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                                  AMENDMENT #1

                                       TO

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT #1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made
and entered into as of August 13, 2001 (the "Effective Date") by and between
QUIDEL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and S. WAYNE KAY, an
individual ("Kay").

                                   BACKGROUND

         The Company and Kay previously entered into that certain Employment
Agreement dated as of January 1, 2001 (the "Employment Agreement"). The purpose
and intent of this Amendment is to amend certain terms of the Employment
Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date hereof, in the context Kay's
promotion to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

                                    AGREEMENT

         1.       EMPLOYMENT. Section 1 of the Employment Agreement is hereby
deleted and replaced with the following:

                  "THE COMPANY HEREBY ENGAGES AND EMPLOYS KAY AS ITS PRESIDENT
                  AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND KAY ACCEPTS SUCH EMPLOYMENT
                  UPON THE TERMS AND SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH
                  HEREIN."

         2.       DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The first eight (8) sentences of
Section 2 of the Employment Agreement are hereby deleted (with the balance of
such Section 2 not being deleted but remaining in full force and effect and
unamended, except as otherwise modified hereinbelow) and replaced with the
following:

                  "KAY WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHALL
                  PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS ARE CONSISTENT WITH HIS
                  ROLE AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. AS LONG AS KAY
                  REMAINS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KAY WILL BE NOMINATED FOR
                  ELECTION TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.
                  KAY AGREES THAT, DURING THE COURSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE
                  COMPANY, HE WILL DEVOTE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF HIS BUSINESS
                  TIME, ATTENTION AND EFFORTS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES
                  AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER."

In addition, the reference to "the Chief Executive Officer" in the (old) ninth
sentence of Section 2 (now the fourth sentence of Section 2, as amended) of the
Employment Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with "THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF
DIRECTORS."

         3.       COMPENSATION. (a)   SALARY. The first two sentences of Section
                  3(a) of the Employment Agreement are hereby deleted and are
                  replaced with the following:

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                  "COMMENCING THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THE COMPANY AGREES TO PAY KAY
                  A SALARY (THE "BASE SALARY") EQUAL TO THREE HUNDRED
                  SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($375,000) PER YEAR, PAYABLE IN
                  THE COMPANY'S NORMAL PAYROLL CYCLE, LESS ALL AMOUNTS REQUIRED
                  BY LAW TO BE WITHHELD OR DEDUCTED."

                  (b)      STOCK OPTIONS. As contemplated by and in accordance
with Section 3(b) of the Employment Agreement, the Company has, as of the
Effective Date, granted Kay Nonqualified Stock Options to purchase up to an
additional 125,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company under substantially
the same terms as the Stock Option Agreement executed concurrently with the
Employment Agreement and otherwise in accordance with the Company's 2001 Equity
Incentive Plan. The terms and conditions of this option grant are set forth in a
separate Stock Option Agreement dated as of the date hereof.

         4.       NOTICES. Section 12 of the Employment Agreement is revised to
provide that notices to Kay shall be sent to the following address:

                  S. WAYNE KAY
                  4034 LAGO DE GRATA CIRCLE
                  SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA  92130

         5.       NO OTHER CHANGES. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the
existing terms and provisions of the Employment Agreement and Option Agreement
remain in full force and effect.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Amendment as of
the Effective Date.

QUIDEL CORPORATION                              S. WAYNE KAY

By:     Julie A. DeMeules                       By: /s/ S. Wayne Kay
    ------------------------------------           -----------------------------
Title:  Vice President, Human Resources                    S. Wayne Kay
       ---------------------------------

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                               QUIDEL CORPORATION

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made effective as of
August 13, 2001 (the "GRANT DATE"), by and between QUIDEL CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and S. WAYNE KAY ("OPTIONEE").

         A.       Concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the Company and Optionee have entered into that certain Amendment #1 to
Employment Agreement pertaining to Optionee's appointment to the office of Chief
Executive Officer.

         B.       As a part of Optionee's appointment, and effective the Grant
Date, the Company has granted to Optionee, pursuant to the Company's 2001 Equity
Incentive Plan (the "PLAN"), a nonstatutory stock option (the "OPTION") to
purchase shares of the common stock of the Company (the "COMMON STOCK") on the
terms and conditions set forth herein. This Agreement is intended to memorialize
the terms and conditions upon which the Committee granted the Option to
Optionee.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:

                                    AGREEMENT

         1. GRANT OF OPTION. Optionee may, at Optionee's election and
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, purchase all or any part of an
aggregate of 125,000 shares of Common Stock (the "OPTIONED SHARES") at the price
per share equal to $5.20 (the "OPTION PRICE"). The Option Price equals the
closing price of the Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the
Grant Date.

