Exhibit 99.1

QUIDEL REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2012

FINANCIAL RESULTS

SAN DIEGO, February 12, 2013 (Marketwire) — Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL), a leading provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions and cellular-based virology assays, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Highlights:

Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

Total revenues in the fourth quarter increased to $53.9 million from $38.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 40%. The increase in revenue was driven by growth of infectious disease products in the quarter, due to the onset of an early and severe influenza and respiratory disease season.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $8.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2011. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding amortization of intangibles, stock compensation expense, and including the income tax benefit of research and development tax credit in 2012, net income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $12.5 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011.

“We were pleased with our ability to respond to the sudden increase in demand for our flu tests. While sales of QuickVue Influenza A+B benefited most, the Sofia, D3 Ultra, and Quidel Molecular PCR products were a contributor to the increase in revenues in the quarter as well,” said Douglas Bryant, president and chief executive officer. “More importantly, our product development teams achieved several key milestones during the period, and we are now poised to introduce a number of new products over the next several quarters,” added Bryant.

Full Year 2012 Results

Total revenues for 2012 were $155.7 million as compared to $158.6 million in 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2012, net income was $5.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to net income of $7.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in 2011. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding amortization of intangibles, stock compensation expense, and including the income tax benefit of research and development tax credit in 2012, net income for the full year 2012 was $19.1 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net income of $19.8 million, or $0.59 per share, for the full year 2011.

“Even though the revenue impact of an early start to the influenza season was a positive for our quarter and year, our focus lies in diversifying our company’s revenue mix and creating other growth opportunities. Our efforts are reflected, noticeably, in the increase in 2012 of R&D and sales and marketing expenses ahead of the launch and commercialization of AmpliVue C. difficile and several other Sofia and Quidel Molecular products in 2013,” concluded Bryant.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., or GAAP. The Company is providing non-GAAP financial information to present net income and earnings per share excluding the effect of stock-based compensation and amortization of intangibles and including the effect of the research and development tax credit in 2012. Although the research and development tax credit relates to 2012, the benefit of the tax credit cannot be recognized until 2013 under GAAP, the result of legislative approval occurring in January, 2013.

Management is providing the adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share information for the periods presented because it believes this enables a better comparison of the Company’s financial performance from period-to-period, and to that of its competitors. This press release is not meant to be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures is included in this press release as part of the attached financial tables.

Conference Call Information

Quidel management will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and full year results as well as other business matters today beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). During the conference call, management may answer questions concerning business and financial developments and trends. Quidel’s responses to these questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute material information that has not been previously disclosed.

To participate in the live call by telephone from the U.S., dial 866-730-5769, or from outside the U.S. dial 857-350-1593, and enter the pass code 75220493.

A live webcast of the call can be accessed at http://www.quidel.com, and the Web site replay will be available for 14 days. The telephone replay will be available for 48 hours beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 p.m. Pacific Time) on February 12 by dialing 888-286-8010 from the U.S., or 617-801-6888 for international callers, and entering pass code 87777394.

About Quidel Corporation

Quidel Corporation serves to enhance the health and well being of people around the globe through the development of diagnostic solutions that can lead to improved patient outcomes and provide economic benefits to the healthcare system. Marketed under the QuickVue®, D3® Direct Detection and Thyretain® leading brand names, as well as under the new Sofia® and AmpliVue® brands, Quidel’s products aid in the detection and diagnosis of many critical diseases and conditions, including, among others, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, Strep A, herpes, pregnancy, thyroid disease and fecal occult blood. Quidel’s research and development engine is also developing a continuum of diagnostic solutions from advanced lateral-flow and direct fluorescent antibody to molecular diagnostic tests to further improve the quality of healthcare in physicians’ offices and hospital and reference laboratories. For more information about Quidel’s comprehensive product portfolio, visit www.quidel.com and Diagnostic Hybrids at www.dhiusa.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve material risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Many possible events or factors could affect our future financial results and performance, such that our actual results and performance may differ materially from those that may be described or implied in the forward-looking statements. As such, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Differences in actual results and performance may arise as a result of a number of factors including, without limitation, seasonality, the timing of onset, length and severity of cold and flu seasons, the level of success in executing on our strategic initiatives, our reliance on sales of our influenza diagnostic tests, uncertainty surrounding the detection of novel influenza viruses involving human specimens, our ability to develop new products and technology, adverse changes in the competitive and economic conditions in domestic and international markets, our reliance on and actions of our major distributors, technological changes and uncertainty with research and technology development, including any future molecular-based technology, the medical reimbursement system currently in place and future changes to that system, manufacturing and production delays or difficulties, adverse regulatory actions or delays in product reviews by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), compliance with FDA and environmental regulations, our ability to meet unexpected increases in demand for our products, our ability to execute our growth strategy, including the integration of new companies or technologies, disruptions in the global capital and credit markets, our ability to hire key personnel, intellectual property, product liability, environmental or other litigation, potential required patent license fee payments not currently reflected in our costs, adverse changes in our international markets, potential inadequacy of booked reserves and possible impairment of goodwill, and lower-than-anticipated acceptance, sales or market penetration of our new products. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “might,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. The risks described under “Risk Factors” in reports and registration statements that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time should be carefully considered. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revision or update of the forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

QUIDEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data; unaudited)

QUIDEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data; unaudited)

QUIDEL CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information

(In thousands, except per share data)