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

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 12, 2000


                              LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    000-23647
                            (Commission File Number)

          DELAWARE                                      77-0360183
 (State or other jurisdiction                        (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)                             Identification No.)

                                405 TASMAN DRIVE
                               SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
             (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)

                                 (408) 541-8787
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On January 12, 2000, LJL BioSystems, Inc. pre-announced fourth quarter
financial results. Further details regarding this announcement are contained in
the company's news release dated January 12, 2000 attached as an exhibit hereto
and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (a)   Exhibits:

               99.6 LJL BioSystems, Inc. News Release dated January 12, 2000







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                                   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.

                                                     LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.



Date:  January 12, 2000                              By: /s/  Lev J. Leytes
                                                        ------------------------
                                                          Lev J. Leytes
                                                          President and CEO







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