Retractable (RVP) 8-K Retractable Technologies, Inc. Reports Sharply Lower Operating Loss In First Quarter

Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RETRACTABLE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. REPORTS SHARPLY LOWER OPERATING LOSS IN FIRST QUARTER

LITTLE ELM, TX, May 19, 2005—Retractable Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: RVP), a leading maker of safety needle devices, today reported that its operating loss dropped by more than half to $1.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005, largely because of improved profit margins and lower legal expenses. The improved profit margins are attributable to the lower cost per unit caused by the increased number of units produced by the Company in the U.S. and China during the fourth quarter of 2004 and sold in the first quarter of 2005. Legal expenses were also lower. These lower expenses, however, were partially offset by higher sales and marketing expenses.

The lower operating loss, higher interest income, and tax benefits in the first quarter resulted in a net loss of $523,000, a reduction of 75.2 percent from the same period last year. On a per share basis, the loss in the first quarter was one-third of that reported for the same period last year.

Net revenues, which included $180,000 in reimbursed discounts, declined by 2.2 percent to $4.2 million in the first quarter from the same period in 2004. Revenues were down slightly because of an increase in international unit sales volume relative to domestic unit sales; in the first quarter of 2005, international unit sales were 23.4 percent of total revenues compared with 3.6 percent in the same 2004 period. The average per unit price of the Company’s products that are sold in the U.S. is typically higher than that of products sold in the international market.

Previously the Company stated that it believed that its sales in the first and possibly second quarter of 2005 might be negatively affected by the 2004 flu vaccine shortage and the accompanying reduction of demand for syringes. However, Retractable now believes that most of the impact of the flu vaccine shortage occurred by the end of the first quarter of 2005.

Net cash used by operating activities was $1.6 million, of which $1.4 million was attributable to changes in working capital items including, but not limited to, an increase in inventory and decreases in accounts payable and income taxes payable.

Further details are available in Retractable’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Retractable Technologies, Inc. manufactures and markets VanishPoint® automated retraction safety syringes and blood collection devices, which virtually eliminate health care worker exposure to accidental needlestick injuries. These revolutionary devices use a patented friction ring mechanism that causes the contaminated needle to retract automatically from the patient into the barrel of the device, a feature that is designed to prevent reuse. VanishPoint® safety needle devices are distributed by various specialty and general line distributors. For more information on Retractable, visit our Web site at www.vanishpoint.com.

Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are accurate. However, the Company cannot assure you that such expectations will materialize. The Company’s actual future performance could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of dramatic increases in demand; the Company’s ability to quickly increase its capacity in the event of a dramatic increase in demand; the Company’s ability to access the market; the Company’s ability to decrease production costs; the Company’s ability to continue to finance research and development as well as operations and expansion of production; the recently increased interest of larger market players, specifically BD, in providing safety needle devices to their customers; and other risks and uncertainties that are detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RETRACTABLE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

	March 31, 2005 unaudited		December 31, 2004
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,138,991	$	55,868,526
Accounts receivable, net		1,958,599		1,864,514
Inventories, net		4,154,348		3,778,949
Income taxes receivable		1,525,902		1,349,144
Current deferred tax asset		1,958,142		1,887,347
Other current assets		323,628		296,683
Total current assets		64,059,610		65,045,163
Property, plant, and equipment, net		11,860,790		11,056,865
Intangible assets, net		348,217		358,659
Other assets		31,364		34,005
Total assets	$	76,299,981	$	76,494,692
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,860,774	$	3,402,037
Current portion of long-term debt		306,996		271,842
Accrued compensation		436,469		322,861
Marketing fees payable		1,419,760		1,419,760
Accrued royalties		314,619		504,016
Other accrued liabilities		184,760		118,832
Income taxes payable		1,568,275		1,813,084
Total current liabilities		7,091,653		7,852,432
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		4,538,534		3,535,410
Long term deferred tax liability		1,400,821		1,442,145
Total liabilities		13,031,008		12,829,987
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock $1 par value:
Series I, Class B		199,400		199,400
Series II, Class B		286,500		289,000
Series III, Class B		137,745		137,745
Series IV, Class B		556,000		556,000
Series V, Class B		1,387,471		1,389,971
Common stock, no par value		—		—
Additional paid-in capital		53,556,947		53,424,744
Retained earnings		7,144,910		7,667,845
Total stockholders’ equity		63,268,973		63,664,705
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	76,299,981	$	76,494,692

RETRACTABLE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - unaudited

	Three Months ended March 31, 2005			Three Months ended March 31, 2004
Sales, net	$	4,063,874		$	4,328,314
Reimbursed discounts		180,300			10,132
Total sales		4,244,174			4,338,446
Cost of sales		2,731,635			3,208,705
Gross profit		1,512,539			1,129,741
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing		940,383			739,242
Research and development		119,094			123,087
General and administrative		1,455,782			2,312,343
Total operating expenses		2,515,259			3,174,672
Loss from operations		(1,002,720	)		(2,044,931	)
Interest income		252,139			9,099
Interest expense, net		(62,413	)		(71,059	)
Net loss before income taxes		(812,994	)		(2,106,891	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(290,059	)		—
Net loss		(522,935	)		(2,106,891	)
Preferred Stock dividend requirements		(381,345	)		(569,643	)
Loss applicable to common shareholders	$	(904,280	)	$	(2,676,534	)
Loss per share - basic and diluted	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.12	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding		23,203,665			22,167,797

Investor Contact:

Douglas W. Cowan

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(888) 806-2626 or (972) 294-1010

rtifinancial@vanishpoint.com

Media Contact:

Phillip L. Zweig

Communications Director

(212) 490-0811 or (214) 912-7415 (cell)

plzweig@aol.com