10-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM 10-K
X	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
	SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the year ended December 31, 2008
OR
	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
	SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from					to
Commission file number 1-7928
BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware						94-1381833
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)						(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1000 Alfred Nobel Drive, Hercules, California						94547
(Address of principal executive offices)						(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code			(510) 724-7000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
				Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class				on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock Par Value $0.0001 per share				New York Stock Exchange
Class B Common Stock Par Value $0.0001 per share				New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
								[ X ]    Yes	[    ]    No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
								[    ]     Yes	[ X ]   No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.								[ X ]    Yes	[    ]    No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or
any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [    ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(Check one):
Large accelerated filer    [  X  ]		Accelerated filer   [    ]					Non-accelerated filer      [    ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
								[    ]     Yes	[ X ]   No
As of June 30, 2008, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the
Registrant’s Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $1,487,138,626 and the aggregate market value of the registrant’s
Class B Common Stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $39,900,219.
As of February 17, 2009, there were 22,185,629 shares of Class A Common Stock and 5,134,698 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

	Document	Form 10-K Parts
(1)	Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year
	ended December 31, 2008 (specified portions)	I, II, IV
(2)	Definitive Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders
	in connection with the registrant's 2009 Annual Meeting
	of Stockholders (specified portions)	III

P A R T I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

Founded in 1952 and incorporated in 1957, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (referred to in this report as “Bio-Rad,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) was initially engaged in the development and produc­tion of specialty chemicals used in biochemical, pharmaceutical and other life science research applications.  In 1967, Bio-Rad entered the field of clinical diagnostics with the development of its first test kit based on separation techniques and materials developed for life science research.  Bio-Rad expanded into the field of analytical and measuring instrument systems through internal research and development efforts and acquisitions in the late 1970's and 1980's.  In 1999, Bio-Rad acquired the stock of Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics and the rights to certain ancillary assets.  This strengthened our position in the HIV and infectious disease diagnostic product market.  In 2000 and 2004, Bio-Rad divested its semiconductor, optoelectronic metrology and confocal microscopy product lines.  In late 2007, we acquired 77.7% of the registered shares or 85.96% of the outstanding shares of DiaMed Holding AG.  During 2008, we acquired additional shares of DiaMed, bringing our total ownership percentage to 93.46% at December 31, 2008.  These acquisitions have enhanced our position in the immunohematology market.

As Bio-Rad broadened its product lines, it also expanded its geographical market. Bio-Rad has distribution channels in over thirty countries outside the United States through subsidiaries whose primary focus is customer service and product distribution.

Bio-Rad manufactures and supplies the life science research, healthcare, analytical chemistry and other markets with a broad range of products and systems used to separate complex chemical and biological materials and to identify, analyze and purify their components.

Description of Business

Business Segments

Today, Bio-Rad operates in two industry segments designated as Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics.  Both segments operate worldwide.  For a description of business and financial information on industry and geographic segments, see Note 14 on pages 30 through 33 of Exhibit 13.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Life Science Segment

Life science is the study of the characteristics, behavior, and structure of living organisms and their component systems.  Life science researchers use a variety of products and systems-- including reagents, instruments, software and apparatus-- to advance the study of life processes, drug discovery, biotechnology and food pathogen testing, primarily within a laboratory setting.

We focus on selected segments of the life science market which we estimate to be approximately $4 billion.  The primary technological applications that we supply to these segments consist of electrophoresis, image analysis, molecular detection, chromatography, gene transfer, sample preparation and amplification. The primary end-users in our sectors of the market are universities and medical schools, industrial research organizations, government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology researchers and food testing laboratories.

2

Clinical Diagnostics Segment

The global clinical diagnostic market is estimated to be approximately $35 billion in 2008 and growing at four to five percent annually.  We estimate the worldwide clinical diagnostics segment in which we participate to be approximately $10 billion.  The market encompasses a broad array of technologies incorporated into a variety of products used to detect, identify, monitor and quantify substances in patient and donor blood or other bodily fluids and tissues.  The vast majority of these tests are performed "in vitro" (outside the body).  The information generated by these tests helps physicians diagnose disease and guide patient therapy and treatment, all of which helps improve patient care.  It is estimated that diagnostic testing influences nearly seventy percent of patient care decisions made by doctors while comprising less than five percent of total healthcare costs.

The market is split into several sub segments consisting of clinical chemistry, immunoassay, microbiology, hematology, molecular, coagulation, blood banking and blood typing.  Bio-Rad has significant positions in blood virus testing (blood banking and immunoassay); immunohematology (blood typing); hemoglobin A1c testing for diabetes monitoring (clinical chemistry and immunoassay); autoimmune disease testing (immunoassay); and quality control (crossing all sub segments).

Consumers of clinical diagnostic products are hospital laboratories, reference laboratories, physician office laboratories, government agencies, and diagnostic manufacturers.  Purchasing decisions are normally based on improving the healthcare of patients, improving laboratory efficiency, and reducing overall costs.  Bio-Rad's products and services generally meet or exceed these criteria leading to strong customer loyalty and recurring revenue exceeding eighty percent of total sales.

Raw Materials and Components

We utilize a wide variety of chemicals, biological materials, electronic components, machined metal parts, optical parts, minicomputers and peripheral devices.  Most of these materials and components are available from numerous sources and we have not experienced difficulty in securing adequate supplies.

Patents and Trademarks

We own numerous U.S. and international patents and patent licenses.  We believe, however, that our ability to develop and manufacture our products depends primarily on our knowledge, technology and special skills.  We pay royalties on the sales of certain products under several patent license agreements.  We view these patents and license agreements as valuable assets.

Seasonal Operations and Backlog

Our business is not inherently seasonal.  However, the European custom of concentrating vacation during the summer months usually tempers third quarter sales volume and operating income.

For the most part, we operate in markets characterized by short lead times and the absence of significant backlogs.  Management has concluded that backlog information is not material to our business as a whole.

3

Sales and Marketing

Each of Bio-Rad's segments maintains a sales force to sell its products on a direct basis.  Each sales force is technically trained in the disciplines associated with its products.  Sales are also generated through direct mail advertising, exhibits at trade shows and technical meetings, telemarketing, e-commerce and by extensive advertising in technical and trade publications.  Sales and marketing efforts are augmented by technical service departments that assist customers in effective product utilization and in new product applications.  We also produce and distribute technical literature and hold seminars for customers on the use of our products.

Our customer base is broad and diversified.  In 2008, no single customer accounted for more than 2% of our total net sales.  Our sales are affected by certain external factors.  For example, a number of our customers, particularly in the Life Science segment, are substantially dependent on government grants and research contracts for their funding.  A significant reduction of government funding would have a detrimental effect on the results of this segment.

Most of our international sales are generated by our wholly-owned subsidiaries and their branch offices.  Certain of these subsidiaries also have manufacturing facilities.  Bio-Rad’s international operations are subject to certain risks common to foreign operations in general, such as changes in governmental regulations, import restrictions and foreign exchange fluctuations.  However, our international operations are principally in developed nations, which we regard as presenting no significantly greater risks to our operations than are present in the United States.

Competition

The markets served by our product groups are highly competitive.  Our competitors range in size from start-ups to large multinational corporations with significant resources and reach.  Reliable independent information on sales and market share of products produced by our competitors is not generally available. We believe, however, based on our own estimates, no one company is so dominant that it prevents other companies, including Bio-Rad, from competing effectively.  We compete mainly in market segments where our products and technology offer customers specific advantages over the competition.  We tend to avoid head to head competition against entrenched competitors with me-too products.

Because of the breadth of its product lines, the Life Science segment does not face the same competitors for all of its products.  Competitors in this market include GE Biosciences, Qiagen, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Life Technologies.  We compete primarily based on meeting performance specifications.

Major competitors in the clinical diagnostic segment include Roche, Abbott Laboratories (Diagnostic Division), Siemens Medical Diagnostics Solutions (formerly Dade-Behring, Diagnostics Products Corporation, and Bayer Diagnostics), Beckman Coulter, Becton-Dickinson, bioMérieux, Johnson & Johnson (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics), Thermo Fisher, Tosoh, Immucor, Cepheid, and DiaSorin.

4

Product Research and Development

We conduct extensive product research and development activities in all areas of our business, employing approximately 790 people worldwide in these activities.  Research and development have played a major role in Bio-Rad's growth and are expected to continue to do so in the future.  Our research teams are continuously developing new products and new applications for existing products.  In our development and testing of new products and applications, we consult with scientific and medical professionals at universities, hospitals and medical schools, and in industry.  Excluding in-process research and development, we spent approximately $159.5 million, $140.5 million, and $123.4 million on research and development activities during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Regulatory Matters

The manufacturing, marketing and labeling of certain of our products (primarily diagnostic products) are subject to regulation in the United States by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in other jurisdictions by state and foreign government authorities.  FDA regulations require that some new products have pre-marketing approval by the FDA and require certain products to be manufactured in accordance with “good manufacturing practices,” to be extensively tested and to be properly labeled to disclose test results and performance claims and limitations.

As a multinational manufacturer and distributor of sophisticated instrumentation equipment, we must meet a wide array of electromagnetic compatibility and safety compliance requirements to satisfy regulations in the United States, the European Community and other jurisdictions.  These requirements relating to testing and trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary widely among countries.

Our operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations that govern such activities as transportation of goods, emissions to air and discharges to water, as well as handling and disposal practices for solid, hazardous and medical wastes.  In addition to environmental laws that regulate our operations, we are also subject to environmental laws and regulations that create liabilities and clean-up responsibility for spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous substances into the environment as a result of our operations or otherwise impacting real property that we own or operate.  The environmental laws and regulations could also subject us to claims by third parties for damages resulting from any spills, disposals or releases resulting from our operations or at any of our properties.

Employees

At December 31, 2008, Bio-Rad had approximately 6,600 full-time employees.  Fewer than 8% of Bio-Rad's approximately 2,830 U. S. employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement which will expire on November 7, 2009.  Many of Bio-Rad's non-U.S. full-time employees, especially in France, are covered by collective bargaining agreements.  Bio-Rad considers its employee relations in general to be good.

Available Information

Bio-Rad files annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549.  The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  Also, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including Bio-Rad, that file electronically with the SEC.  The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

5

Bio-Rad’s website address is www.bio-rad.com.  We make available, free of charge through our website, our Form 10-Ks, 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and any amendments to these forms, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Adverse changes in general domestic and worldwide economic conditions and instability and disruption of

credit markets could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition, or liquidity.

Recent global market and economic conditions have been unprecedented and challenging with tighter credit conditions and recession in most major economies expected to continue into 2009.  Continued concerns about the systemic impact of potential long-term and wide-spread recession, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, and the global housing and mortgage markets have contributed to increased market volatility and diminished expectations for western and emerging economies.  In the second half of 2008, added concerns fueled by the U.S.  government conservatorship of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association, the declared bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the U.S. government financial assistance to American International Group Inc., Citibank, Bank of America and other federal government interventions in the U.S. financial system lead to increased market u ncertainty and instability in both U.S. and international capital and credit markets.  These conditions, combined with volatile oil prices, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have contributed to volatility of unprecedented levels.

As a result of these market conditions, the cost and availability of credit has been and may continue to be adversely affected by illiquid credit markets and wider credit spreads.  Concern about the stability of the markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically has led many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease to provide credit to businesses and consumers.  These factors have lead to a decrease in spending by businesses and consumers alike.  Our customers and vendors may experience cash flow concerns and, as a result, customers may modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase our products and vendors may increase their prices, reduce their output or change terms of sales. Additionally, if customers’ or vendors’ operating and financial performance deteriorates, or if they are unable to make scheduled payments or obtain credit, customers may not be able to pay, or may delay payment of, amounts owed to us and vendors may restrict credit or impose different payment terms. Any inability of current and/or potential customers to pay us for our products or any demands by vendors for different payment terms may adversely affect our earnings and cash flow.  Additionally, strengthening of the U.S. dollar associated with the global financial crisis may adversely affect the results of our international operations when those results are translated into U.S. dollars. Furthermore, the disruption in the credit markets could impede our access to capital, which could be further adversely affected if we are unable to maintain our current credit ratings. Should we have limited access to additional financing sources, we may need to defer capital expenditures or seek other sources of liquidity, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.  Continued turbulence in the U.S. and international markets and economies and prolonged declines in business consumer spending may adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, and the liquidity and financial condition of our customers, including our ability to refinance maturing liabilities and access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.

6

We cannot assure you that we will be able to integrate acquired companies, products or technologies into our

company successfully, or we may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisitions.

As part of our overall business strategy, we pursue acquisitions of and investments in complementary companies, products and technologies.  In order to be successful in these activities, we must, among other things:

·	assimilate the operations and personnel of acquired companies;
·	retain acquired business customers;
·	minimize potential disruption to our ongoing business;
·	retain key technical and management personnel;
·	integrate acquired companies into our strategic and financial plans;
·	accurately assess the value of target companies, products and technologies;
·	comply with new regulatory requirements;
·	harmonize standards, controls, procedures and policies;
·	minimize the impact to our relationships with our employees and customers; and
·	assess, document and remediate any deficiencies in disclosure controls and
	procedures and internal controls over financial reporting.

The benefits of any acquisition may prove to be less than anticipated and may not outweigh the costs reported in our financial statements.  Completing any potential future acquisition could cause significant diversion of our management’s time and resources.  If we acquire new companies, products or technologies, we may be required to assume contingent liabilities or record impairment charges for goodwill and other intangible assets over time.  We cannot assure you that we will successfully overcome these risks or any other problems we encounter in connection with any acquisitions, and any such acquisitions could adversely affect our business, financial position or operating results.

The industries and market segments in which we operate are highly competitive, and we may not be able to

compete effectively with larger companies with greater financial resources than we have.

The life science and clinical diagnostics markets are each highly competitive.  Some of our competitors have greater financial resources than we do and are less leveraged than we are, making them better equipped to license technologies and intellectual property from third parties or to fund research and development, manufacturing and marketing efforts.  Moreover, competitive and regulatory conditions in many markets in which we operate restrict our ability to fully recover, through price increases, higher costs of acquired goods and services resulting from inflation and other drivers of cost increases.  Our competitors can be expected to continue to improve the design and performance of their products and to introduce new products with competitive price and performance characteristics. Maintaining these advantages will require us to continue to invest in research and development, sales and marketing and customer service and support.  We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient resources to continue to make such investments or that we will be successful in maintaining such advantages.  

We have significant international operations which subject us to various foreign risks such as general

economic and market conditions in the countries in which we operate.

A significant portion of our sales are made outside of the United States.  Our foreign subsidiaries generated 70% of our net sales in the year ended December 31, 2008.  Our international operations are subject to risks common to foreign operations, such as general economic and market conditions in the countries in which we operate, changes in governmental regulations, political instability, import restrictions and currency exchange rate risks.  We cannot assure you that shifts in currency exchange rates, especially significant strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to the Euro, will not have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

7

We are dependent on government funding and the capital spending programs of our customers, and the effect

of potential healthcare reform on government funding and our customers’ ability to purchase our products is

uncertain.

Our customers include universities, clinical diagnostics laboratories, government agencies, hospitals and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemical companies.  The capital spending programs of these institutions and companies have a significant effect on the demand for our products.  Such policies are based on a wide variety of factors, including the resources available to make such purchases, the availability of funding from grants by governments or government agencies, the spending priorities among various types of equipment and the policies regarding capital expenditures during industry downturns or recessionary periods.  If government funding to our customers were to decrease, or if our customers were to decrease or reallocate their budgets in a manner adverse to us, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Healthcare reform and the growth of managed care organizations have been and continue to be significant factors in the clinical diagnostics market.  The trend towards managed care, together with efforts to reform the healthcare delivery system in the United States and Europe, has resulted in increased pressure on healthcare providers and other participants in the healthcare industry to reduce costs.  Consolidation among healthcare providers has resulted in fewer, more powerful groups, whose purchasing power gives them cost containment leverage.  These competitive

forces place constraints on the levels of overall pricing, and thus could have a material adverse effect on our profit margins for products we sell in clinical diagnostics markets.  To the extent that the healthcare industry seeks to address the need to contain costs by limiting the number of clinical tests being performed, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.  If these changes in the healthcare markets in the United States and Europe continue, we could be forced to alter our approach in selling, marketing, distributing and servicing our products.

Our failure to improve our product offerings and develop and introduce new products may negatively

impact our business.

Our future success depends on our ability to continue to improve our product offerings and develop and introduce new product lines and extensions that integrate new technological advances.  If we are unable to integrate technological advances into our product offerings or to design, develop, manufacture and market new product lines and extensions successfully and in a timely manner, our operating results will be adversely affected.  We cannot assure you that our product and process development efforts will be successful or that new products we introduce will achieve market acceptance.

If we experience a disruption of our information technology systems, or if we fail to successfully implement,  

manage and integrate our information technology and reporting systems, it could harm our business.

Our information technology (IT) systems are an integral part of our business, and a serious disruption of our IT systems could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.  We depend on our IT systems to process orders, manage inventory and collect accounts receivable.  Our IT systems also allow us to efficiently purchase products from our suppliers and ship products to our customers on a timely basis, maintain cost-effective operations and provide customer service.  We cannot assure you that our contingency plans will allow us to operate at our current level of efficiency.

