<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This  schedule   contains  summary   financial information  extracted from
BioWhittaker's interim consolidated statement of income for the six months ended
April 30, 1996 and it's  consoidated  balance  sheet as of April 30, 1996 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         OCT-31-1996

<PERIOD-END>                              APR-30-1996

<CASH>                                          1,470
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   9,144
<ALLOWANCES>                                      127
<INVENTORY>                                    20,082
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               34,372
<PP&E>                                         32,860
<DEPRECIATION>                                 16,145
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 64,091
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          14,072
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                          108
<OTHER-SE>                                     45,254
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   64,091
<SALES>                                        25,471
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               25,471
<CGS>                                          13,665
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  21,930
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                2,525
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                159
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   857
<INCOME-TAX>                                    1,449
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (592)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                     (592)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.05)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.05)