<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 10,843 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 100,339 <ALLOWANCES> 3,374 <INVENTORY> 91,428 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 227,418 <PP&E> 178,631 <DEPRECIATION> 99,953 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 351,876 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 100,782 <BONDS> 38,952 <COMMON> 12,421 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 184,256 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 351,876 <SALES> 426,914 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 426,914 <CGS> 189,331 <TOTAL-COSTS> 189,331 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,216 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,728 <INCOME-TAX> 6,364 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,364 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,364 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.33 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.32