<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000932631 <NAME> OSTEX INTERNATIONAL, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 1,289 <SECURITIES> 19,940 <RECEIVABLES> 665 <ALLOWANCES> 25 <INVENTORY> 153 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 22,543 <PP&E> 3,573 <DEPRECIATION> 1,099 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,691 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,642 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 125 <OTHER-SE> 23,401 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25,691 <SALES> 2,860 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,947 <CGS> 926 <TOTAL-COSTS> 9,201 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 25 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,273 <INCOME-PRETAX> (8,070) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,070) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,070) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.65) <EPS-DILUTED> 0