Japanese Red Cross approves use of Gambro BCT's Trima(R) Autom. Blood Coll.system

Japanese Red Cross approves use of Gambro BCT's Trima@ Automated Blood Collection System Stockholm, Sweden, January 23, 2001 - Gambro AB (OM Stockholm Exchange: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced that the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) has approved the use of the Trima@ Automated Blood Collection System for blood component collection. Gambro BCT's advanced Trima system technology will allow blood centers in Japan to obtain leukoreduced platelets and plasma from a single donor in one collection procedure. With more than 70 blood centers and over 6 million donors, the Japanese Red Cross Society is the sole supplier of blood collection and services in Japan. Founded in 1877, the JRCS supplies Japanese hospitals with more than 20 million units of blood components for transfusion each year. The majority of these units are collected through manual donation of whole blood, with more than 30% of donors contributing platelets and plasma through apheresis. The JRCS, in cooperation with the national government and local authorities, promotes a nationwide blood donation program to ensure a continuous supply of blood products that are essential for medical treatment. The Society is recognized as among the foremost global medical services organizations, adopting advanced medical techniques to improve patient care throughout Japan and the world. "Gambro BCT is proud that the Japan Red Cross Society has recognized the superior quality, performance and value demonstrated by the Trima system," says Hiroshi Kaji, President of Gambro K.K. "The Trima system's flexibility and ease of use simplifies collection procedures, while offering unparalleled donor safety and comfort. This represents a significant technological advance for blood collection in Japan." David Perez, President of Gambro BCT says, "The adoption of the advanced Trima system by the Japanese Red Cross is a not only a milestone event for Gambro BCT, but is also key to Gambro's strategies and initiatives within Japan and Asia." Gambro BCT Gambro BCT's primary business area is blood bank technology, which includes products and services that enable blood centers to collect, purify, and store blood components. Gambro BCT provides products for automatic collection, apheresis technology, and leukoreduction of all blood components, as well as IT applications for blood centers/blood banks. For further information please contact: David Perez, Gambro BCT, tel. +1 303 232 68 00 Bengt Modéer, Investor Relations, tel. +46-8-613 65 00, +46-70-513 65 33 Karin Avasalu, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-613 65 00, +46-70-513 65 99 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/23/20010123BIT00140/bit0003.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/23/20010123BIT00140/bit0004.pdf