EXHIBIT 99.1


                                                                    NEWS RELEASE

CONTACTS: CESAR GARCIA
          CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
          818-709-1244
            -OR-
          RON STABINER, THE WALL STREET GROUP, INC.
          212-888-4848

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

               IRIS INTERNATIONAL BOARD APPROVES REPURCHASE OF UP
                         TO $15 MILLION IN COMMON SHARES

CHATSWORTH, CALIF., MARCH 3, 2008 - IRIS INTERNATIONAL,  INC. (NASDAQ GM: IRIS),
a  leading  manufacturer  of  urinalysis  systems  and  consumables  for  use in
hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide,  today announced that the Board
of Directors has  authorized  the  Company's  repurchase of up to $15 million in
shares of common stock over a twelve month period.

"The Board  believes  that the share  repurchase  program is the best use of the
Company's  cash at this time,  and  demonstrates  our  commitment  to  enhancing
shareholder value," stated Cesar Garcia, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer.

The Company expects to fund the share  repurchase from cash on hand. The Company
has  approximately $30 million in cash with no debt and is expecting strong cash
flows from operations in 2008. Share  repurchases under this program may be made
through a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately
negotiated transactions, block trades, accelerated share repurchase transactions
or  otherwise,  or by any  combination  of such  methods.  The timing and actual
number of shares  repurchased will depend on a variety of factors  including the
common share price,  corporate and regulatory  requirements and other market and
economic   conditions.   The  share  repurchase  program  may  be  suspended  or
discontinued at any time.

THE COMPANY

IRIS International,  Inc. (www.proiris.com),  based in Chatsworth,  Calif., is a
leading  developer,  manufacturer,  and marketer of medical devices,  diagnostic
systems and consumables. The Iris Diagnostics Division (www.irisdiagnostics.com)
is a leader in automated  urinalysis  technology  with systems in major  medical
institutions   throughout  the  world.  Iris  Molecular   Diagnostics   develops
innovative  ultra-sensitive  diagnostics  and sample  processing  products  with
applications in the urinalysis,  oncology and infectious  disease  markets.  The
Company's Sample Processing business unit (formerly the StatSpin(R)  subsidiary)
(www.statspin.com),   based  in   Westwood,   Mass.,   manufactures   innovative
centrifuges and blood analysis products.

SAFE HARBOR PROVISION

This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking  statements in this news release include statements  relating to
the timing of, amounts purchased under, funding and methods of implementation of
the Company's  share  repurchase  program.  Forward-looking  statements  are not
guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and
other factors  which could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from the
forward-looking  statement. These statements are based upon, among other things,
assumptions  made  by,  and  information  currently  available  to,  management,
including the price of the Company's common stock during the period of the share
repurchase program and the Company's future cash  requirements.  These and other
risks are more fully described in the Company's  filings with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  including the Company's most recently filed Annual Report
on Form  10-K  and  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q,  which  should  be read in
conjunction  herewith for a further  discussion of important  factors that could
cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from those in the  forward-looking
statements.  The Company  undertakes no obligation to publicly  update or revise
any forward-looking statements,  whether as a result of new information,  future
events or otherwise.

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