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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors


      We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Experts" and to the use of our report dated
January 26, 1998, in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related
Prospectus of Coulter Pharmaceutical, Inc. for the registration of 2,300,000
shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated January 26, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Palo Alto, California
July 8, 1998