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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(q)


                            SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT


     Agreement made the  21st  day of October, 1996, by and between Gamma
Biologicals, Inc. and Susan A. Batcha.

     WHEREAS, Susan A. Batcha (hereinafter sometimes called "Batcha") previously
assigned to Gamma Biologicals, Inc. (hereinafter called "the Corporation")
without consideration her entire interest in the insurance policy on her own
life issued by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Policy Number 9
890 472) in the face amount of $500,000 (hereinafter called "the Policy");

     WHEREAS, Susan A. Batcha is a valued employee and/or director of the
Corporation, which wishes to retain the benefit of her services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed between the two parties hereto as follows:

                                  Article 1.

     As soon as possible, the corporation shall cause the right to the death
benefits payable under the Policy to be endorsed pursuant to the provisions of
Articles 3 and 10 of the Agreement.

                                  Article 2.

     The Corporation will be the owner of the Policy and it may exercise all the
rights of ownership with respect to the Policy except as otherwise hereinafter
provided.

                                  Article 3.

     The right to designate the beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any
proceeds payable under the Policy in excess of the amount of proceeds payable to
the Corporation under Article 10(B) of the Agreement, as well as the right to
elect the settlement option with respect to such portion of such proceeds, shall
remain with Batcha.

                                  Article 4.

     All dividends declared by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
on the Policy or any part thereof as may be necessary, shall be applied to
purchase one-year term insurance on the life of Susan A. Batcha in an amount
equal to the guaranteed cash value of the Policy as of the end of the next
Policy anniversary and any balance of the dividend shall be applied to buy
additional paid-up insurance.  Whenever the dividend is not adequate to purchase
the required amount of term insurance, the entire dividend shall be applied to
purchase whatever amount of term insurance the dividend will purchase.
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                                  Article 5.

     All premiums due on the Policy shall be paid by the Corporation.  However,
Batcha agrees to reimburse the Corporation within 30 days of each premium
payment an amount such that for federal income tax purposes the reimbursement
for each year is equal to the value of the economic benefit of the life
insurance protection enjoyed by Batcha under the terms of the Agreement.  For
purposes of the Agreement, the term "net premium payment" means such part of
each gross premium which is not reimbursable to the Corporation by Batcha
pursuant to the preceding sentence.

                                  Article 6.

     Batcha shall be obligated to repay the Corporation the amount of the
aggregate net premium payments under Article 5 of the Agreement, plus interest
on each net premium payment calculated at the rate of 3% per annum.  The
obligation of Batcha to the Corporation shall be payable as provided in Articles
10, 11(e) and 12 of the Agreement.

                                  Article 7.

     The Corporation may add a rider to the Policy for its own benefit.  Upon
written request made by Batcha, the Corporation may add a rider to the Policy
for her benefit.  Any additional premium for any rider which is added to the
Policy shall be paid by the party which will be entitled to receive the proceeds
of the rider.

                                  Article 8.

     A.  The Corporation shall have the right to obtain loans secured by the
Policy.  These loans may be obtained either from the Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company or from others.  The Corporation shall have the right to
assign the Policy as security for the repayment of such loans.  The amount of
such loans together with the interest thereon shall at no time exceed the cash
surrender value of the Policy as of the date to which the premiums on the Policy
have been paid.  All interest charges with respect to any such loans shall be
paid by the Corporation.  The Corporation may also consent to policy loans to
Batcha, in which case all interest charges with respect to any such policy loans
shall be paid by Batcha, unless otherwise agreed to by the Corporation.

     B.  If the Policy is assigned or is encumbered in any way, other than by a
policy loan, on the date of the death of Susan A. Batcha, the Corporation will
promptly take all steps which may be necessary to secure release or discharge of
the assignment or encumbrance so that the portion of the death proceeds payable
under the Policy to the beneficiary or beneficiaries named therein will be paid
promptly.
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                                  Article 9.

     Except as otherwise herein provided, the Corporation agrees that while the
Agreement remains in force and effect it will not, without the consent of
Batcha, transfer, assign or terminate the Policy.

                                  Article 10.

     A.  Upon the death of Susan A. Batcha, the Corporation will promptly take
all steps which may be necessary to obtain the death benefits provided under the
Policy.

