UK NHS South East Region to Adopt Cytyc's ThinPrep Pap Test as Exclusive New Cervical...

BOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Cytyc Corporation (Nasdaq: CYTC) today announced that the South East (East) Region of the National Health Service (NHS) intends to convert all cervical screening to the ThinPrep(R) Pap Test. This region is comprised of fourteen laboratories that process approximately 350,000

Pap tests annually. In October 2003, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance recommending liquid-based cytology for cervical screening. The exclusive arrangement represents a potential of approximately 1.75 million ThinPrep Pap Tests over the next five years.

"Our decision was based on the performance of the ThinPrep Pap Test in the pilot trial conducted by NICE. This demonstrated improved disease detection, improved throughput for cytoscreeners and a lower rate of inadequate smears as a result of liquid based cytology," said Dr. Linda Garvican, director of quality assurance for the region. "We were also influenced by the access to a fully-automated process offered by the ThinPrep System, which allows us to modernize our laboratories."

"We are extremely pleased with this decision and commend the rigorous evaluation conducted by Dr. Garvican and her team," said Daniel J. Levangie, Cytyc's executive vice president and chief commercial officer. "These early successes are clearly a tribute to the efforts of our team at Cytyc UK Ltd. to convey the clinical and economic benefits of the ThinPrep Pap Test."

Cytyc Corporation is a leading medical device company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative and clinically effective products primarily focused on women's health. Cytyc products cover a range of women's health applications, including cervical cancer screening, breast cancer risk assessment, and treatment of excessive menstrual bleeding. The ThinPrep(R) System is the most widely used method for cervical cancer screening in the United States. The ThinPrep System consists of the ThinPrep(R) 2000 Processor, ThinPrep(R) 3000 Processor, ThinPrep(R) Imaging System, and related reagents, filters, and other supplies. The ThinPrep System also provides the platform from which the Company has launched its expansion into breast cancer risk assessment with the FirstCyte(R) Breast Test. Cytyc Surgical Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cytyc Corporation, manufactures and markets the NovaSure(R) Impedance Controlled Endometrial Ablation System, or the NovaSure(R) System, an innovative endometrial ablation device to treat menorrhagia, or excessive menstrual bleeding.

Cytyc is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CYTC. Cytyc, ThinPrep, FirstCyte, and NovaSure are registered trademarks of Cytyc Corporation.

Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's financial condition, operating results and future economic performance, and management's expectations regarding future growth opportunities, product acceptance and business strategy, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among others, dependence on key personnel and proprietary technology, uncertainty of product development efforts, product acceptance, management of growth, risks associated with litigation, the effective integration of acquired businesses and technologies, competition and competitive pricing pressures, risks associated with the FDA regulatory approval processes and any healthcare reimbursement policies, and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading "Certain Factors Which May Affect Future Results" in its 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K and its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in Company expectations or events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.