Exhibit 5.1

                          April 28, 1994

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
1000 Alfred Nobel Drive
Hercules, California  94547

          Re: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock,
          par value $1.00 per share and Class B Common Stock
          Par Value $1.00 Per Share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I have examined the Registration Statement of Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement"), which Bio-Rad Laboratories,  Inc. (the
"Company")  intends  to file  with  the  Securities and  Exchange
Commission  in   connection  with  the  registration   under  the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended, of 450,000 shares of Class A
common stock, par  value $1.00  per share and  225,000 shares  of
Class B common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Shares") in
connection with the Bio-Rad  Laboratories, Inc. 1994 Stock Option
Plan (the  "Plan").  I am  familiar with the Plan.  I am familiar
with the proceedings undertaken by the Company in connection with
the issuance of the  Shares under the Plan and  the authorization
of such issuance thereunder, and have examined such documents and
such questions  of law  and fact  as I  have deemed  necessary in
order to express the opinion hereinafter stated.

      Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares
have  been duly authorized, and upon issuance of the Shares under
the terms of the Plan and  delivery and payment therefor of legal
consideration  in excess of the aggregate par value of the Shares
issued,  such  Shares will  be  validly  issued,  fully paid  and
nonassessable.

      I  hereby consent  to  the  filing of  this opinion  as  an
exhibit  to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me
under  the  heading  "Interests  of Named  Experts  and  Counsel"
contained in Part II of the Registration Statement.

          Very truly yours,

          /s/ Sanford S. Wadler

          Sanford S. Wadler
          General Counsel and Secretary




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