     B.  Upon the death of Susan A. Batcha, the Corporation shall be entitled to
receive a portion of the death benefits provided under the Policy.  The amount
to which the Corporation will be entitled shall be the amount of its aggregate
net premium payments pursuant to Article 5 of the Agreement, plus the aggregate
amount of any interest charges in respect of any policy loans to Batcha paid by
the Corporation pursuant to Article 8 of the Agreement, less the amount of any
indebtedness which may exist against the Policy and any interest due on such
indebtedness (but only to the extent the proceeds of such indebtedness were
provided to the Corporation), plus interest on each net premium payment and
interest payment made by the Corporation in respect of any policy loans to
Batcha calculated at the rate of 3% per annum.  The amount to which the
Corporation will be entitled will not, however, exceed the cash value of the
Policy (without reduction for any policy loans or other indebtedness which may
exist against the Policy) at the end of the policy year in which the death of
Susan A. Batcha occurs, plus the aggregate amount of interest payments made by
the Corporation in respect of any policy loans to Batcha, plus interest on each
net premium payment and interest payment made by the Corporation in respect of
any policy loan to Batcha calculated at the rate of 3% per annum.  The receipt
of the amount by the Corporation shall constitute satisfaction of the obligation
of Batcha under Article 6 of the Agreement.

     C.  Upon the death of Susan A. Batcha, the beneficiary or beneficiaries
named in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Agreement shall be
entitled to receive the amount of the death benefits provided under the Policy
in excess of the amount payable to the Corporation under paragraph B of the
Article.

                                  Article 11.

     The Agreement shall terminate on the occurrence of any of the following
events:  (a)  cessation of the business of the Corporation;  (b)  written notice
given by Batcha to the Corporation;  (c)  bankruptcy, receivership or
dissolution of the Corporation;  (d)  upon the election of aggrieved party if
either the Corporation or Batcha fails for any reason to make the payment or
reimbursement required by Article 5 of the Agreement toward payment of any
premium due on the Policy, provided that any election to terminate the Agreement
under the clause must be made within 90 days after the failure to make the
required payment or reimbursement occurs;  (e)  repayment in full by Batcha 
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of the aggregate net premium payments made by the Corporation under Article 5 of
the Agreement and the aggregate interest payments made by the Corporation in
respect of any policy loans to Batcha under Article 8 of the Agreement, plus
interest on each net premium payment and interest payment calculated at the rate
of 3% per annum, provided that upon receipt of such repayment the Corporation
shall transfer ownership of the Policy to Batcha.

                                  Article 12.

     If the Agreement is terminated under paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of
Article 11, Batcha shall have the option to pay the Corporation, within 90 days
of such termination, the amount of the aggregate net premium payments made by
the Corporation under Article 5 of the Agreement, plus the amount of the
aggregate interest payments made by the Corporation in respect of any policy
loans to Batcha under Article 8 of the Agreement, plus interest on each such net
premium payment and interest payment calculated at the rate of 3% per annum.  If
the Policy is encumbered by a policy loan at the time ownership is to be
transferred, the Corporation shall either remove the encumbrance or reduce the
price to be paid for the Policy by the amount of the indebtedness (but only to
the extent the proceeds of such indebtedness were provided to the Corporation).
If the Policy is assigned to a third party at the time ownership is to be
transferred, the Corporation shall take all steps necessary to secure release of
the assignment.  If Batcha does not exercise her option to acquire the Policy,
ownership of the Policy by the Corporation shall constitute satisfaction of the
obligation of Batcha to the Corporation under Article 6 of the Agreement.

                                  Article 13.

     The Agreement shall not be modified or amended except by a writing signed
by the Corporation and by Batcha.  The Agreement shall be binding upon the
heirs, administrators or executors and the successors and assigns of each party
to  the Agreement.

                                  Article 14.

     The Agreement shall be subject to and shall be construed under the laws of
the State of Texas.
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the Agreement at
Houston, Texas.



                                    /s/ Susan A. Batcha
                                    ------------------------------
                                    Susan A. Batcha

                                    Gamma Biologicals, Inc.


                                    By:  /s/ Margaret J. O'Bannion
                                       ---------------------------
                                    Margaret J. O'Bannion
                                    Vice President - Finance