EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                         XTRANA ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF
                        THE SALE OF ITS PATENT PORTFOLIO

Broomfield,  CO - May 21, 2004 -- XTRANA, Inc. (OTCBB: XTRN) announced today the
completion of the  previously  announced  sale of its  intellectual  property to
Applied  Biosystems  Group (NYSE:  ABI), an Applera  Corporation  business,  for
$4,000,000 in cash.

Under  the  terms  of the  definitive  agreement  for the  transaction,  Applied
Biosystems purchased all intellectual  property of Xtrana, other than trademarks
and trade names. These assets include all U.S. and foreign patents,  inventions,
trade secrets and know-how,  and constituted  substantially all of the assets of
Xtrana. The total  consideration of $4,000,000  consists of: (a) a $100,000 cash
deposit,  which was  previously  paid to Xtrana,  (b) $3,500,000 in cash paid at
closing;  and (c) $400,000 in cash to be paid 90 days after closing,  subject to
Xtrana  providing  certain  consulting  services  as defined  in the  definitive
agreement.

On March 31, 2004,  Applied  Biosystems  delivered the  $3,500,000  closing cash
payment,  and Xtrana delivered its intellectual  property rights, into an escrow
account pending the final closing of the transaction. On May 14, 2004, following
satisfaction of all closing conditions, the $3,500,000 cash payment was released
from escrow to Xtrana and  Xtrana's  intellectual  property  was  released  from
escrow and assigned to Applied Biosystems.

James Chamberlain,  Xtrana's Interim CEO commented,  "We are pleased to complete
the  transaction  with  Applied  Biosystems  and look  forward to  focusing  our
attention on exploring  potential  transactions for merging or otherwise joining
together  with an existing  business  that could  create  long-term  stockholder
value.  It is the  intention  of the Board of  Directors  to spend a  reasonable
period of time exploring opportunities to find a merger candidate,  and if it is
unable to  conclude a  transaction  that it  believes  would  provide  long term
stockholder value, to propose that the stockholders approve a liquidation of the
company."


This Press Release contains forward-looking  statements (identified by the words
"estimate,"  "anticipate," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions),  which
are based upon management's  current  expectations and speak only as of the date
made. These forward-looking  statements are subject to risks,  uncertainties and
factors that could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from the results
anticipated in the forward-looking  statements and include,  but are not limited
to, our ability to settle our  remaining  obligations  following the sale of our
intellectual  property,  our ability to find a merger partner,  as well as other
factors discussed in our last Report on Form 10-KSB.

CONTACT:          Dennis Lineberry
                  Vice President, Finance
                  Xtrana, Inc.
                  (303) 466-4424