EXHIBIT 99.1


   PRESS RELEASE

         Bio-Rad Announces Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation For
              Its 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

   HERCULES, Calif., July 17-- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (AMEX; BIO; BIO.B),a
   multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products
   and clinical diagnostics announced today that on July 17, 2003 it commenced
   a cash tender offer for all $88,715,000 aggregate principal amount of its
   outstanding 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (CUSIP No. 090572AE8).
   In connection with the tender offer, the Company is soliciting holders to
   consent to proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes, which
   will eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain
   related terms.

   The tender offer and consent solicitation will expire at 12:01 a.m., New
   York City time, on Thursday, August 14, 2003, unless extended or terminated
   (including any such extension or termination, the "Expiration Time").
   Holders tendering their notes will be required to consent to the proposed
   amendments. Holders may not tender their notes without delivering consents
   or deliver consents without tendering their notes.

   Tendering holders who validly tender and deliver consents by 5:00 p.m., New
   York City time, on July 30, 2003 (the "Consent Payment Deadline"), will
   receive the total consideration of 110.625% of the principal amount of
   notes, which includes a consent payment of 1.5% of the principal amount of
   the notes.  Holders who validly tender their notes after the Consent Payment
   Deadline and prior to the Expiration Time are not entitled to the consent
   payment, and will receive as payment for their notes the total consideration
   minus the consent payment, or 109.125% of the principal amount of notes. The
   Company expects to make payment on notes validly tendered prior to the
   Consent Payment Deadline promptly following satisfaction of the conditions
   to the offer, and on notes validly tendered after the Consent Payment
   Deadline and prior to the Expiration Time promptly after the Expiration
   Time.  Holders who validly tender their notes will also be paid accrued and
   unpaid interest to, but not including, the applicable date of payment for
   the notes.

   The terms and conditions of the tender offer and consent solicitation,
   including the conditions to the Company's obligation to accept the notes
   tendered and pay the purchase price therefore, are set forth in the
   Company's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated
   July 17, 2003. The Company may amend, extend or, subject to certain
   conditions, terminate the tender offer and consent solicitation.

   The Company has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to act as the exclusive Dealer
   Manager and Solicitation Agent in connection with the tender offer and
   consent solicitation. Questions regarding the tender offer and consent
   solicitation and requests for documents may be directed to Goldman, Sachs &
   Co. at (800) 828-3182 (toll free) or Bondholder Communications Group, the
   Information Agent in connection with the tender offer and consent
   solicitation, at (888) 385-2663 (toll free).

   This press release shall not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase
   or a solicitation of consents with respect to any securities. Any such offer
   or solicitation will be made only by means of the Offer to Purchase and
   Consent Solicitation Statement dated July 17, 2003.

   Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is a multinational manufacturer and distributor
   of life science research products and clinical diagnostics.  It is based
   in Hercules, California, and serves more than 70,000 research and industry
   customers worldwide through a network of more than 30 wholly owned
   subsidiary offices.

   Various statements made within this press release may constitute "forward-
   looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange
   Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities
   Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange
   Act of 1934.  The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks
   and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the
   Company's expectations.