IDEXX Laboratories Receives Maine State Chamber 2006 Investors Award

Westbrook, Maine, October 26, 2006—IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), today announced that it received a 2006 Maine Investors Award from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce at the organization's recent Annual Meeting and Gubernatorial Forum.

The Maine Investors Award recognizes Maine businesses for their growth and commitment to community development as well as their outstanding contributions to the state's economy.

"I am thrilled to accept this award on behalf of our exceptionally talented and motivated employees here in Maine and around the world," said IDEXX Vice President, Dr. Sam Fratoni, upon acceptance of the award. "We are committed to continuing to be a business leader in the state of Maine and contributing to the state's economic vitality for many, many years to come."

In its nomination for the award, the Maine State Chamber cited IDEXX for being a worldwide leader in the development and commercialization of innovative technology-based products and services for veterinary, food and water applications. The Chamber also recognized the Company for its leadership in creating an exceptional work setting, noting that, "IDEXX has built a work environment that attracts, rewards and inspires exceptionally talented and motivated people, that offers outstanding opportunities for personal growth and success, and that supports excellence, world-class standards, continuous improvement and equal opportunity."

In January 2006, IDEXX announced plans for a major expansion of its facilities in Westbrook, where the company has been headquartered since 1991. The company hopes to invest more than $100 million in facilities and equipment over a 20-year period and expects to add up to 500 employees in Maine over the next five years. In May, IDEXX successfully completed the purchase of the One IDEXX Drive facility and extensive building renovations are underway.

IDEXX Laboratories was nominated for the award by members of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors.

About IDEXX Laboratories
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a leader in companion animal health, serving practicing veterinarians around the world with innovative, technology-based offerings, including a broad range of diagnostic products and services, practice-management systems and therapeutics. Our products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care and to build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing diagnostic tests and information for the production animal industry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk. Headquartered in Westbrook, Maine, IDEXX Laboratories employs more than 3,500 people and offers products to customers in over 100 countries.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements about the Company’s business prospects that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's expectations of future events as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments. Actual results could differ materially from management’s expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the following: the Company’s ability to develop, manufacture, introduce and market new products and enhancements to existing products; the effectiveness of the Company’s sales and marketing activities; the Company’s ability to develop, license or obtain rights to new technologies; the Company’s ability to identify acquisition opportunities, complete acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; the impact of competition and technological change on the markets for the Company’s products; the effect of government regulation on the Company’s business, including government decisions about whether and when to approve the Company’s products and decisions regarding labeling, manufacturing and marketing products; the impact of distributor purchasing decisions on sales of our products that are sold through distribution; changes or trends in veterinary medicine that affect the rate of use of the Company’s products and services by veterinarians; the Company’s ability to obtain patent and other intellectual property protection for its products, successfully enforce its intellectual property rights and defend itself against third party claims against the Company; disruptions, shortages or pricing changes that affect the Company’s purchases of products and materials from third parties, including from sole source suppliers; the effects of government regulatory decisions, customer demand, pricing and other factors on the realizability of the Company’s inventories; the Company’s ability to manufacture complex biologic products; the effects of operations outside the U.S., including from currency fluctuations, different regulatory, political and economic conditions, and different market conditions; and the loss of key employees. A further description of these and other factors can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (1.5 MB) and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, (506 KB) in the section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”