<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CRYOLIFE,  INC. AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND
THE RELATED  UNAUDITED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME FOR THE THREE  MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31,  1997,  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000784199         
<NAME>                        CRYOLIFE, INC.
              
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                             192,000
<SECURITIES>                                        42,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,110,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                       131,000
<INVENTORY>                                      1,073,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                20,858,000
<PP&E>                                          18,533,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                   6,167,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  47,063,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            6,570,000
<BONDS>                                          5,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                           101,000
<OTHER-SE>                                      25,909,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    47,063,000
<SALES>                                            554,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                10,413,000
<CGS>                                              282,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    3,426,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,328,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    15,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 132,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,527,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                       575,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                575,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       575,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .10