Exhibit 99


NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  Company Contact:
                                                       Stanley J. Musial
                                                       Chief Financial Officer
                                                       (302) 456-6789
                                                       www.sdix.com
                                                       ------------

      Strategic Diagnostics Announces Joint Marketing and Service Agreement
           Between its Strategic BioSolutions Unit and Epitomics, Inc.

NEWARK, Del., March 17, 2004 - Strategic Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: SDIX) - a
leading provider of antibody products and analytical test kits for the food
safety and water quality markets, today announced it has entered into a
long-term joint marketing and services agreement with Epitomics, Inc. SDI will
refer third parties to Epitomics for rabbit hybridoma services; and in turn,
will provide Epitomics with custom polyclonal service integral to rabbit
hybridoma development. Rabbit hybridomas produce monoclonal antibodies that
represent a new class of high quality reagents for research and diagnostic
applications. The collaboration combines Epitomics' cutting edge rabbit
hybridoma development technology with SDI's market leadership and Strategic
BioSolutions' custom antibody services.

"We are excited about this opportunity to bring new cutting-edge technology
services to our clients in the diagnostic and research markets. Epitomics'
rabbit hybridoma technology fits well with Strategic BioSolutions' rabbit
polyclonal services, and complements our own mouse monoclonal expertise. This
agreement is consistent with our efforts to expand our total solutions
offerings," said Matthew Knight, Strategic Diagnostics' President and Chief
Executive Officer. The technology has potential application in the development
of unique antibodies that may preferentially address certain immuno-diagnostic
applications.

"We are very proud that a market leader in custom antibody services has
recognized the value of our technology and our company to address the strong
market potential for unique rabbit monoclonal antibodies," said Dr. Guo-Liang
Yu, Chief Executive Officer of Epitomics, Inc. "Our collaboration will
undoubtedly serve our markets with a unique combination of service and
technology."

Epitomics, Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company that develops and
commercializes a proprietary rabbit monoclonal antibody technology for the
research community, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic companies through
licensing and services. The Company has headquarters in Burlingame, California,
and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hangzhou, in the People's Republic of China.

Strategic Diagnostics Inc. is a leading provider of biotechnology-based
diagnostic tests for a broad range of agricultural, food, industrial, and
water-treatment applications. Through its antibody services business, SDI also
provides antibody and immunoreagent research and development services. All
facilities providing Strategic BioSolutions' services are AAALAC-accredited and
comply with NIH and USDA requirements; and all procedures are performed under
cGMP guidelines.




This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Federal Securities laws. When used in this press release, the words
"anticipate", "could", "enable", "estimate", "intend", "expect", "believe",
"potential", "will", "should", "project" "plan" and similar expressions as they
relate to SDI are intended to identify said forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding
our ability to grow sales, the anticipated market impact of R&D efforts, our
ability to manage costs, sustain profits and general financial performance
expectations. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ,
perhaps materially, from those anticipated or suggested by such forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitations, changes
in demand for products or services, delays in product development, delays in
market acceptance of new products or services, retention of customers and
employees, adequate supply of raw materials, inability to obtain or delays in
obtaining third party approvals or required government approvals, the ability to
meet increased market demand, competition, protection of intellectual property,
non-infringement of intellectual property, seasonality, currency exchange rate
variability, price and other general economic conditions in the regions served
by SDI, and other factors more fully described in SDI's public filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.