Avitar, Inc. Promotes Ronald H. Allen to Vice President of Operations

March 14, 2001

CANTON, Mass., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Avitar, Inc. (Amex: - news) is pleased to announce today that it has promoted Ronald H. Allen, 51, to Vice President of Operations from his current position of Director of Business Development. Mr. Allen will oversee all operations for United States Drug Testing Laboratories (USDTL), the recently acquired BJR Security Services, as well as operations related to the manufacture and sale of the DRUGLAB(TM), and European manufacture and distribution of the drugs of abuse products.

``In a short time, Ron has contributed significantly to the growth of the company. His extensive expertise in developing laboratory operational efficiencies and building strong alliances will enhance our ability to deliver products and services to our ever expanding customer base,'' stated Douglas W. Scott, President and Chief Operating Officer of Avitar.

``Ron's unique background in both law enforcement and laboratory management will allow us to utilize him to effectively market our new products like DRUGLAB to the law enforcement industry,'' said Peter P. Phildius, Avitar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ``Ron already has plans in development to significantly expand the product offerings for BJR and USDTL,'' he added.

Following a 20-year career as a police officer focused on narcotics investigations, Mr. Allen retired in 1996 to begin a new career in business. He founded Secon of New England, Inc., a drug testing services laboratory company that provided clinical trials and diagnostics services to the public safety and corporate markets. Secon was purchased by Civigenics in March 1998, and Mr. Allen assumed the position of President and Chief Operating Officer where he demonstrated proficiency in the state-of-the-art techniques and technologies available for drug testing. He is also very knowledgeable in the current drug and contraband detection practices used by law enforcement agents across the country.

Mr. Allen began his career at Avitar in June 2000 as the Director of Business Development with responsibility for developing the public safety market for substance abuse testing products and services. He has been integral in acquiring technologies for substance abuse detection such as BJR and the DIPRO DRUGLAB System for distribution by Avitar.

ABOUT BJR

BJR Security Service, Inc., a private contract provider of drug detection and education services currently implements programs for organizations within two large market segments: school systems and the oil and petroleum industry. Customers include Texaco, Pennzoil, Conoco, Kerr Magee and approximately 100 public and private school in Texas. BJR Security Service implements regularly scheduled and randomly announced searches for illegal contraband specializing in narcotics by using a trained force of canines for discovering paraphernalia. In addition to contraband inspection and detection services, BJR also provides workplaces and school systems with drug education services.

ABOUT DRUGLAB

DIPRO's DRUGLAB(TM) products, designed for criminal law enforcement, are mobile diagnostic drug-testing systems that provide accurate, on-the-spot screening for drugs-of-abuse. Kits employ easy-to-use, one-step methods to identify and detect surface materials and unmarked configurations of bulk materials for drugs-of-abuse that include amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and tricyclic antidepressants. Test performance is simple and requires no special training or certification.

ABOUT AVITAR

Avitar, Inc. (Amex: - news) headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices based on core technologies in oral fluid diagnostics and customized polyurethane applications. The company markets a unique portfolio of substance abuse testing products and services that includes ORALscreen(TM), the world's first rapid point-of- collection oral fluid test for drugs of abuse, ORALadvantage(TM), the first comprehensive substance abuse program featuring Avitar's oral fluid-based products, HAIRscreen(TM), a laboratory-based test for detecting long term drug abuse using hair, and several other specialized tests for drugs of abuse. ORALscreen is a cost-effective drugs-of-abuse test with potential net cost savings of more than $100.00 per sample tested. Additional products include an oral fluid collection system for DNA testing as well as a proprietary line of polyurethane-based high tech medical devices. Avitar is also a provider of substance abuse detection services and drug education programs.

For more information, see Avitar's website at avitarinc.com.

This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including the development and marketing of new applications and other risks that are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.