         2.       VESTING SCHEDULE.

                  The Option shall vest and become exercisable cumulatively as
to 31,250 of the Optioned Shares on the first anniversary of the Grant Date. The
balance of the Optioned Shares shall vest at the rate of 8-1/3% (i.e., 7,812.50
shares) for each full calendar quarter following the first anniversary of the
Grant Date.

         3.       EXERCISE OF OPTION.

                  (a)      EXTENT OF EXERCISE. The Option may be exercised at
the time or after installments vest as specified in Section 2 with respect to
all or part of the Optioned Shares covered by such vested installments, subject
to the further restrictions contained in this Agreement. In the event that
Optionee exercises the Option for less than the full number of Optioned Shares
included within a vested installment, Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the
Option (in one or more subsequent increments) for the balance of the Optioned
Shares included in said vested installment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event
shall Optionee be entitled to

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exercise the Option for fractional shares of Common Stock or for a number of
shares exceeding the maximum number of Optioned Shares.

                  (b)      PROCEDURE. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised
when the Secretary of the Company receives written notice of exercise from or on
behalf of Optionee, together with payment of the Option Price and any amounts
required under Section 3(c). The Option Price shall be payable upon exercise in
(i) legal tender of the United States; (ii) capital stock of the Company
delivered in transfer to the Company by or on behalf of Optionee, duly endorsed
in blank or accompanied by stock powers duly endorsed in blank, with signatures
guaranteed in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), if required by the Company (valued at fair market value as
of the exercise date); or (iii) such other consideration as the Company may deem
acceptable in any particular instance; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may,
in its discretion, (x) allow exercise of the Option in a broker-assisted or
similar transaction in which the Option Price is not received by the Company
until promptly after exercise, and/or (y) loan the Option Price to Optionee, if
the exercise will be followed by a prompt sale of some or all of the Optioned
Shares and a portion of the sales proceeds is dedicated to full payment of the
Option Price and amounts required pursuant to Section 3(c).

                  (c)      WITHHOLDING TAXES. Whenever shares of Common Stock
are to be issued upon exercise of the Option, the Company shall have the right
to require Optionee to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any
federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to such issuance.
The Company may, in its discretion, allow satisfaction of tax withholding
requirements by accepting delivery of Common Stock.

         4.       TERM OF OPTION AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION. No portion of the
Option shall vest after termination of Optionee's employment, regardless of the
reason for such termination. In the event that Optionee shall cease to be an
employee of the Company, the Option shall be exercisable, to the extent already
exercisable at the date Optionee ceases to be an employee and regardless of the
reason Optionee ceases to be an employee, for a period of 365 days after that
date, and shall then expire and terminate. In the event of the death of Optionee
while he is an employee of the Company or within the period after termination of
such status during which he is permitted to exercise the Option, the Option may
be exercised by any person or persons designated by Optionee on a beneficiary
designation form adopted by the administrator for such purpose or, if there is
no effective beneficiary designation form on file with the Company, by the
executors or administrators of Optionee's estate or by any person or persons who
shall have acquired the Option directly from Optionee by his will or the
applicable laws of descent and distribution. Unless earlier terminated as
provided in this Section, the Option shall automatically expire and terminate,
and thereby become unexercisable, on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Grant
Date.

         5.       ANTI-DILUTION ADJUSTMENTS. If the outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company are increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a
different number or kind of shares of the Company through reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock
split, upon authorization of the Board or the Committee an appropriate and
proportionate adjustment shall be made in the number or kind of Optioned Shares
and the Option Price; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such adjustment need be made
if, upon

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the advice of counsel, the Board or the Committee determines that such
adjustment may result in the receipt of federally taxable income to Optionee, to
holders of other derivative securities of the Company or holders of Common Stock
or other classes of the Company's securities.

