approved a recommendation that Plas+SD or
donor retested plasma be used as plasma for transfusion except in emergency
situations -- when those products are not available and when delay in
treatment might create a significant risk to the patient.  "We are making
Plas+SD available, along with donor retested plasma, because these products
meet new transfusion standards being established by organizations like MASAC,"
said Dr. William Miller, Chief Executive Officer for The Blood Center.  "As a
result of this agreement, both products will be available directly from The
Blood Center to hospitals along with medical advice regarding which product is
appropriate for specific cases," Dr. Miller added.
    P1as+SD is processed from plasma collected by American Red Cross and
solvent detergent treated by V.I. Technologies (VITEX).  American Red Cross
acts as the primary distributor, making it available to hospitals and
community blood centers throughout the United States.  After the first six
months of availability, the demand for Plas+SD has increased nearly 10 percent
and continues to grow.
    A team of scientists at the New York Blood Center developed the viral
inactivation process, solvent detergent, lead by Bernard Horowitz, Ph.D.,
Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for VITEX.  The process
inactivates virtually all lipid enveloped viruses in plasma, including HIV,
HCV, and HBV.  The process is performed on pools of 2,500 units or fewer.  The
pooling assures consistent levels of coagulation factors and anti-bodies
against HAV and parvovirus B-19.  The pool is then sterile filtered, to
virtually eliminate the risk of bacterial infection, before being repackaged
into 200mL bags and frozen for distribution.
    Donor Retested Plasma, unlike Plas+SD, comes from a single donor and is
not pooled.  When donors make their regular whole blood or special plasma
donations, the plasma is held until the donor is retested at least 112 days
later.  Only if that later testing is again negative, is the plasma released
for transfusion.  Plasma can be stored in a frozen state for up to one year.

      Central Indiana Regional Blood Center to Offer New Plasma Product

    INDIANAPOLIS, March 3 -- Central Indiana Regional Blood Center (CIRBC) has
reached an agreement with the American Red Cross to supply Plas+SD (pooled
plasma, solvent detergent treated) to hospitals in central Indiana.  Plas+SD
is now available to help ensure CIRBC meets the needs of Indiana hospitals and
their patients.  Plas+SD was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in
May 1998.
    CIRBC currently offers Donor Retested Plasma throughout its forty-two
county service area and is adding Plas+SD to additionally supply these
hospitals.  "Both products meet the new transfusion standards established by
national organizations like the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee
(MASAC) of the National Hemophilia Foundation," states CIRBC's Chief Medical
Officer, Dan A. Waxman, M.D.
    Plas+SD is processed using plasma from volunteer blood donors.  This
plasma is then "solvent detergent treated"  thus making the product a safe
alternative to fresh frozen plasma.  Both Donor Retested Plasma and Plas+SD
have been endorsed by the Blood Product Advisory Committee (BPAC) of the Food
and Drug Administration.
    "Having two (2) safe, alternative plasma products is a great situation for
Indiana hospitals," states Methodist Lab Director, Charles Miraglia, M.D.
Both Donor Retested Plasma and Plas+SD will be transfused to patients in
central Indiana hospitals.

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