





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT:
                                        Kelley Mullaney
                                        Digene
                                        (202) 530-4628

                                        Pamela Sherry
                                        LabCorp
                                        (336) 436-4855

     LABCORP-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- TO OFFER LATEST HPV TEST

PARTNERSHIP WITH DIGENE CORPORATION TO PROVIDE HPV HYBRID CAPTURE-
                 REGISTERED TRADEMARK- II ASSAY

GAITHERSBURG, MD AND BURLINGTON, NC (JANUARY 14, 2000) - Digene
Corporation (Nasdaq:  DIGE) and Laboratory Corporation of America-
Registered Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp-Registered Trademark-)
(NYSE:  LH) announced today that they have entered into an
agreement whereby LabCorp will utilize the Digene Hybrid Capture
II HPV Test for women with ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of
undetermined significance) or borderline Pap smear results.
LabCorp-Registered Trademark- is a pioneer in identifying and
adopting innovative technologies for use in cytology and oncology
testing.  Under the terms of the agreement, LabCorp will offer
Digene's advanced DNA-based technology, which detects the human
papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of virtually all cervical cancer.

Every year in the United States, approximately 15,000 women are
diagnosed with cervical cancer and 5,000 women die of the
disease.  Worldwide, cervical cancer affects 500,000 women
annually, and after breast cancer, is the second most common
malignancy found in women.

"We are proud to be a partner with one of the largest reference
testing laboratories in the United States.  This agreement
represents an important milestone for Digene as we continue to
reinforce the important role of HPV testing in cervical disease
management and prevention," said Evan Jones, Chairman and CEO of
Digene Corporation.  "Utilization of Digene's HPV test permits
physicians and their patients to immediately know their risk
status.  Women with a negative HPV test result have the peace of
mind in knowing that they are not at greatly reduced risk for
developing cervical cancer."

"LabCorp has a strong tradition of offering the latest technology
that can help quickly and accurately identify women who are at
risk for developing cervical cancer," stated Myla P. Lai-Goldman,
Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and Medical
Director of LabCorp-Registered Trademark-.  "LabCorp has been a
leader in molecular diagnostics and human papillomavirus testing,
having provided HPV tests for over 10 years.  Advancements in the
technology offered by the Hybrid Capture II assay, along with the
findings from recent clinical studies presented in prestigious
journals, support the utility of this test. "

                             -more-

<PAGE>
The Digene Hybrid Capture HPV Test is a FDA-approved test for
HPV.  There are over 70 types of HPV, one of the most common
sexually transmitted infections.  Of these 70 types, 23 affect
the genital tract but only 13 key types cause cervical cancer.
These high-risk types have been detected in 99.7% of cases of
cervical cancer, supporting the strong association between high-
risk HPV and cervical cancerconfirming that high-risk HPV must be
present for cervical cancer to develop.   The Digene HPV test,
using DNA molecular technology, can detect the 13 key cancer-
causing types of HPV.

Digene Corporation, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, develops,
manufactures and markets DNA and RNA tests for the detection,
screening and monitoring of human diseases. Digene's products are
designed to help improve clinical outcomes and reduce the overall
cost of disease management. Digene's lead product, the Hybrid
Capture-Registered Trademark- II HPV Test, aids physicians in
identifying women who are most at risk of having or developing
cervical disease and cervical cancer. The Digene HPV test is used
in the U.S. as an adjunct to the Pap smear for cervical cancer
screening and is being marketed in selected countries as a
primary cervical cancer screen either in conjunction with or
separate from the Pap smear.  Visit Digene's website at
www.digene.com.

Laboratory Corporation of America-Registered Trademark-  Holdings
(LabCorp-Registered Trademark-) is a national clinical laboratory
with  annual  revenues  of $1.6 billion  in  1998.   With  18,000
employees and over 100,000 clients nationwide, the company offers
more than 2,000 clinical tests ranging from simple blood analyses
to  sophisticated  molecular diagnostics. LabCorp  leverages  its
expertise  in innovative clinical testing technology  with  three
Centers  of  Excellence.  The Center for  Molecular  Biology  and
Pathology,  in  Research  Triangle Park  (RTP),  North  Carolina,
develops   applications  for  polymerase  chain  reaction   (PCR)
technology.  Its Center for Occupational Testing in  RTP  is  the
world's largest substance abuse testing facility, and the  Center
for  Esoteric Testing in Burlington, North Carolina, performs the
largest  volume  of specialty testing in the network.   LabCorp's
clients include physicians, state and federal government, managed
care   organizations,  hospitals,  clinics,  pharmaceutical   and
Fortune  1000 companies, and other clinical laboratories.   Visit
LabCorp's web site at www.labcorp.com.



Each of the above forward-looking statements is subject to change
based on various important factors, including without limitation,
competitive actions in the marketplace and adverse actions of
governmental and other third-party payors.  Further information
on potential factors that could affect the companies' financial
results is included in each company's most recently submitted
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.


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