Cepheid Announces Nomination of Geisinger Health System CEO and Renowned Oncology Researcher to Board of Directors

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Mar 15, 2011, 04:10 ET

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today announced that Glenn Steele, Jr., MD, PhD, has been nominated for election to Cepheid's Board of Directors at the company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2011.

Dr. Steele has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Geisinger Health System, a physician-led health care system serving multiple regions of Pennsylvania, since 2001. Before that, Dr. Steele served as the Richard T. Crane Professor in the Department of Surgery, Vice President for Medical Affairs, and Dean of the Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. In addition, Dr. Steele was previously the William V. McDermott Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, President and Chief Executive Officer of Deaconess Professional Practice Group and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at New England Deaconess Hospital.

"With extensive experience in the healthcare industry, as a noted surgeon, researcher and now CEO of a large hospital group, Glenn will bring an invaluable perspective to the Cepheid Board," said John Bishop, Cepheid's Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, as a renowned researcher in the fields of liver and colorectal cancers, Dr. Steele will also further strengthen our Board just as Cepheid is moving more aggressively to extend the reach of our Xpert® test portfolio into oncology."

Dr. Steele serves on the boards of Bucknell University, Temple University School of Medicine, Premier Inc. as Vice Chair, Weis Markets Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., and the American Hospital Association Committee of Research.

About Cepheid

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) is a leading molecular diagnostics company that is dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing accurate yet easy to use molecular systems and tests. By automating highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, the company's solutions deliver a better way for institutions of any size to access the full power of molecular diagnostics. The company's systems enable rapid, sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases by automating otherwise complex manual laboratory procedures. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is focusing on those applications where accurate, rapid, and actionable test results are needed most, such as managing infectious diseases and cancer. For more information, visit www.cepheid.com.

Securities Law Disclosures

The solicitation of proxies for the election of directors is made pursuant to a proxy statement filed with United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Cepheid shareholders and other investors are advised to read carefully the proxy statement relating to Cepheid's 2011 annual meeting of shareholders and any other relevant documents filed by Cepheid with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission before making any voting decision, because they contain important information.

Copies of the proxy statement and any other relevant documents are available to Cepheid shareholders at no expense to them. In addition, those materials are available without charge from Cepheid Investor Relations at (408) 400-8329 or by email at [email protected], or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission through the Commission's website at www.sec.gov.

CONTACTS:
For Media Inquiries:	For Investor Inquiries:
Jared Tipton Cepheid Corporate Communications Tel: (408) 400-8377 [email protected]	Jacquie Ross Cepheid Investor Relations Tel: (408) 400-8329 [email protected]