Cepheid Announces European Launch of GeneXpert Infinity-48 System at the 20th Annual European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)

Cepheid Also to Host Integrated Symposium 'The Medical & Public Health Impact of Rapid Molecular Testing'

SUNNYVALE, California, April 7, 2010 - Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) will initiate European launch of its newest
addition to the GeneXpert(R) family of molecular diagnostic testing systems,
the GeneXpert Infinity-48, at the 20th annual European Congress of Clinical
Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Vienna, Austria. The GeneXpert
Infinity-48 System is the world's first and only fully-automated,
random-access system designed for management of the entire molecular testing
workflow - from sample data, cartridge loading and unloading, to final
reporting of test results and disposal of cartridges.

"We're very excited to be a part of the 20th anniversary of this renowned
congress where we will officially debut our new GeneXpert Infinity-48 System
in Europe," said Nico Arnold, Executive Vice President of Worldwide
Commercial Operations for Cepheid. "The GeneXpert family of Systems,
including the Infinity-48, represents the next generation in automated
molecular testing. With our expanding pipeline of rapid, accurate, and
easy-to-use tests, the GeneXpert System is positioned to become the molecular
platform of choice."

Cepheid is also hosting an integrated symposium at the Congress, entitled
The Medical and Public Health Impact of Rapid Molecular Testing. This will
take place as part of the official program on Monday, April 12th, in Lecture
Hall F2 from 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. The schedule for the symposium is as
follows:

            The Medical and Public Health Impact of Rapid Molecular Testing
            Cepheid Chair: Fred Tenover (Sunnyvale, US)
            ECCMID Chair: Laurent Gutmann (Paris, FR)

           At the hospital/community interface: Impact of molecular methods
     9:00  on the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections
           Greet Ieven (Antwerp, BE)

           In the pharmacy: Optimizing antimicrobial stewardship and therapy
     9:30  using a rapid MRSA/SA blood test
           Debra Goff (Columbus, US)

           In the maternity ward: Impact of universal intrapartum Group B
    10:00  streptococcus screening using molecular diagnostics
           Najoua El Helali (Paris, FR)

           In the surgical unit: Improving patient safety by ignoring
    10:30  resistance
           Jan Kluytmans (Breda, NL)

The company will also be demonstrating the full menu of GeneXpert-based
CE IVD molecular diagnostic tests at booth #261 on the exhibition floor,
including:

    - Xpert(R) Flu A Panel: Detection of FluA and identification of
      2009 H1N1 novel
    - Xpert(R) MTB/RIF: Simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis and resistance to rifampicin
    - Xpert(R) C. difficile: Accurate detection of Clostridium
      difficile infection
    - Xpert(R) vanA/vanB: Screening for vancomycin-resistant
      enterococci (VRE)
    - Xpert(R) MRSA: Screening for nasal carriage of
      Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
    - Xpert(R) MRSA/SA BC: Diagnostic test for Methicillin-Resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus and S. aureus in positive patient blood culture
      bottles
    - Xpert(R) MRSA/SA Nasal: Pre-Surgical testing for Staphylococcus
      aureus and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus
    - Xpert(R) MRSA/SA SSTI: Diagnostic test for Staphylococcus aureus
      and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus in skin and soft tissue
    - Xpert(R) EV: Rapid diagnostic test for enteroviral meningitis
    - Xpert(R) GBS: Accurate and rapid detection of vaginal carriage of
      Group B
    - Streptococcus
    - Xpert(R) BCR-ABL Monitor: Simple and rapid monitoring test for
      improved Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patient management
    - Xpert(R) HemosIL FII & FV*: Detection of factor II and factor V
      Leiden genetic variations associated with thrombophilia

About the GeneXpert Infinity-48 Molecular Diagnostic System

Cepheid's GeneXpert Infinity-48 System, which uses robotic cartridge
handling managed through a touch-screen driven menu, is capable of running a
variety of molecular tests with a through-put capability of over 1,300
samples in a 24-hour period. With each of the system's 48 testing modules
working as completely independent testing sites, the Infinity-48 System can
start test runs whenever samples are taken - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Delivering true walk away ease-of-use, the Infinity-48 System is designed to
maximize workflow while further accelerating time-to-result, enabling
healthcare providers to make more informed patient management and treatment
decisions.

About Cepheid

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) is an on-demand
molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and markets
fully-integrated systems and tests for genetic analysis in the clinical,
industrial and biothreat markets. The company's systems enable rapid,
sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases by
automating otherwise complex manual laboratory procedures. The company's
easy-to-use systems integrate a number of complicated and time-intensive
steps, including sample preparation, DNA amplification and detection, which
enable the analysis of complex biological samples in its proprietary test
cartridges. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is
focusing on those applications where rapid molecular testing is particularly
important, such as identifying infectious disease and cancer in the clinical
market; food, agricultural, and environmental testing in the industrial
market; and identifying bio-terrorism agents in the biothreat market. See
www.cepheid.com for more information.

*Exclusively distributed by Instrumentation Laboratory

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not
purely historical regarding Cepheid's or its management's intentions,
beliefs, expectations and strategies for the future, including those relating
to product performance, product pipeline and future market opportunities.
Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various
risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from the
company's current expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as those relating to:
unforeseen manufacturing problems; our ability to develop and complete
clinical trials successfully in a timely manner for new products;
uncertainties related to the FDA regulatory and European regulatory
processes; unforeseen development and manufacturing problems; the potential
need for additional intellectual property licenses for tests and other
products and the terms of such licenses; the impact of competitive products
and pricing; regulatory developments and practices regarding testing levels;
customer and market acceptance of the product; the failure of products to
perform as fast or as accurately as expected, whether due to manufacturing
errors, defects or otherwise; the impact of competitive products and pricing;
potentially lengthy sales cycles in some markets; reimbursement rates for the
products; and underlying market conditions worldwide. Readers should also
refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Cepheid's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for 2009 and in its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, each
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements and reasons why results might differ
included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, based
on information currently available to Cepheid, and Cepheid assumes no
obligation to update any such forward-looking statement or reasons why
results might differ.

         CONTACTS:
                                           For Cepheid Investor
         For Media Inquiries:              Inquiries:
         --------------------              --------------------

         Jared Tipton                      Jacquie Ross
         Cepheid Corporate                 Cepheid Investor Relations
         Communications                    +1-408-400-8329
         +1-408-400-8377                   investor.relations@cepheid.com
         jared.tipton@cepheid.com

Jared Tipton, Cepheid Corporate Communications, +1-408-400-8377, jared.tipton at cepheid.com, or Investors, Jacquie Ross of Cepheid Investor Relations, +1-408-400-8329, investor.relations at cepheid.com