8

Our ability to implement our business plan in a rapidly evolving market requires effective planning, reporting and analytical processes.  We expect that we will need to continue to improve and further integrate our IT systems, reporting systems and operating procedures by training and educating our employees with respect to these improvements and integrations on an ongoing basis in order to effectively run our business.  If we fail to successfully manage and integrate our IT, reporting systems and operating procedures, it could adversely affect our business or operating results.

Risks relating to intellectual property rights may negatively impact our business.

We rely on a combination of copyright, trade secret, patent and trademark laws and third-party nondisclosure agreements to protect our intellectual property rights and products.  However, we cannot assure you that our intellectual property rights will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable, or that meaningful protection or adequate remedies will be available to us.  For instance, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy our intellectual property, to reverse engineer or obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary, or to develop equivalent technologies independently.  Additionally, third parties may assert patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to us.  If we are unable to license or otherwise access protected technology used in our products, or if we lose our rights under any existing licenses, we could be prohibited from manufacturing and marketing such p roducts.  We may find it necessary to enforce our patents or other intellectual property rights or to defend ourselves against claimed infringement of the rights of others through litigation, which could result in substantial costs to us and divert our resources.  We also could incur substantial costs to redesign our products, to defend any legal action taken against us or to pay damages to an infringed party.  The foregoing matters could adversely impact our business.

We are subject to substantial government regulation.

Some of our products (primarily diagnostic products), production processes and marketing are subject to federal, state, local and foreign regulation, including the FDA and its foreign counterparts.  We are also subject to government regulation of the use and handling of a number of materials and controlled substances.  Failure to comply with present or future regulations could result in substantial liability to us, suspension or cessation of our operations, restrictions on our ability to expand at our present locations or require us to make significant capital expenditures or incur other significant expenses.

We are currently subject to environmental regulations and enforcement proceedings.

Our operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations that govern such activities as transportation of goods, emissions to air and discharges to water, as well as handling and disposal practices for solid, hazardous and medical wastes.  In addition to environmental laws that regulate our operations, we are also subject to environmental laws and regulations that create liability and clean-up responsibility for spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous substances into the environment as a result of our operations or otherwise impacting real property that we own or operate.  The environmental laws and regulations also subject us to claims by third parties for damages resulting from any spills, disposals or releases resulting from our operations or at any of our properties.

9

We may in the future incur capital and operating costs to comply with currently existing laws and regulations, and possible new statutory enactments, and these expenditures may be significant.  We have incurred, and may in the future incur, fines related to environmental matters and liability for costs or damages related to spills or other releases of hazardous substances into the environment at sites where we have operated, or at off-site locations where we have sent hazardous substances for disposal.  In that regard, we currently are investigating soil and groundwater contamination at one of our properties under the oversight of a state agency.  Based on the currently available information, we believe that the costs to clean up this contamination will not have a material adverse effect on the future results of our operations or our financial condition.  We can provide no assurance, however, that such matters or any future obligations to comply with environment al laws and regulations will not have a material impact on our operations or financial condition.

Loss of key personnel could hurt our business.

Our products and services are highly technical in nature.  In general, only highly qualified and trained scientists have the necessary skills to develop and market our products and provide our services.  In addition, some of our manufacturing positions are highly technical.  We face intense competition for these professionals from our competitors, customers, marketing partners and other companies throughout our industry.  We generally do not enter into employment agreements requiring these employees to continue in our employment for any period of time.  Any failure on our part to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified personnel could substantially damage our business.  Additionally, if we were to lose a sufficient number of our research and development scientists and were unable to replace them or satisfy our needs for research and development through outsourcing, it could adversely affect our business.

A significant majority of our voting stock is held by the Schwartz family, which could lead to conflicts of

interest.

We have two classes of voting stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.  With a few exceptions, holders of Class A and Class B Common Stock vote as a single class.  When voting as a single class, each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one-tenth of a vote, while each share of Class B Common Stock has one vote.  In the election or removal of directors, the classes vote separately and the holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to elect 25% of the Board of Directors, with holders of Class B Common Stock electing the remaining directors.

As of February 17, 2009, the Schwartz family collectively held approximately 16% of our Class A Common Stock and 90% of our Class B Common Stock.  As a result, the Schwartz family is able to elect a majority of the directors, effect fundamental changes in our direction and control matters affecting us, including the allocation of business opportunities that may be suitable for our company.  In addition, this concentration of ownership and voting power may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company.

The Schwartz family may exercise its control over us according to interests that are different from other investors’ or debtors’ interests.