         6.       CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         (a)      ACCELERATION OF VESTING. If a Change in Control (as defined
below) of the Company occurs, then notwithstanding the vesting provisions of
Section 2 or anything else herein to the contrary, all Optioned Shares shall
automatically vest and become exercisable immediately prior to such Change in
Control, if Optionee is an employee of the Company at that time or immediately
prior thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" means the
following and shall be deemed to occur if any of the following events occurs:

                  (i)      Any person, entity or group, within the meaning of
Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding the Company and its
subsidiaries and any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the Company or
its subsidiaries and also excluding an underwriter or underwriting syndicate
that has acquired the Company's securities solely in connection with a public
offering thereof (such person, entity or group being referred to herein as a
"Person"), becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors; or

                  (ii)     Individuals who, as of the Grant Date, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board, provided that any individual who becomes a director after
the Grant Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders, is approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered to be a member of the
Incumbent Board unless that individual was nominated or elected by any Person
having the power to exercise, through beneficial ownership, voting agreement
and/or proxy, 20% or more of either the then outstanding shares of Common Stock
or the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in which case that
individual shall not be considered to be a member of the Incumbent Board unless
such individual's election or nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders is approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board; or

                  (iii)    Consummation by the Company of the sale or other
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
or a reorganization or merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
person, entity or corporation, other than

                           (A)      a reorganization or merger or consolidation
         that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
         immediately prior thereto (or, in the case of a reorganization or
         merger or consolidation that is preceded or accomplished by an
         acquisition or series of related acquisitions by any Person, by tender
         or exchange offer or otherwise, of voting securities representing 5% or
         more of the combined voting power of all securities of the Company,
         immediately prior to such acquisition or the first

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         acquisition in such series of acquisitions) continuing to represent,
         either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
         securities of another entity, more than 50% of the combined voting
         power of the voting securities of the Company or such other entity
         outstanding immediately after such reorganization or merger or
         consolidation (or series of related transactions involving such a
         reorganization or merger or consolidation), or

                           (B)      a reorganization or merger or consolidation
         effected to implement a recapitalization or reincorporation of the
         Company (or similar transaction) that does not result in a material
         change in beneficial ownership of the voting securities of the Company
         or its successor; or

                  (iv)     Approval by the stockholders of the Company or an
order by a court of competent jurisdiction of a plan of liquidation of the
Company.

         (b)      PROVISION FOR OPTION UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL. As of the
effective time and date of any Change in Control, this Agreement and the Option
will automatically terminate unless: (a) provision is made in writing in
connection with such transaction for the continuance of this Agreement and the
Option and for the assumption of this Agreement and the Option, or for the
substitution for such Option of new awards covering the securities of a
successor entity or an affiliate thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the
number and kind of securities and exercise prices, in which event this Agreement
and the Option will continue or be replaced, as the case may be, in the manner
and under the terms so provided; or (b) the Board otherwise provides in writing
for such adjustments as it deems appropriate in the terms and conditions of the
Option, including, without limitation, providing for the cancellation of the
Option and its automatic conversion into the right to receive the securities,
cash or other consideration that Optionee would have been entitled to receive
upon consummation of such Change in Control had such shares been issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the effective date and time of the Change in
Control (net of the appropriate option exercise prices). If, pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this SECTION 6 (b), this Agreement and the Option
terminate by reason of the occurrence of a Change in Control without provision
for any of the action(s) described in clause (a) or (b) hereof, then Optionee
will have the right, at such time prior to the consummation of the Change in
Control as the Board designates, to exercise or receive the full benefit of the
Option to the full extent not theretofore exercised.

         7.       DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES. As soon as practicable after any
proper exercise of the Option in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Company shall deliver to Optionee at the main office of the
Company, or such other place as shall be mutually acceptable, a certificate or
certificates representing such shares of Common Stock to which Optionee is
entitled upon exercise of the Option.

         8.       NO RIGHTS IN SHARES BEFORE ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY. Neither
Optionee, his estate nor his transferees by will or the laws of descent and
distribution shall be, or have any rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the
Company with respect to any shares issuable upon exercise of the Option, unless
and until certificates representing such shares shall have been issued and
delivered. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or their rights where the
record date is prior to the date such stock certificates are issued.

