<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000932631 <NAME> OSTEX INTERNATIONAL, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 1,681 <SECURITIES> 20,660 <RECEIVABLES> 2,419 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 161 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 24,921 <PP&E> 3,354 <DEPRECIATION> 967 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 27,983 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,244 <BONDS> 565 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 125 <OTHER-SE> 26,174 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 27,983 <SALES> 3,300 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,300 <CGS> 682 <TOTAL-COSTS> 7,101 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,013 <INCOME-PRETAX> (5,267) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5,267) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,267) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.42) <EPS-DILUTED> 0