10

Our business could be adversely impacted if we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures

or internal control over financial reporting.

The design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting may not prevent all errors, misstatements or misrepresentations.  We cannot assure you that our disclosure controls and procedures over internal control of financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives all of the time.  Deficiencies, particularly a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting, which may occur in the future could result in misstatements of our results of operations, restatements of our financial statements, a decline in our stock price, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operation, financial condition or liquidity.

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks or acts of war may cause damage or disruption to us and our employees,

facilities, information systems, security systems, vendors and customers, which could significantly impact our

net sales, costs and expenses, and financial condition.

We have significant manufacturing and distribution facilities located in Southern and Northern California.  California has experienced a number of earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, landslides and other natural disasters in recent years.  The occurrences could damage or destroy our facilities which may result in interruptions to our business and losses that exceed our insurance coverage.  Terrorist attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, have contributed to economic instability in the United States, and further acts of terrorism, bioterrorism, violence or war could affect the markets in which we operate, our business operations, our expectations and other forward-looking statements contained or incorporated in this document.  Any of these events could cause a decrease in our revenue, earnings and cash flows.

We may incur losses in future periods due to write-downs in the value of financial instruments.

We have positions in a variety of financial instruments including asset backed securities and other similar instruments. Financial markets are quite volatile and the markets for these securities can be illiquid. The value of these securities will continue to be impacted by external market factors including default rates, changes in the value of the underlying property, such as residential or commercial real estate, rating agency actions, the prices at which observable market transactions occur and the financial strength of various entities, such as financial guarantors who provide insurance for the securities. Should we need to liquidate these positions for cash, our ability to sell these instruments without significant losses may also be limited by the market environment.

We have substantial debt and have the ability to incur additional debt.  The principal and interest payment

obligations of such debt may restrict our future operations and impair our ability to meet our obligations

under our notes.

As of December 31, 2008 we and our subsidiaries have approximately $453.1 million of outstanding indebtedness.  In addition, the indenture governing our notes permits us to incur additional debt provided we comply with the limitation on the incurrence of additional indebtedness and disqualified capital stock covenants contained in the indenture.

The following chart shows certain important credit statistics.

	At December 31, 2008
	(in millions)
Total debt	$ 453.1
Stockholders’ equity	$1,040.7
Debt to equity ratio	0.4

11

The incurrence of substantial amounts of debt may have important consequences.  For instance, it could:

·	make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations, including those relating to the notes;
·	require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of interest and
	principal due under our debt, including the notes, which will reduce funds available for other business
	purposes;
·	increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
·	limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we
	operate;
·	place us at a competitive disadvantage compared with some of our competitors that have less debt; and
·	limit our ability to obtain additional financing required to fund working capital and capital expenditures and
	for other general corporate purposes.

Our ability to satisfy our obligations and to reduce our total debt depends on our future operating performance and on economic, financial, competitive and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.  Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow, and future financings may not be available to provide sufficient net proceeds, to meet these obligations or to successfully execute our business strategy.

The agreements governing our debt impose restrictions on our business.

The indenture governing our notes and the terms of other debt instruments, including without limitation our credit facilities and other agreements we may enter in the future, contain or will contain covenants imposing significant restrictions on our business.  These restrictions may affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise.  These covenants place restrictions on our ability to, among other things:

·	incur additional debt;
·	acquire other businesses or assets through merger or purchase;
·	create liens;
·	make investments;
·	enter into transactions with affiliates;
·	sell assets;
·	in the case of some of our subsidiaries, guarantee debt; and
·	declare or pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions to
	shareholders.

Our existing credit facility also requires that we meet certain financial tests and maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio test, minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio test and a minimum net worth test.

Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions.  The breach of any of these restrictions could result in a default.  An event of default under our debt agreements would permit some of our lenders to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest.  If we were unable to repay debt to our senior secured lenders, these lenders could proceed against the collateral securing that debt.  The collateral is substantially all of our personal property assets, the assets of our domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of certain foreign subsidiaries.  In addition, acceleration of our other indebtedness may cause us to be unable to make interest payments on our notes and repay the principal amount of the notes or may cause the future subsidiary guarantors, if any, to be unable to make payments under the g uarantees.

