Drug Abuse Deterrance Program Serves Parents, Students and Educators at Framingham High School for Three Years

April 03, 2002

CANTON, Mass., April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avitar, Inc. (Amex: - ) today announced three successful years of providing drugs-of-abuse tests to Framingham High School in Framingham, Mass.

Ralph Olsen, the school's principal, stated, ``Testing for drugs-of-abuse does not necessitate mandatory testing of all students. At Framingham High School we have designed an effective program by working as a community. Parents have been involved since the program was implemented, and we require a parent's signature to administer any type of test. Avitar's ORALscreen(TM), a saliva-based test, is a highly useful test that allows for immediate, onsite results. Parents, faculty and students have come to an understanding at Framingham that cocaine, marijuana, opiates, alcohol and methamphetamines have no place on our campus. In addition to educational programs and agreement by students to contract to remain drug free, leaving Avitar's tests in full view at all of our special events has proven to be an effective deterrent in our community's fight against substance abuse.''

Peter P. Phildius, Avitar's chairman and chief executive officer, stated, ``Today, educational institutions are faced with students attending classes and participating in extracurricular events while under the influence of any number of illicit drugs. Some school districts have enforced mandatory drug testing, an issue currently being argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Olsen, a visionary educator, has implemented a plan allowing students, parents, faculty and administrators to work as a community and fight the drugs-of-abuse use in school. Using highly effective products such as Avitar's ORALscreen, students and parents know within minutes if a student has been using drugs-of-abuse because the test changes before their eyes. With a saliva-based test, students do not complain about the loss of dignity that is often associated with the collection of urine. Using such screening devices and reminding the student that illegal drug use is an extremely serious matter, Framingham High School has witnessed a tremendous decline in drug abuse. Avitar's management applauds Mr. Olsen's leadership and foresight, and we look forward to working with other caring educators who seek to deter substance abuse on their campuses.''

Supreme Court of the United States Citation:

On March 19, 2002, oral arguments were heard before the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Case No.01-332. Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County, et. al. v. Lisday Earls, et. al. will be decided before the Court's summer adjournment.

About ORALscreen:

The Company's ORALscreen line represents the most comprehensive, state-of- the-art product portfolio for rapid substance abuse testing available on the market today. ORALscreen is a highly sensitive, simple-to-use, reliable and disposable drug test that within minutes detects the presence of specific illegal substances, including marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine and MDMA, also known as Ecstasy. The advantage of oral testing is that it may be performed in public and eliminates the embarrassment and chain-of-custody issues present with urine testing. ORALscreen cannot be adulterated in any way, and there are no substances that may be ingested that would result in a false negative result. The estimated cost of drug abuse to employers is $10,000 per employee per year. 65% of accidents on the job are caused by substance abuse and 10% of workers are abusing drugs on the job.

About Avitar:

Avitar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative and proprietary products in the oral fluid diagnostic market, and the disease and clinical testing market. Oral fluid diagnostics includes the estimated $1.5 billion drugs-of-abuse testing market, which encompasses the corporate workplace and criminal justice markets. Avitar's products include ORALscreen(TM), the world's first non-invasive, rapid, onsite oral fluid test for drugs-of-abuse, and HAIRscreen(TM), a laboratory-based hair test for detecting long-term drug abuse. In the estimated $25 billion In-Vitro diagnostics market, Avitar is developing diagnostic strategies for disease and clinical testing. Some examples include influenza, diabetes and pregnancy. For more information, see Avitar's website at avitarinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement. 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. In view of such risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements.