PHILADELPHIA, PA – Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (AMEX: BIO and BIOb), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostics products, announced the release of version 7.8 of its award-winning KnowItAll(R) Informatics System (Windows Client). The new release offers enhancements to many of the applications featured in prior versions of the KnowItAll platform including*:

• Chemometrics models to predict properties based on spectral, chromatographic, and other data

This release highlights capabilities resulting from further collaborations with Infometrix, Inc., the premier chemometrics software company. Chemometric models built with Infometrix' Pirouette(R) software can now be imported directly into the KnowItAll platform. These models can be used to make property predictions based on spectral, chromatographic, or other profile data. They can predict a range of properties including biological, chemical, and manufacturing process-related endpoints.

All model types currently supported in Pirouette are supported in the KnowItAll system, including classification models (both single class and multiple class) and regression models (single property and multiple property). Prediction confidence estimates are also supported.

• Database Projection Analysis to identify 'markers' in a range of applications

Another feature in the 7.8 release is the addition of Database Projection Analysis to KnowItAll's AnalyzeIt(TM) MVP application. Database Projection Analysis is a tool for performing a more detailed analysis of the results from a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) that was run in the KnowItAll system.

Following PCA, Database Projection Analysis is performed by projecting a reference database, such as a suite of metabolite profiles or a Sadtler spectral database, into the space of the PCA results.  The unclassified samples can then be easily matched to known materials, facilitating the identification of relevant features or markers in the original data. Database Projection Analysis has broad application in the field of chemometrics, including the direct identification of metabolites in metabolomics research.

• Full data export/import capability with Infometrix' Pirouette

Bio-Rad's KnowItAll platform now supports full two-way export and import of data with Infometrix' Pirouette software for comprehensive chemometric analysis and model construction. The interoperability of the KnowItAll platform with Pirouette is a unique and complete solution for cheminformatic and chemometric data and model handling. This technology pairing expands the options available to customers of both software packages by allowing them to seamlessly exchange data between systems, making the packages even more complementary.

*Please note that features will vary depending on the KnowItAll Informatics System edition being used and the software options elected by the KnowItAll researcher.

About KnowItAll Informatics System

Bio-Rad's KnowItAll Informatics System is a fully integrated software and database package that provides scientific researchers multiple tools such as database building, management, search, analysis, prediction, structure drawing, and reporting, all within a single user interface. Bio-Rad offers specialized 'editions' of its KnowItAll system specifically customized for spectroscopic, chemistry, in silico ADME/Tox, and most recently, metabolomics research.

Bio-Rad's Informatics Division

Bio-Rad's Informatics Division (www.informatics.bio-rad.com) specializes in state-of-the-art software and database solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and chemical industries. Bio-Rad is the leading publisher of fully verified spectral databases, cheminformatics, spectroscopy software, and decision support systems for drug discovery. The company's award-winning KnowItAll Informatics System offers a fully integrated environment with flexible and expandable software and database solutions for spectroscopy (MS, NMR, IR, Raman, and spectral data management); cheminformatics; chemometrics, metabolomics, and in silico ADME/Tox prediction.

About Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (AMEX: BIO and BIOb), has remained at the center of scientific discovery for more than 50 years manufacturing and distributing a broad range of products for the life science research and clinical diagnostics markets. The company is renowned worldwide among hospitals, universities, major research institutions as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for its commitment to quality and customer service. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is headquartered in Hercules, California, and serves more than 85,000 research and industry customers worldwide through its global network of operations. The company employs over 5,000 people globally and had revenues exceeding $1.2 billion in 2006. For more information, visit www.bio-rad.com.

Various statements made within this press release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' for the purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's 'safe harbor' provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the Company's expectation.

For more information on any of these news items, please contact Deborah Kernan
deborah_kernan@bio-rad.com