12

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

We own our corporate headquarters located in Hercules, California.  The principal manufacturing and research locations for each segment are as follows:

Segment	Location	Owned/Leased
Life Science	Richmond, California	Owned/Leased
	Hercules, California	Owned/Leased
	Riom, France	Owned/Leased
	Singapore	Leased
Clinical
Diagnostics	Hercules, California	Owned/Leased
	Irvine, California	Leased
	Greater Seattle area, Washington	Owned/Leased
	Plano, Texas	Leased
	Lille, France	Owned
	Greater Paris area, France	Leased
	Nazareth-Eke, Belgium	Leased
	Cressier, Switzerland	Owned/Leased

Most manufacturing and research facilities also house administration, sales and distribution activities.  In addition, we lease office and warehouse facilities in a variety of locations around the world.  The facilities are used principally for sales, service, distribution and administration for both segments.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Note 13, “Legal Proceedings,” appearing on page 30 of Exhibit 13.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of Bio-Rad’s security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

13

P A R T II

ITEM 5.	MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER
	MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Information Concerning Common Stock

Bio-Rad’s Class A and Class B Common Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbols BIO and BIO.B, respectively.  The following sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices for our Class A and Class B Common Stock.

	Class A		Class B
	High	Low	High	Low
2008
Fourth Quarter	99.26	61.52	97.00	62.14
Third Quarter	108.10	78.12	108.09	78.05
Second Quarter	92.27	78.08	92.00	78.75
First Quarter	100.65	84.81	100.78	85.49
2007
Fourth Quarter	107.57	90.68	107.92	91.80
Third Quarter	91.53	74.16	90.67	73.67
Second Quarter	75.57	68.81	74.75	68.75
First Quarter	87.64	67.67	87.25	67.49

On February 17, 2009, we had 575 holders of record of Class A Common Stock and 171 holders of record of Class B Common Stock.  Bio-Rad has never paid a cash dividend and has no present plans to pay cash dividends.

See Item 12 for the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and for securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The table headed “Summary of Operations and Selected Financial Data” appearing on page 1 of Exhibit 13.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
	AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The section headed “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” appearing on pages 36 through 48 of Exhibit 13.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

14

ITEM 7A.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
	ABOUT MARKET RISK

The section headed “Financial Risk Management” appearing on pages 46 and 47 of Exhibit 13.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm appearing on pages 2 through 35 of Exhibit 13.1 are incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.	CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
	ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, Bio-Rad carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to Bio-Rad is made known to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  Our internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of our financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

An internal control system over financial reporting has inherent limitations and may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

15

Management has used the framework set forth in the report entitled “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of Bio-Rad’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008.  Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008 to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  We reviewed the results of management’s assessment with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. for the three years ended December 31, 2008 and has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of Bio-Rad’s internal control over financial reporting, as stated in their report.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Part of the information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from portions of Bio-Rad’s definitive proxy statement to be mailed to stockholders in connection with our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2009 Proxy Statement”) under “Election of Directors,” “Committees of the Board of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.”

Bio-Rad’s Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Ruediger Naumann-Etienne and Mr. Louis Drapeau are “audit committee financial experts,” as defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K.  Mr. Naumann-Etienne and Mr. Drapeau are also “independent” directors, as determined in accordance with the independence standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

We have adopted a code of business ethics and conduct that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, controller and all other employees.  We will provide a copy of the code of ethics to any person, without charge, upon request, by writing to us at “Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Investor Relations, 1000 Alfred Nobel Drive, Hercules, CA  94547.”

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from portions of the 2009 Proxy Statement under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Summary Compensation Table,” “Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End,” “Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table,” “Pension Benefits,” “Nonqualified Defined Contribution and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans,” “Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control,” “Director Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.”  In addition, the information from a portion of the 2009 Proxy Statement under “Compensation Committee Report” is incorporated herein by reference and furnished on this Form 10-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, nor s hall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

16

ITEM 12.	SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
	AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Part of the information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from a portion of the 2009 Proxy Statement under “Principal and Management Stockholders.”

Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights	Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights	Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
	(a)	(b)	(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)	1,303,794	$ 46.52	1,657,970  (2)
Equity compensation  plans not approved by stockholders	--	--	--
Total	1,303,794	$ 46.52	1,657,970

(1)	Consists of the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan, the 2003 Stock Option Plan of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 2007 Incentive Award Plan and the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Amended and Restated 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(2)	Consists of 1,320,341 shares available under the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 2007 Incentive Award Plan and 337,629 shares available for issuance under the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Amended and Restated 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from portions of the 2009 Proxy Statement under “Transactions with Related Persons” and “Committees of the Board of Directors.”

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information required to be furnished by this item is incorporated by reference from a portion of the 2009 Proxy Statement under “Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.”

