NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Company Contact:
                                            Arthur A. Koch, Jr.
                                            Chief Operating Officer
                                            (302) 456-6789
                                            www.sdix.com
                                            ------------

                                            Investor Relations Contact:
                                            Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
                                            William A. Walkowiak, CFA
                                            Klea Theoharis
                                            (212) 838-3777
                                            klea@lhai.com
                                            -------------


                 Strategic Diagnostics Announces Expansion Plans
                                       and
        Signing of Sales and Marketing Agreement with AZUR Environmental

NEWARK, Del., June 26, 2001 - Strategic Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: SDIX) - a
leading provider of antibody products and analytical test kits for the food
safety and water quality markets, has begun an expansion of its Windham, Maine
location. SDI is also announcing a Sales and Marketing Agreement with AZUR
Environmental, giving SDI rights to sell and market the AZUR product line.

The expansion in Maine is being driven by growing customer demand for increased
specific pathogen free (SPF) polyclonal antibody production. This expansion will
enable SDI's Strategic BioSolutions (SBS) division to shift to SPF production
exclusively at this facility. Construction for the first building is expected to
be completed by the end of this year. At that point, SDI expects to begin to
consolidate its California operations into its Delaware and Maine facilities.
The consolidation is expected to be completed within the next 18 months, and is
expected to reduce operational expenses by approximately $750,000 to $1,000,000
a year.

Richard C. Birkmeyer, President and CEO commented, "We are very excited about
the expansion of our Maine facility, which has resulted from the continued
growth our of SBS business. This facility achieved AAALAC accreditation last
year, and we have seen a significant increase in the number of customers
requesting SPF products. This expansion will strengthen our ongoing product
development efforts and enable us to offer more competitive pricing. SPF
products are used extensively within the pharmaceutical industry, which is one
of the largest growing segments of the SBS customer base."

Mr. Birkmeyer continued, "While the expansion of our SBS facilities is ongoing,
activities within the Water Quality side of the business have been focusing on
the pending AZUR acquisition. We were somewhat disappointed that the signing of


the sales and marketing agreement did not occur earlier in the quarter as
anticipated; however, the agreement has recently been signed and the response
from our customers has been very positive.

"Within our Food Safety business unit, we continue to develop and build upon our
marketing strategy of providing the customer with the necessary tools to make
informed decisions. The GMO Check Bt9 ELISA kit was recently approved by the
USDA for the detection of 1 in 10,000 kernels of StarLink(TM) corn. This is the
fourth SDI test that has received USDA approval, and can be used by food
processors for detection of low levels of StarLink(TM). We currently have more
USDA approved test kits for the detection of StarLink(TM) than any of our
competitors, and we are committed to remaining the industry leader in the
testing of agricultural products."

About Strategic Diagnostics Inc.
- --------------------------------
SDI is a leading provider of biotechnology-based diagnostic tests for a broad
range of agricultural, industrial, and water treatment applications. Through its
antibody business, Strategic BioSolutions, Strategic Diagnostics also provides
antibody and immunoreagent research and development services. SDI's test kits
are produced in a variety of formats suitable for field and laboratory use,
offering advantages of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, portability, and rapid
response. Trait Check(TM), GMO QuickCheck(TM), and GMO Check(TM) are pending
trademarks for SDI.

This news release contains forward-looking statements reflecting SDI's current
expectation. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate", "enable",
"estimate", "intend", "expect", "believe", "potential", "will", "should",
"project" and similar expressions as they relate to SDI are intended to identify
said forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause
actual results to differ from those anticipated by SDI at this time. Such risks
and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes in demand for products,
delays in product development, delays in market acceptance of new products,
inability to obtain required government approvals, modifications of government
regulations, modifications to development and sales relationships, construction
delays or cost overruns in the Maine expansion project, delays or unanticipated
costs relating to the consolidation of the California facility, the ability to
meet increased market demand, the ability to achieve anticipated growth,
increasing dependence on the sale of certain products, competition, seasonality,
and other factors more fully described in SDI's public filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.