Exhibit 99.1

Tuesday May 18, 4:30 pm Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Molecular Devices Corporation

                 Molecular Devices Announces the Acquisition of
                             Skatron Instruments AS

SUNNYVALE,  Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Molecular Devices Corporation Nasdaq:
MDCC - news) today  announced  that it has acquired  Skatron  Instruments  AS, a
Norwegian  company,   for  $7  million  in  cash.  Skatron  designs,   develops,
manufactures  and markets a complete line of  state-of-the  art microwell  plate
washers and other related tools, including cell harvesters,  focused on the drug
discovery and high-throughput  screening  marketplace.  Skatron has consistently
been an innovator in the  microwell  plate  washer  marketplace,  and with their
Embla line of  washers,  was the first to offer  both 384 and 1536 well  washing
capabilities.  Skatron had  revenues of  approximately  $4.2 million in calendar
year 1998 and employs approximately 20 people in Norway.

Commenting  on the  acquisition,  Dr.  Joseph D.  Keegan,  President  and CEO of
Molecular Devices, said, "We are very excited about this acquisition and believe
that the  transaction is  strategically  significant on a number of levels.  The
addition of the Skatron  products  effectively adds a new washer product line to
MDC and helps us continue to broaden our product portfolio. We also believe that
we have an opportunity to achieve distribution synergies by using MDC's existing
direct sales and marketing  infrastructure  to distribute the Skatron  products.
The Embla  washers  are  highly  complementary  with MDC's  recently  introduced
Spectramax Gemini and FLIPR 384 high-throughput  screening  products.  Skatron's
emphasis  on  innovation  and quality  also fits very well with our  strategy of
focusing  on  innovation  and  advancing  the  leading  edge of  drug  discovery
research.  Finally,  this acquisition  helps us continue to make progress on our
goal of becoming a more significant,  strategic  supplier of complete  solutions
for our customers in the drug discovery marketplace."

The  acquisition  will be accounted for as a purchase.  In  connection  with the
transaction,  Molecular  Devices  expects to record a one-time charge during the
second  quarter of 1999 for the  portion of the total  purchase  price  which is
related to in-process research and development.

Molecular  Devices  Corporation  designs,  develops,  manufactures  and  markets
proprietary,  high-performance,  bioanalytical  measurement  systems,  including
software  and   consumables,   designed  to  accelerate  and  improve  the  cost
effectiveness  of the drug  discovery  and  development  process.  The Company's
systems  have  applications  in many

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aspects of life science,  including the therapeutic  development  process,  from
drug discovery and clinical research through manufacturing and quality control.

Except  for the  historical  information  contained  herein,  this news  release
contains  forward-looking  statements  that  involve  risks  and  uncertainties,
including timely development, ability to achieve distribution synergies, ability
to  develop  innovative  solutions,  acceptance  and  pricing  of new  products,
maintenance  of strong  growth  rates and general  economic  conditions  as they
affect the Company's customers, as well as the other risks detailed from time to
time in the Company's SEC reports,  including the annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1998.

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