<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED APRIL 1,2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-30-2000 <PERIOD-END> APR-01-2000 <CASH> 188,588 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 487,378 <ALLOWANCES> 29,315 <INVENTORY> 345,924 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,379,874 <PP&E> 443,154 <DEPRECIATION> 160,742 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,851,282 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 969,722 <BONDS> 451,561 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 13,400 <OTHER-SE> 1,116,498 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,851,282 <SALES> 521,086 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 521,086 <CGS> 276,202 <TOTAL-COSTS> 276,202 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 32,365 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,304 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,583 <INCOME-PRETAX> 43,270 <INCOME-TAX> 19,482 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,332 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,332 <EPS-BASIC> 0.16 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.15