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<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />20th June 2006

MINESEEKER TO SUPPLY NEW COST EFFECTIVE AIDS TESTS TO AFRICA

The Mineseeker Foundation has reached an agreement with Calypte, a US pharmaceutical company, to purchase a new aids test product called Aware™, that is based on a saliva swab that can be used in the field by non-medical personnel.

The Foundation will fund the purchase of 1 million swabs, with an option on a further 4 million units. The swabs, now approved by the South African Health Authorities, has been trialled in Kenya and has proved to be as effective as leading blood test products - but without the necessity of a costly, medically supervised support structure.

The Mineseeker Foundation is primarily involved with the removal of land mines, but the Foundations ‘Sole of Africa’s’ initiative, now being launched in Mozambique, includes returning mine free land back to agriculture and an educational and empowerment programme that trains local people to farm.  They also support vocational training for people unable to find work, including land mine and aids victims.

Mike Kendrick, Founder of Mineseeker said today. “While the primary objective of Mineseeker is the eradication of land mines, we are also committed to the regeneration of the local communities. Without that the clearance of mines is only part of the answer. Land will be returned to the people to grow food and a foster management programme installed to help re-establish themselves. This will mean growing good quality crops that will lift the natural immunity system – particularly helping aids sufferers. The introduction of the Aware product will help re-build the confidence of these communities.”

The Mineseeker Foundation Patrons include Nelson Mandela, Sir Richard Branson, Queen Noor of Jordon, Graca Machel, international businessman John Paul DeJoria and the actor Brad Pitt. The Foundation is supported by other leading NGOs including Feed the Children, The International Youth Foundation and The Salvation Army. The test packs will be donated to NGOs for distribution in the field or sold at cost.

Nelson Mandela said: “As a patron of Mineseeker, I totally support the aids test initiative. The tests will remove the fear of many people who believe they may be infected and who are nervous about blood testing. Fear is a terrible affliction, whether it is the fear of treading on a mine or the fear not knowing if you are HIV positive.”

John Paul DeJoria added “As a Patron of Mineseeker, it is my honour to be able to thank all the people and companies that are coming together in this initiative to help conquer AIDS in Africa”.

- Ends -

For further information, please contact:

Mineseeker Foundation

Lasyard House

WV16 4BB

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1746 767 000

info@mineseeker.co.uk

www.mineseeker.com

Notes to editors:

Further details on CalypteÆ Aware™

1       The CalypteÆ Aware™ HIV-1/2 OMT test is a single use, qualitative, visually read, in vitro immunoassay for the detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) and Type 2 (HIV-2) in human oral mucosal transudate specimens.  It is intended for use as a point-of-care aid in the clinical diagnosis of HIV infection. This test may be used as a component of a multi-test rapid algorithm in conjunction with other approved HIV antibody assays.

2       A total of 1740 OMT specimens were tested using the CalypteÆ Aware™ HIV-1/2 OMT assay and various reference assays. In these studies, specificity was 99.6% (258/259) and sensitivity was 99.9% (1480/1481).

Further details on the Mineseeker Foundation

The Mineseeker Foundation is a not for profit organisation established to:

1       Promote landmine-removal action

2       Improve technology in mine action

3       Develop an effective landmine detection system, mounted on an airship

4       Provide a significant tool in the humanitarian de-mining effort to provide fast, accurate minefield mapping, allowing conventional de-mining to be concentrated where it is needed

5       Enable immediate release of the estimated 80% of land currently classified as mined, but which in fact contains no mines or other unexploded ordnance

6       Release wrongly classified land through survey in order to encourage economic growth and stability

7       Landmines are the scourge of the modern world. Whole populations are denied land for agriculture, access to water, health care and communications.

In more than 70 countries landmines still threaten life and limb, and promote fear. The economic cost and social costs are incalculable. The MINESEEKER Airship is fitted with unique ground penetrating radar able to detect landmines, both plastic and metal infinitely faster, more safely and more cost effectively than any other current detection method. The scanning capacity of MINESEEKER Airship is 100 square metres per second (compared with manual de-mining of 40 metres per day). The UN estimate that 80% of the area currently classified as mined contains no mines and could be released through technical survey.

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