EXHIBIT 99.1

   PRESS RELEASE

          Bio-Rad Announces Pricing of Private Offering of $225 Million of
                            Senior Subordinated Notes

   HERCULES, CA - August 7, 2003 - Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
   (AMEX: BIO; BIO.B), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life
   science research products and clinical diagnostics, announced that it has
   agreed to sell $225 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.50% Senior
   Subordinated Notes due 2013 in a private offering. The Company intends to
   close the transaction on or about August 11, 2003.

   The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the
   purchase of its outstanding 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
   pursuant to the tender offer announced by the Company on July 17, 2003 and
   for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions.

   The new Senior Subordinated Notes have not been registered under the
   Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities laws, and
   will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule
   144A and in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S under the
   Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Unless so registered, the new Senior
   Subordinated Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except
   pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
   Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

   This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation
   of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these
   securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
   unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of
   any such state.

   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.

   For more information contact:
   Christine Tsingos, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   Ron Hutton, Treasurer
   Phone: (510) 724-7000
   E-mail: investor_relations@bio-rad.com