EXHIBIT 11

                   MERIDIAN DIAGNOSTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                    Computation of Earnings Per Common Share
                         Period Ended December 31, 1996


                                          Weighted Avg.                 Earnings
                                            Number of                     Per
                                          Common Shares       Net        Common
                                           Outstanding      Income        Share         Use
                                           -----------      ------        -----         ---


                                                                            
QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996:

  Shares outstanding October 1, 1996        14,278,578     $   -        $    -           $ -

  Weighted average shares issued                 2,076         -             -             -
          during the period
          (5,890 shares)

  Net Income                                         -     842,746           -             -

                                            14,280,654     842,746          .059        .06


  Effect of outstanding stock options
         (767,477 shares)                      454,571           -          -

Primary earnings per common share           14,735,225     842,746          .057        $.06


Additional effect of stock options
   at quarter end stock price                   75,540           -           -

                                            14,810,765    $842,746         $.057
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