EXHIBIT 99.1

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8, 7:01 AM EASTERN TIME
PRESS RELEASE

         BIOPOOL INTERNATIONAL/XTRANA ANNOUNCES FDA CLEARANCE TO MARKET
                       NEW MINIQUANT D-DIMER ASSAY SYSTEM

     VENTURA,  Calif. - (BW  HealthWire) - Feb. 8, 2001 - Biopool  International
Inc./Xtrana  (OTCBB:BIPL - NEWS) today  announced  that the Company has received
510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration  (FDA) to market its
new MiniQuant(TM) D-dimer Assay System.

     Designed for optimal  sensitivity and broad assay range, the  MiniQuant(TM)
D-dimer Assay System is a rapid,  quantitative  method for  determining  D-dimer
containing  fragments  in plasma.  Elevated  levels of D-dimer are found in such
clinical conditions as deep vein thrombosis (DVT),  pulmonary embolism (PE), and
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

     DVT is a potentially fatal condition in which blood clots form in the lower
extremities.  According to a recent  statement from the Council on Thrombosis of
the American Heart Association:

         "DVT is a common but elusive  illness that can result in
         suffering and death if not recognized and treated effectively.
         DVT occurs in about 2 million  Americans  each year.  Death
         can occur when the venous thrombi break off and form pulmonary
         emboli that pass to and obstruct the arteries of the lungs.
         . . . It is estimated that each year 600,000 patients develop
         PE and that 60,000 die of this complication."

     Recent  studies have  confirmed the  importance of D-dimer  testing and, in
particular,  the effectiveness of Biopool's first generation  assay,  Minutex(R)
D-dimer, in evaluating patients with thrombotic disorders such as DVT and PE. In
fact,  D-dimer has proven to be one of the best in vitro diagnostic  markers for
the exclusion of DVT and PE. D-dimer assays, therefore, provide the potential to
avoid complex,  expensive,  often painful, and potentially  hazardous additional
testing for many patients with suspected DVT or PE.

     The  MiniQuant(TM)  D-dimer Assay System includes  Biopool's  MiniQuant(TM)
latex  agglutination  reagent  and the  Company's  MiniQuant(TM)-1,  a  compact,
hand-held,  two-channel LED photo-optical detection instrument suitable for both
routine  and  emergency  testing.  The assay  system is  configured  to  provide
quantitative  results to yield even more useful diagnostic data than provided by
the  Company's  Minutex(R)  D-dimer  assay.  In each of the


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last three years,  Biopool's  Minutex(R)  D-dimer  assay has been the  Company's
largest selling hemostasis product.

     Patrick J. O'Leary,  Ph.D.,  vice president and general  manager of Biopool
International/Xtrana,   commented,   "The  MiniQuant(TM)  D-dimer  Assay  System
represents a very  significant  addition to our hemostasis  product line and our
first venture in being able to provide our customers with an all-inclusive assay
system. We believe this new test system more than aptly addresses our commitment
to  provide  our  customers  with  new,  innovative  formats  of this  important
diagnostic test while,  at the same time,  addressing the rapidly growing global
market for these tests, which is currently  estimated to exceed $50 million.  It
is particularly  notable that the ease of use of the MiniQuant(TM)  Assay System
and its ability to provide rapid quantitative results has the potential to offer
significant  reductions in hospitalization  costs and avoid unnecessary invasive
procedures. The MiniQuant(TM) D-dimer Assay System is currently in inventory and
ready for sale."

     Founded in 1987, Biopool International develops, manufactures and markets a
full range of test kits to assess and diagnose  disorders of blood  coagulation,
thrombotic  risk  factors,  fibrinolysis,  platelet  function  and the  vascular
system.  Effective  with the  Company's  merger with  Xtrana,  the Company  also
develops  nucleic  acid-based  tests  for use in drug  discovery,  detection  of
environmental and food contaminants,  forensics and identity testing,  human and
animal diseases,  genetic  predisposition to disease and other applications.  To
learn more about  Biopool  International  and  Xtrana,  visit their Web sites at
WWW.BIOPOOL.COM and www.xtrana.com.

NOTE: This news release  contains  forward-looking  statements,  which are based
upon  current  expectations  that  involve a number  of risks and  uncertainties
including, but not limited to, technological innovations of competitors, changes
in health care regulations,  litigation  claims,  foreign currency  fluctuation,
product  acceptance  or  changes  in  government  regulation  of  the  Company's
products,  as well as other factors  discussed in the  Company's  last Report on
Form 10-K-SB under "Risk Factors."

CONTACT:

     Biopool International
     Timothy J. Dahltorp, 303/474-2133
      (Chief Operating Officer)
                    or
     Carol Hill, 805/654-0643
      (Corporate Communications)


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