AVECOR to Immediately Begin Distributing CVDI's Heparin Management Test
                            In the U.S. and Canada

    RALEIGH, N.C., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Inc.
(Nasdaq-NNM: CVDI) ("CVDI")  announced today that it has signed a distribution
agreement with AVECOR Cardiovascular Inc.  (Nasdaq: AVEC) of Minneapolis,
Minnesota. AVECOR is a leading supplier to the cardiosurgical market of
specialty products, including oxygenators, heart pumps, blood reservoirs and
other devices used in heart/lung bypass procedures.
    Under terms of the agreement, AVECOR will distribute CVDI's Thrombolytic
Assessment System ("TAS(TM)") analyzer and certain test cards, used for
monitoring anticoagulants in the surgical and critical care areas of
hospitals, in the United States and Canada.
    CVDI's TAS technology utilizes a dry chemistry format to rapidly monitor
the coagulation status of patients receiving anticoagulant or thrombolytic
therapy. Currently, CVDI has a seven test menu and expects to have Food and
Drug Administration clearance on an additional 19 tests by 1998. In order to
effectively distribute its tests to the multiple hospital settings where
anticoagulant therapy is applicable, CVDI has designed specific test menus
tailored to individual distributor's product lines.
    AVECOR will begin immediately distributing CVDI's Heparin Management Test
("HMT"), to be followed later by the Company's Heparin Management Panel. The
HMT was developed by CVDI as a more accurate and reliable alternative to the
Activated Clotting Time ("ACT"), which has proven to have severe limitations,
especially in cardio-pulmonary bypass procedures. During bypass, patients
are anti-coagulated using high levels of heparin and later, are injected with
protamine sulfate to reverse the heparin effect.  Along with the HMT, CVDI is
developing a panel of tests to accurately monitor this heparinization and
heparin reversal process. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the
superior performance of the HMT when compared to the ACT. CVDI's HMT can
use either citrated or whole blood samples.
    In commenting on this agreement, Michael Riddle, CVDI's Vice President of
Marketing and Sales, commented, "We are delighted to have aligned ourselves
with AVECOR, a technology leader in cardiosurgical devices. Effective
monitoring of anticoagulant therapy in surgery, combined with the innovative
design of AVECOR's Affinity(TM) product line, should reduce the use of blood
products and therapeutic agents and result in hospital cost savings."
    Mr. Riddle continued, "CVDI's point-of-care technology gives the physician
a rapid and accurate test result within minutes, providing the ability, when
applicable, to intervene therapeutically. As such, CVDI is proud to be a part
of AVECOR's product offering to anesthesiologists, perfusionists and
surgeons."
    Anthony Bodalato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AVECOR, stated,
"Anticoagulant monitoring is an important part of cardiosurgical procedures,
and having the ability to offer the latest and best available monitoring
technology is in keeping with AVECOR's mission to manufacture and represent
superior technologies for surgical and critical care. Our strategy of product
line expansion includes both products developed internally and distribution
agreements for complementary devices manufactured by others."
    John Funkhouser, President and Chief Executive Officer of CVDI commented
"By establishing significant distribution partners -- AVECOR in surgery and
DADE in the laboratory, outpatient and clinical settings -- CVDI should
realize its goal of providing a continuum of patient care throughout the
hospital. We are very pleased to be represented by a technology leader like
AVECOR."
    Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets
systems designed to deliver rapidly and accurately, blood test results at the
point-of-care ("POC"). CVDI's novel technology platform has allowed the
company to develop a menu of diagnostic tests, including new specialty tests.
The company believes that its Thrombolytic Assessment System ("TAS")
technology is the only POC system capable of monitoring both the formation and
dissolution of blood clots -- a critical factor in treating heart attacks,
strokes and a variety of other medical conditions.
    To receive CVDI's latest news release and other corporate documents via
FAX -- no cost -- please dial 1-800-PRO-INFO.  Use company code "011"

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