AccuMed and Sabratek Corp. Lead Five Illinois-basedCompanies On Deloitte & Touche LLP Technology...

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1998--AccuMed International Inc. of Chicago and Sabratek Corp. of Niles, Ill. lead five Illinois-based companies on the Fourth Annual Technology Fast 500 listing Tuesday announced by Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Ranking for the Fast 500 is based on

"Illinois companies showed substantial growth over the past five years," said Mark A. Evans, managing director of Deloitte & Touche's High Technology Industry Group in San Jose, Calif. "The Illinois companies represented all types of technology businesses, including biotechnology, medical science, Internet, software and communications."

Ranked the 78th fastest growing technology company in the country, AccuMed International, a biotechnology company, showed a growth of 4,461 percent, increasing from $419,000 in 1993 to $19,110,000 in 1997. Sabratek Corp., a medical scientific company, ranked Number 97 with a growth of 3,404 percent, moving from $1,229,000 in 1993 to $43,059,000 in 1997.

The Number One-ranked company on the Fast 500 for 1998 is Advanced Fibre Communications Inc., a communications company in Petaluma, Calif., which showed a revenue growth increase of 43,103 percent. The company's revenues moved from $620,000 in 1993 to $267,858,000 in 1997.

The five Illinois-based companies that appear on the 1998 Fast 500 listing are (in order of ranking based on percentage growth in revenue over a five-year period (1993 to 1997):

No. 78 -- AccuMed International Inc. of Chicago - 4,461 percent No. 97 -- Sabratek Corp. of Niles - 3,404 percent No. 225 -- Spyglass, Inc. of Naperville - 1,449 percent No. 333 -- Platinum Technology Inc. of Oakbrook Terrace - 903 percent No. 432 -- Telular Corp. of Vernon Hills - 636 percent

Platinum Technology Inc. and Telular Corp. have appeared on the list for three consecutive years (1996, 1997, and 1998). Spyglass Inc. has appeared for two consecutive years (1997 and 1998).

Qualifying Criteria For the Fast 500

To qualify for the Fast 500, entrants must have had revenues of at least $50,000 in 1993 and at least $1,000,000 in 1997. They must be a U.S.-headquartered company developing and/or providing technology products or services.

The Fast 500 is compiled from three sources: winners of Deloitte & Touche's 1998 regional U.S. Fast 50 programs; nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500; and public company database research.

About Deloitte & Touche LLP

Deloitte & Touche LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides accounting and auditing, tax, and management consulting services through 23,000 people in offices in more than 100 U.S. cities. Deloitte & Touche LLP is part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a global leader in professional services with more than 82,000 people in over 130 countries.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For the complete list of Deloitte & Touche LLP Technology Fast 500 winners for 1998, visit the firm's Web site at www.us.deloitte.com/fast500.