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U.K.'s Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission Awards Orchid Cellmark Exclusive DNA Paternity Testing Contract

ABINGDON, United Kingdom and PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orchid Cellmark (Nasdaq:ORCH), a leading worldwide provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced it has executed a multi-year contract with the U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), formerly the Child Support Agency (CSA), for the exclusive provision of DNA paternity testing services. Orchid Cellmark delivers its paternity testing services in the U.K. under the Cellmark brand.
/ Source: GlobeNewswire

ABINGDON, United Kingdom and PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orchid Cellmark (Nasdaq:ORCH), a leading worldwide provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced it has executed a multi-year contract with the U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), formerly the Child Support Agency (CSA), for the exclusive provision of DNA paternity testing services. Orchid Cellmark delivers its paternity testing services in the U.K. under the Cellmark brand.

Orchid Cellmark believes that the four-year award has the potential to generate approximately £3,500,000 in revenue over such period, with options to extend the contract for a further three years. Orchid Cellmark has been providing DNA paternity testing services to the CSA since 2005 and was re-selected following a competitive process.

"The consistent high quality of our service provision over the last five years is again recognized by the re-award of this contract. Retaining this contract is a reflection of the quality of our people and the service they provide," said Thomas A. Bologna, Orchid Cellmark president and chief executive officer.

Orchid Cellmark has over two decades of experience of DNA paternity testing and provides rapid, accurate and high quality service guided by rigorous quality assurance systems. Accredited by the Ministry of Justice, and to international quality standard ISO17025, Orchid Cellmark's results are accepted as evidence of paternity in U.K. courts. In addition to providing testing to the CSA, the company is a leading provider of confidential DNA paternity testing services to the general public.

About Orchid Cellmark

Orchid Cellmark (Nasdaq:ORCH) is a leading international provider of DNA testing services primarily for forensic and family relationship applications. Orchid Cellmark is one of the largest providers of forensic DNA testing services and its DNA results are used by the criminal justice system to assist with the identification of perpetrators, the exclusion of suspects and the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals. The company provides DNA family relationship testing to numerous child services organizations and individuals seeking to verify parentage. Orchid Cellmark also serves immigration and security authorities for DNA testing of individuals. In the agriculture field, the company provides DNA testing services for selective trait breeding. Orchid Cellmark's strong market positions in these areas reflect the company's accredited laboratories in the U.S. and U.K., its innovative genetic analysis technologies and expertise, and the company's reputation for exceptional quality, reliability and customer service for nearly two decades. More information on Orchid Cellmark can be found at .

All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: expectations regarding Orchid Cellmark's business operations and outlook; and Orchid Cellmark's belief that the four-year contract with the U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has the potential to generate approximately £3,500,000 in revenue over such period. Such statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, the risk that the contract with CMEC does not result in significant revenues, uncertainties relating to trends in government spending, outsourcing trends, technologies, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of Orchid Cellmark's products and services, dependence on government funding and collaborations, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, patent protection, litigation, the timing of release of federal and state funds, the timing and amount of contracts put up for bid, and Orchid Cellmark's ability to successfully offer its services directly to U.K. police forces. These risks and other additional factors affecting these forward-looking statements and Orchid Cellmark's business are discussed under the headings "Risks Related to Our Business" and "Risks Associated with Our Common Stock" in Orchid Cellmark's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as amended, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings made by Orchid Cellmark with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Orchid Cellmark expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Orchid Cellmark's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, except as may be required by law.

Information contained in our press releases should be considered accurate only as of the date of the release. Information in any press release may be superseded by more recent information we have disclosed in later press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise. Press releases may contain forward-looking statements based on the expectations of our management as of the date of the release. Actual results may materially differ based on several factors, including those described in the press release.

CONTACT: Investors: Thomas Bologna, CEO Orchid Cellmark Inc. (609) 750-2324 ir@orchid.com Media: Ed Orgon The Torrenzano Group (212) 681-1700 ed@torrenzano.com