IDEXX Laboratories Elects Errol De Souza as Director

WESTBROOK, Maine, February 26, 2003—IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), announced today that Dr. Errol De Souza has been elected to its Board of Directors.

"We are extremely pleased to have a leader of Errol's stature join our Board," said Jonathan Ayers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IDEXX Laboratories. "He brings to us an extraordinary record in science, development and business, and in particular a wealth of experience in drug development, which is a key area for IDEXX's future."

Dr. De Souza is President and Chief Executive Officer of Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation (NASDAQ:SNAP), a drug discovery and development company utilizing patented G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as targets for novel therapeutics. Dr. De Souza has nearly two decades of experience in the area of drug discovery and development. He is a co-founder of Neurocrine Biosciences and, prior to joining Synaptic, was Senior Vice President and Site Head, U.S. Drug Innovation and Approval (R & D), at Aventis. While at Aventis, Dr. De Souza was Chairman of the Technology Committee of the Board of Directors of Merial Ltd., an animal health joint venture between Merck and Aventis. Dr. De Souza has edited five books, is an author or co-author of approximately 270 original articles, chapters or reviews and has served on several editorial boards and National Institutes of Health Committees. He has a PhD in Neuroendocrinology from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada and completed postdoctoral work in Neuroscience at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the development and commercialization of innovative, technology-based products and services for animal health. The Company's largest business is focused on companion animal health, combining biotechnology, medical device technology and information technology to aid veterinarians in providing better medicine while building successful practices. IDEXX Laboratories is also focused on employing innovative technologies to monitor production animal health and the safety and quality of drinking water and milk. Headquartered in Westbrook, Maine, IDEXX Laboratories employs more than 2,100 people and offers products to customers in more than 50 countries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations of future events, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from management's expectations. Risks and uncertainties include timing and success of new product introductions, competition and technological change, government regulation and obtaining government approvals, product demand and market acceptance, availability of products and raw materials, and litigation. A further description of these risks and uncertainties and other factors can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, in the section captioned "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." You may view these factors in detail in the most recent Form 10Q. The information is located in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition" under the Future Operations Results section. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.