Marcy l'Etoile, France – July 18, 2006 – bioMérieux, a global leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, today announced its first-half sales. Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2006 totaled €516.4 million, up 6.1% at constant exchange rates or 7% excluding the Hemostasis business which was sold on June 27. On a reported basis, sales were 8.7% higher. “The ramp-up of our new platforms continued during the period,” said Benoît Adelus, Executive Vice President. “Helped by sound business momentum and our focus on strategic lines, following the sale of the Hemostasis business, we expect full-year sales to be at the high end of the 5 to 6% range announced at the start of the year, at comparable exchange rates and scope of consolidation.”