<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 10,081 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 109,639 <ALLOWANCES> 3,629 <INVENTORY> 92,411 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 235,389 <PP&E> 198,175 <DEPRECIATION> 116,045 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 367,299 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 97,244 <BONDS> 42,339 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,427 <OTHER-SE> 201,907 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 367,299 <SALES> 441,942 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 441,942 <CGS> 202,438 <TOTAL-COSTS> 202,438 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,731 <INCOME-PRETAX> 34,228 <INCOME-TAX> 9,926 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,302 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 24,302 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.98 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.97