SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 ---------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                 Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                November 2, 2004
           ----------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                                     CEPHEID
           ----------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

       California                   000-0030755                  77-0441625
- ------------------------      ------------------------       -------------------
(State of incorporation)      (Commission file number)        (I.R.S. Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

                               904 Caribbean Drive
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94089
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          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (408) 541-4191
           ----------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

|_|   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

|_|   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 2.02: Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The  information  in this  report  and the  exhibit  attached  hereto  are being
furnished  pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall they be
deemed  incorporated by reference in any filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  under  the  Securities  Act of 1934 or the  Securities  Act of 1933,
except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing.

On November 2, 2004,  Cepheid  issued a press release  announcing  its financial
results for the quarter and nine  months  ended  September  30, 2004 and certain
other  information.  The press  release is  attached  to this  report as Exhibit
99.01.

Item 9.01: Financial Statements and Exhibits.

            (c)   Exhibits.

Number            Description
- ------            -----------

99.01             Press release dated November 2, 2004



                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                  CEPHEID

Date: November 2, 2004                        By: /S/ JOHN L. BISHOP
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Name:  John L. Bishop
                                                  Title: Chief Executive Officer



                                  Exhibit Index

Number                Description
- ------                -----------

99.01    Press Release dated November 2, 2004.