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         9.       NONASSIGNABILITY. The Option is not assignable or transferable
by Optionee except by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, pursuant to
a qualified domestic relations order, or, in the discretion of the Company and
under circumstances that would not adversely affect the interests of the
Company, pursuant to a nominal transfer that does not result in a change in
beneficial ownership, or as otherwise permitted by rule or interpretation of the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff as an exception to the general
proscription on transfer of derivative securities set forth in Rule 16b-3 (or
any successor rule) under the Exchange Act or interpretation thereof. In
addition, during Optionee's lifetime the Option (as a whole or in part) may also
be transferred to one or more members of Optionee's immediate family, or a
partnership whose members include only Optionee and/or members of Optionee's
immediate family, or a trust for the benefit of only Optionee and/or members of
Optionee's family. Any permitted transfer of the Option shall not prevent or
otherwise modify termination of the Option and its vesting following Optionee's
termination of employment (as provided in Section 3 above) or in connection with
a Change in Control (as provided in Section 4 above). In addition, the Option
shall terminate immediately if and to the extent it has been transferred to a
partnership or trust as permitted above and any person who is not a member of
Optionee's immediate family becomes a member of such partnership or a
beneficiary of such trust. As used herein, Optionee's immediate family includes
only Optionee's spouse, parents or other ancestors, and children and other
direct descendants of Optionee or of Optionee's spouse (including such ancestors
and descendants by adoption). During the lifetime of Optionee, the Option shall
be exercisable only by Optionee (or Optionee's permitted transferee(s)) or his
or their guardian or legal representative.

         10.      CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Optionee expressly
acknowledges, represents and agrees as follows:

                  (a)      If Optionee proposes to transfer all or any part of
the Option or the Optioned Shares or uses Common Stock of the Company to pay the
Option Price, Optionee has been advised to consult with a competent tax advisor
regarding the applicable tax consequences prior to making such transfer or
utilizing such Common Stock to exercise the Option; and

                  (b)      If Optionee is (as expected) a person subject to the
provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, Optionee has been advised to
consult with a competent federal securities law advisor as to the reporting
obligations and potential liability for profits under said Section 16 with
respect to the granting, exercise and transfer of the Option.

         11.      NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS. Nothing in the Plan or in
this Agreement shall be construed to create or imply any contract of employment
between the Company and Optionee. Nothing in the Plan or in this Agreement shall
confer upon Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or
confer upon the Company any right to require continued employment by Optionee.
Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the employment of Optionee by the Company
is expressly at the will of the Company, and the Company may terminate
Optionee's employment by the Company at any time for any reason or for no
reason. Similarly, Optionee may terminate his employment with the Company at any
time for any reason or for no reason. Any questions as to whether and when there
has been a termination of Optionee's employment, the reason (if any) for such
termination, and/or the

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consequences thereof under the terms of the Plan, shall be determined by the
Board in its sole discretion, and the Board's determination thereof shall be
final, binding and conclusive.

         12.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by,
interpreted under, and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
laws, and not the laws pertaining to conflicts or choice or laws, of the State
of California applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within
the State of California.

         13.      AGREEMENT BINDING ON SUCCESSORS. The terms of this Agreement
shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors,
transferees and assigns of Optionee.

         14.      NECESSARY ACTS. Optionee agrees to perform all acts and
execute and deliver any documents that may be reasonably necessary to carry out
the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to all acts and
documents related to compliance with federal and/or state securities and/or tax
laws.

         15.      FUTURE OPTIONS. The parties acknowledge and agree that future
stock options or equity incentive awards, if any, that may be granted by the
Company to Optionee shall have such terms and conditions as shall be determined
by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and may not, for example,
have the automatic acceleration of vesting provisions or extended exercise
periods as are provided for in this Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Optionee have executed this
Agreement effective as of the Grant Date.

QUIDEL CORPORATION,                           S. WAYNE KAY
a Delaware corporation

By:                                           By:
       ------------------------------              -----------------------------
                                                   S. Wayne Kay
Title:
       -----------------------------

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         By her signature below, the spouse of Optionee, if Optionee is legally
married as of the date of execution of this Agreement, acknowledges that she has
read this Agreement and is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and
agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of said Agreement.

                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Spouse's Signature

                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Printed Name

                                          Dated:
                                                --------------------------------

         By his signature below, Optionee represents that he is not legally
married as of the effective date of this Agreement.

                                          --------------------------------------
                                          S. Wayne Kay

                                          Dated:
                                                --------------------------------

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