Mr. James J. Donovan

James J. Donovan . . . . . . . . . . .

James DonovanStrategic Diagnostics Inc.Fx: 302 456-6770jdonovan@sdix.com

James DonovanBusiness Unit ManagerStrategic Diagnostics IncNewark , DE

I would like to thank your staff for their Exceptional Service.Mr. Dean Henderson and Mr. Len Norton out of Washington were both exceptional in their service to our account.Employees like them , make doing business with your company a pleasure....

James DonovanBusiness Unit ManagerStrategic Diagnostics Inc.

Mr. Jim Donovan of SDI has committed considerable marketing resources to the sale of the KABIS Sampler, SIBAK's premier product.

Jim Donovan, the new Water Business Unit Manager of SDI commented, "The addition of the AZUR Environmental product line provides SDI entry into the large and expanding water and wastewater analytical market.Independent, third-party estimates of this market have it reaching $315 million in the U.S. by year 2003.SDI's related product strategy will focus the AZUR products for the water/wastewater parameters.These include rapid methods for the measurement of biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total organic carbon, whole effluent toxicity and others with our existing polymer, disinfectant and microbiology products to offer customers cost-effective solutions to their process management issues and concerns."

Third Quarter Update

"We have exceeded our projections," says Jim Donovan, business unit manager at Strategic Diagnostics.
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"I think the technology is really excellent; however, PCR is a lengthy and expensive process," says Donovan.
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"PCR testing itself has its place, especially when you are talking about highly processed materials," says Donovan.
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"The ability to identify GM presence early in the food distribution chain is a key attribute of strips and a major benefit to food companies," says Donovan.
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"We have tests for most of the input traits - insect resistance and herbicide tolerance," says Donovan.
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"When you start talking about functional foods in the supermarket, products with health-related benefits, they will be sold at a premium, probably a significant premium," says Donovan.

We have exceeded our projections , says Jim Donovan , business unit manager at Strategic Diagnostics.We've not just exceeded , but dramatically exceeded revenue projections because of the StarLink issue..

BioDiagnostics , a company that provides testing services to many seed companies , also experienced a turnabout because of StarLink.

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I think the technology is really excellent ; however , PCR is a lengthy and expensive process , says Donovan.Costs could be $300 to $400 , and tests take a few days at least.This is not a viable method at the grain elevator..

Smith counters , Although PCR appears more expensive than strip tests , the testing price per ton can be much less.A single PCR test can handle one or more large farms , potentially replacing hundreds of dollars in strip tests and labor.If an elevator can test on the farm , and be sure the trucks are clean before loading , they can save tens of thousands of dollars per year..
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PCR testing itself has its place , especially when you are talking about highly processed materials , says Donovan.As the protein becomes denatured by heat and various processes , the validity of the strip test is significantly lessened..

Genetic ID even uses strip tests in its certification programs

...
The ability to identify GM presence early in the food distribution chain is a key attribute of strips and a major benefit to food companies , says Donovan.

Expectations for harvest 2001After the demand for GMO testing last harvest , testing companies are prepared for anything this year.

...
We have tests for most of the input traits - insect resistance and herbicide tolerance , says Donovan.We expect to continue in this area with new crops and anticipate output traits - health or other consumer benefits..

Bright futureAs the StarLink issue slowly fades , the question arises , What is next for biotech?.These companies are not just waiting for the next problem that may occur.They are anticipating the positive aspects of biotechnology and how testing can improve the process.
...
When you start talking about functional foods in the supermarket , products with health-related benefits , they will be sold at a premium , probably a significant premium , says Donovan.The segregation then is from an economic point..

Although StarLink is fading in concern , the economic possibilities for GM testing is not diminishing with it , but is finding new niches to invest in.

"We have exceeded our projections," says Jim Donovan, business unit manager at Strategic Diagnostics."We've not just exceeded, but dramatically exceeded revenue projections because of the StarLink issue."

BioDiagnostics, a company that provides testing services to many seed companies, also experienced a turnabout because of StarLink.

...
"I think the technology is really excellent; however, PCR is a lengthy and expensive process," says Donovan."Costs could be $300 to $400, and tests take a few days at least.This is not a viable method at the grain elevator."

Smith counters, "Although PCR appears more expensive than strip tests, the testing price per ton can be much less.A single PCR test can handle one or more large farms, potentially replacing hundreds of dollars in strip tests and labor.If an elevator can test on the farm, and be sure the trucks are clean before loading, they can save tens of thousands of dollars per year."
...
"PCR testing itself has its place, especially when you are talking about highly processed materials," says Donovan."As the protein becomes denatured by heat and various processes, the validity of the strip test is significantly lessened."

Genetic ID even uses strip tests in its certification programs.

...
"The ability to identify GM presence early in the food distribution chain is a key attribute of strips and a major benefit to food companies," says Donovan.

Expectations for harvest 2001After the demand for GMO testing last harvest, testing companies are prepared for anything this year.

...
"We have tests for most of the input traits - insect resistance and herbicide tolerance," says Donovan."We expect to continue in this area with new crops and anticipate output traits - health or other consumer benefits."

Bright futureAs the StarLink issue slowly fades, the question arises, "What is next for biotech?"These companies are not just waiting for the next problem that may occur.They are anticipating the positive aspects of biotechnology and how testing can improve the process.
...
"When you start talking about functional foods in the supermarket, products with health-related benefits, they will be sold at a premium, probably a significant premium," says Donovan."The segregation then is from an economic point."

Although StarLink is fading in concern, the economic possibilities for GM testing is not diminishing with it, but is finding new niches to invest in.

James J. Donovan joined SDI in December 1996 as a regional sales manager for the water quality business unit.He was appointed Vice President - Sales and Marketing in October 2001.Prior to joining SDI, Mr. Donovan was regional sales manager at Ohmicron Environmental Diagnostics Company, which was acquired by SDI in 1996.From 1980-1992, Mr. Donovan was business development manager at Quantix Systems Inc., formerly Agri-Diagnostics Associates, a producer of agricultural diagnostic tests.Mr. Donovan received his B.S. in Packaging Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology.