QIAGEN Acquires Corbett Life Science

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Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin ASA.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this 
announcement. 
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Transaction Adds Proprietary Real-Time PCR Detection Technologies to
          QIAGEN's Portfolio of Molecular Testing Solutions

VENLO, The Netherlands,  July 1,  2008 - QIAGEN  N.V. (NASDAQ:  QGEN;
Frankfurt, Prime Standard: QIA) today announced that it has  acquired
Corbett Life Science Pty. Ltd. (Corbett), a privately-held developer,
manufacturer,  and  distributor  of  life  sciences   instrumentation
headquartered in  Sydney, Australia.  The  transaction is  valued  at
approximately US$66  million in  cash (subject  to certain  customary
purchase price adjustments), US$4 million in restricted QIAGEN common
stock and performance  and development milestone  payments and  other
contingencies of up to approximately US$65 million over the next four
years.

Corbett is best known for  having developed the world's first  rotary
real-time PCR cycler system - the  Rotor-Gene(TM) - a system used  to
detect real-timepolymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions which  make
specific  sequences   of  DNA   and  RNA   targets  visible   through
amplification and quantifiable through real-time measurement of  such
amplification.  The  addition  of  this  proprietary  PCR   detection
technology extends QIAGEN's molecular testing solution portfolio  and
enhances QIAGEN's  options  to  offer  sample  and  assay  technology
solutions spanning from sample to result.

"We are  pleased to  offer our  customers the  choice of  a  superior
platform of  technologies  for the  entire  workflow process  -  from
sample to  result,"  said Peer  Schatz,  Chief Executive  Officer  of
QIAGEN.  "Corbett  technologies  are  excellent  complements  to  our
portfolio  of  current  and   future  molecular  testing   solutions,
including our modular processing platform QIAsymphony. We expect this
transaction to contribute significantly  to our leading positions  in
molecular diagnostics, applied  testing, pharmaceutical and  clinical
research as well as academic research."

Molecular testing is performed in three steps: 1) sample preparation,
2) assay setup and 3) detection. QIAGEN has leading positions in  the
first two steps and for  the third step, detection, has  historically
designed its leading portfolio of PCR-tests and technologies for  use
on systems  from  various  vendors,  including  Corbett's  Rotor-Gene
cycler systems.  As such,  QIAGEN's instruments,  consumables, and  a
number of regulated tests are already optimized for use with  Corbett
instruments. Although QIAGEN will continue its open platform strategy
to offer  tests for  use on  third-party detection  systems, it  will
significantly increase the focus of new developments of its regulated
tests,  platforms,  and  testing   technologies  for  use  with   the
Rotor-Gene and successor systems which are currently in development.

Corbett has  built  a leading  position  in instrumentation  used  to
perform PCR analyses. Its primary product families are the Rotor-Gene
real-time PCR cycler and the CAS benchtop robots.

Unlike other PCR  cyclers, the Rotor-Gene  uses a unique  centrifugal
rotary design and is ideal  for even the most demanding  requirements
of real-time thermo-optical analyses. It  has a broad optical  range,
with six  channels  spanning  UV  to  infra-red  wavelengths,  proven
near-perfect well-to-well thermal and  optical uniformity and a  fast
data  acquisition  rate,  all   features  which  are  essential   for
applications from standard to very advanced. The CAS benchtop  robots
are designed  to prepare  molecular tests  (assay setup)  and are  an
excellent fit  with  QIAGEN products  such  as the  QIAcube  and  the
Biorobot EZ1.

"The fit with QIAGEN  is tremendous and will  be very beneficial  for
customers of both companies,"  John Corbett Junior  said. "We have  a
long-standing relationship with  QIAGEN and QIAGEN  already has  more
than  30  molecular  diagnostic  assays  optimized  for  the  Corbett
Rotor-Gene PCR cycler.* Many of our customers are QIAGEN customers as
well. In addition, QIAGEN's technology leadership in molecular sample
and assay  technologies, its  global reach  and extensive  marketing,
combined with  strong  relationships  with  researchers  and  leading
laboratories  around  the  world  bring  exciting  opportunities  for
Corbett."

Under the terms of the agreement, QIAGEN has acquired the entire
outstanding stock of Corbett for the consideration described above.
This consideration includes the purchase of 82.5% of the outstanding
stock of Corbett as well as the exercise of an exclusive purchase
option for the remaining 17.5% of the outstanding stock of Corbett.

QIAGEN expects to incur one-time charges of approximately US$0.02  in
EPS in the third  quarter 2008 in  connection with this  acquisition.
These charges primarily relate to in-process research and development
and  the  write-off  of  certain   assets.  In  addition,  based   on
preliminary analyses  and  following the  streamlining  of  Corbett's
product portfolio,  QIAGEN  expects this  transaction  to  contribute
approximately US$14 million in sales in  the second half of 2008  and
approximately US$40 million in sales for the full year of 2009. On an
adjusted  basis   excluding   one-time   charges,   integration   and
restructuring  costs,   and  amortization   of  acquisition   related
intangible assets,  the acquisition  is expected  to be  dilutive  by
approximately US$0.02 to  EPS in the  second half of  2008 and to  be
neutral in 2009.  Beyond 2009,  it is expected  that the  acquisition
will contribute significant accretion to net income.

Financial highlights of the acquisition:
*         QIAGEN acquires the entire outstanding stock of Corbett for
  US$66 million in cash (subject to certain customary purchase price
  adjustments), US$4 million in restricted QIAGEN common stock and up
  to approximately US$65 million in milestone payments and other
  contingencies over the next four years.
*         Expected to add revenues of approximately US$14 million in
  the second half of 2008 and approximately US$40 million in sales
  for the full year of 2009.
*         Expected one-time charges of approximately US$0.02 in EPS
  in the third quarter 2008.
*         Expected to be dilutive by approximately US$0.02 to
  adjusted EPS in 2008 and neutral in 2009, accretive thereafter.
*         No material change to QIAGEN's expected margins in 2009 and
  thereafter.

Corbett Life Science founders John Corbett Senior and John Corbett
Junior will both assume advisory roles at QIAGEN.

* Subject to regulatory approvals, certain QIAGEN molecular
diagnostic test kits are not available for clinical diagnostic use in
the United States and other countries.


About QIAGEN
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding  company, is the leading  provider
of sample and  assay technologies.  Sample technologies  are used  to
isolate and process  DNA, RNA, and  proteins from biological  samples
such as blood  or tissue. Assay  technologies are used  to make  such
isolated biomolecules visible. QIAGEN has developed and markets  more
than 500 consumable products as well as automated solutions for  such
consumables.  The  company   provides  its   products  to   molecular
diagnostics laboratories,  academic researchers,  pharmaceutical  and
biotechnology companies, and applied  testing customers for  purposes
such as forensics, animal or food testing, and pharmaceutical process
control. QIAGEN's assay technologies include what is considered to be
the broadest panel of molecular diagnostic tests available worldwide.
This  panel   includes  the   only   FDA-approved  test   for   human
papillomavirus (HPV), the  primary cause of  cervical cancer.  QIAGEN
employs more than 2,700 people  in more than 30 locations  worldwide.
Further information about QIAGEN can be found at www.qiagen.com.

About Corbett Life Science
Corbett  Life  Science  is   the  parent  company   of  a  group   of
biotechnology companies that design, manufacture and  internationally
distribute instrumentation systems for the life sciences. The company
is headquartered in Sydney and  employs a staff of approximately  130
in four locations  on three  continents, most of  them in  Australia.
Since  1988,  Corbett  has   earned  a  reputation  for   innovative,
versatile, robust,  and  easy-to-use products  that  generate  strong
customer loyalty. The company is  most recognized for developing  the
world's  first   rotary   real-time  DNA   amplification   system-the
Rotor-Gene(TM). The Rotor-Gene  is the most  thermally and  optically
precise real-time  analyzer available.  It also  features  high-speed
data  capture  and  the  broadest  optical  range  of  any  real-time
instrument  and  now  High  Resolution  Melt  (HRM)  capability.  The
renowned Rotor-Gene software now supports the widest application set.
For more information, visit www.corbettlifescience.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain of  the statements  contained  in this  news release  may  be
considered forward-looking statements within  the meaning of  Section
27A of the U.S. Securities Act  of 1933, as amended, and Section  21E
of the  U.S. Securities  Exchange Act  of 1934,  as amended.  To  the
extent that  any  of  the statements  contained  herein  relating  to
QIAGEN's  products,  markets,  strategy  or  operating  results   are
forward-looking, such statements  are based  on current  expectations
that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such  uncertainties
and risks  include, but  are not  limited to,  risks associated  with
management of  growth  and international  operations  (including  the
effects  of  currency  fluctuations   and  risks  of  dependency   on
logistics),  variability   of  operating   results,  the   commercial
development of the applied testing markets, clinical research markets
and proteomics  markets,  nucleic  acid-based  molecular  diagnostics
market,  and   genetic   vaccination  and   gene   therapy   markets,
competition,   rapid   or   unexpected   changes   in   technologies,
fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's, products (including fluctuations
due to the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets, and other
factors), our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our infectious
disease  panels,  difficulties  in  successfully  adapting   QIAGEN's
products to  integrated solutions  and producing  such products,  the
ability of  QIAGEN  to  identify  and develop  new  products  and  to
differentiate  its  products   from  competitors'  products,   market
acceptance of QIAGEN's new products  and the integration of  acquired
technologies and businesses.  For further information,  refer to  the
discussions in reports that QIAGEN  has filed with, or furnished  to,
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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Qiagen N.V.
Spoorstraat 50 KJ Venlo Netherlands

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