Wednesday August 26, 12:27 pm Eastern Time

Trinity Biotech Asserts Patent Rights

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 1998--Trinity Biotech plc (NASDAQ:TRIBY) today announced that it has filed complaints against Becton Dickinson & Co. and Unilever plc for patent infringement.

The complaints relate to a patent that was issued on August 25, 1992 for which Trinity holds an exclusive license. The patent relates to the formatting of devices for rapid diagnostic tests, including, but not limited to, pregnancy tests. Trinity has filed these complaints in order to assert its patent rights. The Company has yet to serve the complaints on the companies involved pending commercial negotiations. International Murex Corporation, which has since been acquired by Abbott Diagnostics, has taken a license to the patent.

Commenting on the complaint action, Brendan Farrell, president of Trinity, said, ``Trinity has taken this measure to assert its position in the rapid test segment of the diagnostic market. Through our strategic alliance with Warner Lambert, Trinity has a significant share of the U.S. over-the-counter pregnancy market through the sale of e.p.t.(R). and we are determined to pursue participants in the OTC market that infringe the patent.''

Trinity Biotech develops, manufactures, and markets over 100 diagnostic products for the point-of-care (POC), self testing (OTC), and clinical laboratory segments of the diagnostic market. Trinity sells worldwide in over 75 countries through 130 international distributors and strategic partners, including Warner Lambert, Carter Wallace, and SmithKline Beecham.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the ``safe harbor'' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts, the effect of regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration and other agencies, the impact of competitive products, product development commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

     Trinity Biotech plc
     Jonathan O'Connell
     800-603-8076
     www.trinitybiotech.com
          or
     OTC Communications
     Robert M. Joyce
     888-32-TRIBY (87429) ext. 11
     www.otcfn.com/triby

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