CANTON, Mass., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avitar, Inc. (Amex: AVR - News) today announced it has signed agency-of-record agreements with SHIFT Communications and Ashton Partners. The firms will provide strategic public relations and investor relations counsel and services. By entering into these agreements, the Company aims to expand its vertical market reach and ultimately increase shareholder value.
Avitar's ORALscreen® rapid oral-based test for drugs of abuse is the cornerstone of the Company's diagnostic solutions. In recent months, Avitar has experienced an increased demand for its product from industries such as: retail food, construction and security services.
"Avitar created the market for oral fluid diagnostics," said Pete Phildius, Chairman & CEO of Avitar. "And by partnering with SHIFT and Ashton Partners, we'll be better able to communicate how companies using our solution can derive a significant return on their investment in workplace drug testing. This will in turn help us carve out new distribution channels, identify new vertical market potential and ultimately result in an increase in the market and shareholder valuation."
On-site oral-fluid testing for drugs-of-abuse has proven effective in reducing the use of illicit drugs in the workplace -- an issue that has an estimated $110 billion annual cost to the U.S. economy. Avitar will continue to hone and refine its drug diagnostics suite. In the coming months, the Company plans to introduce the ORALscreen DRUGOMETER(TM), an evolution of Avitar's advanced oral fluid technology that makes on-site workplace drug testing easier, more efficient and more cost-effective.
Separately, Avitar announced that all the directors were re-elected and that all proposals described in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting were approved at the meeting held on September 28, 2004.
About Avitar
Avitar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative and proprietary products in the oral fluid diagnostic market and customized medical grade polyurethane foam. 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® the world's first non-invasive, rapid, onsite oral fluid test for drugs-of-abuse. Additionally, Avitar manufactures and markets HYDRASORB® an absorbent topical dressing for moderate to heavy exudating wounds. For more information, see Avitar's website at https://avitarinc.com.
About SHIFT Communications
SHIFT Communications' high performance public relations and marketing communications services bolster clients' marketplace reputation and produce measurable results that directly lead to increased revenues. The independent agency works with both new and established companies competing in a variety of technology, business-to-business, and consumer markets. SHIFT Communications' offices are located in Watertown, Mass., and San Francisco, California. For more information visit http://www.shiftcomm.com.
About Ashton Partners
As one of the country's leading independent investor relations and corporate communications advisory firms, Ashton Partners specializes in strategic counsel for CEOs, CFOs, senior level IROs, and board level executives. We advise and assist our clients through a holistic, research- based approach to perception studies, positioning, messaging, targeting and financial communications to influence the core audiences that will most affect overall valuation. Web site:
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.
Press Contacts:
Peter Cholakis Monica Pandolfi
Avitar Technologies, Inc. SHIFT Communications
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