<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 1998 Annual Report of Dade Behring Inc. and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 25,800 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 401,200 <ALLOWANCES> 18,000 <INVENTORY> 265,900 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 729,300 <PP&E> 532,700 <DEPRECIATION> 228,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,533,400 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 468,500 <BONDS> 350,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 249,300 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,533,400 <SALES> 1,285,200 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,285,200 <CGS> 529,400 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,132,400 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (5,600) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 80,500 <INCOME-PRETAX> 77,900 <INCOME-TAX> 34,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 43,500 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 43,500 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0