Under Governor George Pataki's proposed welfare reform plan, county social
service agencies would test welfare applicants for illegal drug use and
require welfare recipients to participate in treatment programs. The state
funded proposal only calls for benefits to be withdrawn in the event a
welfare recipient tests positive a second time. American Bio Medica
representatives today joined New York Assemblymen Faso and Patrick Manning to
discuss the proposed crackdown on drug abuse among welfare recipients.

"New York's welfare system should not be allowed to subsidize drug abuse,"
stated Faso. "Eligibility for welfare should hinge on an individual's
willingness to steer clear of illegal drugs and to accept treatment when
screening reveals a drug abuse problem."

Faso also noted that an exorbitant estimate of $60 to $75 per test was the
primary reason Speaker of the House Assemblyman Silver has opposed the
governor's drug testing proposal. Faso identified drug screening of welfare
recipients and applicants as "absolutely vital" to welfare reform. He
assured the process would be safe and noninvasive, and highlighted the Rapid
Drug Screen as a tremendously less expensive solution at under $20 per test.

"The Rapid Drug Screen was designed to make the drug screening process
simpler and easier," stated Stan Cipkowski, president of American Bio Medica.
"By providing inexpensive and accurate results, the Rapid Drug Screen can
help guard against possible welfare abuse related to illicit drugs."

Proponents of drug screening note that the individual's wellbeing is of the
utmost concern for any responsible drug screening program. "The only humane
thing is to make sure they [welfare recipients] are off drugs," stated
Assemblyman Manning. He also noted that New York state has already realized
the "ultimate price" of not screening welfare recipients for drug abuse.

"Individual responsibility is an important component of New York state's
welfare reform," added Faso. The governor's proposal puts the responsibility
on the individual. "Welfaretowork" is designed to bring people off welfare
and into the workplace because welfare dependency doesn't help recipients or
the state of New York, continued Faso.

According to Jay Bendis, vice president of sales and marketing for American
Bio Medica, "Screening for illicit drugs has consistently proven to be an
effective means of deterring substance abuse in the corporate, correctional,
and clinical sectors. We are pleased to be recognized by the state of New
York and are confident the overwhelming benefits of our inexpensive and
accurate onsite test will win opponents over."

Unrivaled in the marketplace for its ease of use, the Rapid Drug Screen
provides inexpensive and proven results in a safe device requiring no
exposure to the specimen. The onestep diagnostic test reliably determines
the presence or absence of marijuana, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines,
methamphetamines, and opiates in three to five minutes.

American Bio Medica Corporation is a biomedical company which develops,
manufactures and markets rapid, lowcost and easytouse diagnostic kits for
substance abuse testing and develops other biomedical technologies and
devices. In field tests conducted last year, ABMC's drug detection strip
demonstrated 100% correlation with the results produced by the SYVA EMIT II
and GCMS, both standard laboratory tests.

Forward looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Investors are cautioned that such forward looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the
Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new
products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon thirdparty
suppliers, intellectual property rights and other risks detailed from time to
time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

NOTE: For further information, updates, and a current report, see
www.otcfn.com

07/09/97 12:59 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com