• SciQuest.com Opens Online Markets for "Precisionware" Solutions
• Shortened Procurement Cycles Are Key to Speeding Cell Research

ISSAQUAH, WASH. - Nov. 16, 1999 - Biotechnology researchers worldwide now have round-the-clock procurement access to equipment and accessories from Applied Precision, Inc. SciQuest.com, a provider of business-to-business e-solutions for the laboratory products marketplace, promotes and sells Applied Precision's computer workstations, video imaging systems, software and accessories - including DeltaVision® restoration microscopes and softWoRx™ imaging workstations, equipment based on a patented blend of mechanics, electronics and software dubbed "precisionware."

"The partnership with SciQuest.com is part of our evolving e-commerce strategy to help shorten procurement cycles for biotechnology research equipment and, as a result, speed important research into cellular causes and cures for cancer, AIDS and other diseases," said Rich Fisler, Applied Precision's biotechnology product line manager. "SciQuest.com's breadth of products and resources, as well as technical capabilities, integrate with university and pharmaceutical workflow systems to dramatically reduce time and cost of accessory procurement, and to help educate customers about our full precisionware solutions."

According to an August 1999 survey by BioInformatics, Inc., a market research and consulting firm, scientists use the Web to find new products, research potential vendors and interact with suppliers. "The online purchasing expectations of scientists are being shaped by Amazon.com and other leading e-retailers, and it won't be long before they expect the same level of interactivity and service from those companies that supply their labs," said Bill Kelly, president of BioInformatics. Fully 80 percent of the scientists surveyed purchased a consumer product or service over the Web.

In addition to its e-commerce strategy, Applied Precision maintains sales forces in North America, Asia and Europe to advance precisionware solutions for biotechnology research, semiconductor metrology test, photonics, digital flow control and micropositioning.

About Applied Precision

Applied Precision Inc. develops best-of-breed technologies for measurement and analysis in highly precise, accuracy-critical applications. This "precisionware" represents a convergence of software, electronics and mechanics, creating unique opportunities in biotechnology research, semiconductor metrology test, photonics, digital flow control and micropositioning. Applied Precision was founded in 1986 by engineers from three disciplines - mechanics, electronics and physics - and now employs over 100 engineers, technicians, managers, and sales and marketing professionals at its Seattle-area headquarters and European sales and service center. Call (425) 557-1000 or visit www.api.com.

About SciQuest.com

SciQuest.com is a provider of business-to-business e-solutions for the laboratory products marketplace. The company, founded in 1995, leverages its deep industry expertise to streamline the traditionally inefficient and time-consuming process of purchasing laboratory products for the scientific, university, clinical and industrial markets. SciQuest.com is a distributor-neutral e-commerce alternative offering both buyers and sellers of laboratory supplies a comprehensive portfolio of solutions including SciQuest.com Marketplace, Auctions and LabDeals. The company is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., with offices in Mountain View, Calif., and Plainview, N.Y. For more information, call 919-659-2100 or visit www.sciquest.com.