17

P A R T  IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) 1.	Index to Financial Statements
	The following Consolidated Financial Statements are included in Exhibit 13.1 and
	are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 8:
		Page in
		Exhibit 13.1
	Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007	2-3
	Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years
	in the period ended December 31, 2008	4
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the
	three years in the period ended December 31, 2008	5
	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
	for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008	6
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	7-33
	Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	34-35
2.	Index to Financial Statement Schedule
		Page in
		Form 10-K
	Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	19
	Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	20
All other financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not required or the required information is
included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.
3.	Index to Exhibits
The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits on pages 21 through 26 of this report are filed or
incorporated by reference as part of this report.

18

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

(In thousands)

Reserve for doubtful accounts receivable

	Balance at	Additions
	Beginning	Charged to Costs			Balance at
	of Year	and Expenses	Deductions	Other (A)	End of Year
2008	$ 21,410	$ 7,602	$ (9,472)	$      27	$  19,567
2007	$ 15,265	$ 3,925	$ (3,227)	$ 5,447	$  21,410
2006	$ 13,301	$ 1,931	$    (537)	$    570	$  15,265

(A)  Due to acquisitions.

Valuation allowance for current and long-term deferred tax assets

	Balance at		Deductions
	Beginning		Charged to Costs		Balance at
	of Year	Additions	and Expenses	Other (B)	End of Year
2008	$ 31,119	$ 10,570	$ (1,026)	--	$ 40,663
2007	$ 26,494	$   9,079	$ (5,551)	$ 1,097	$ 31,119
2006	$ 17,737	$   6,102	$ (1,770)	$ 4,425	$ 26,494

(B)  Due to acquisitions.

19

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Hercules, California

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, and have issued our report thereon dated February 25, 2009 (which report on the financial statements expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph concerning the adoption of a new accounting standard in 2007); such report is included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.  Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedule of the Company listed in Item 15(a)2.  This consolidated financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits.  In our opinion, s uch consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

San Francisco, California 

February 25, 2009 

20

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
By:	/s/ Sanford S. Wadler
	Sanford S. Wadler
	Secretary
Date:	February 26, 2009

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Principal Executive Officer:
/s/ Norman Schwartz	President and Director	February 26, 2009
(Norman Schwartz)
Principal Financial Officer
/s/ Christine A. Tsingos	Vice President,
(Christine A. Tsingos)	Chief Financial Officer	February 26, 2009
Principal Accounting Officer
/s/ James R. Stark	Corporate Controller	February 26, 2009
(James R. Stark)
Other Directors:
/s/ James J. Bennett	Director	February 26, 2009
(James J. Bennett)
/s/ Louis Drapeau	Director	February 26, 2009
(Louis Drapeau)
/s/ Albert J. Hillman	Director	February 26, 2009
(Albert J. Hillman)
	Director
(Ruediger Naumann-Etienne)
/s/ Alice N. Schwartz	Director	February 26, 2009
(Alice N. Schwartz)
/s/ David Schwartz	Director	February 26, 2009
(David Schwartz)

21

	BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC. INDEX TO EXHIBITS ITEM 15(a)3
Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 are furnished herewith and should not be deemed to be “filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.”
Exhibit No.
2.1	Share Purchase Agreement as of May 14, 2007 by and among Bio-Rad Laboratories,
	Inc. and certain selling shareholders regarding the purchase of 77.6765% of the equity
	of DiaMed Holding AG. (17)
3.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as of February 8, 2002. (1)
3.1.1	Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
	Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., as of May 6, 2004. (2)
3.2	Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended February 19,1980. (3)
4.1	Credit Agreement dated as of September 9, 2003 among Bio-Rad
	Laboratories, Inc., the lenders, Bank One, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
	Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Union Bank of California, N.A., as
	Syndication Agents and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and BNP Paribas, as
	Documentation Agents. (4)
4.1.1	Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of December 8, 2004
	among Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., the lenders referred to herein,
	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA
	(Illinois)), as lender and Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and
	Union Bank of California, N.A., as Syndication Agents and ABN AMRO
	Bank N.V. and BNP Paribas, as Documentation agents. (5)
4.1.2	Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
	September 27, 2007 among Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., the lenders referred to herein,
	and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA (Main Office
	Chicago), as lender and contractual representative. (18)
4.2	Pledge Amendment dated as of September 9, 2003 among Bio-Rad
	Laboratories, Inc., and Bank One, N.A., as contractual representative. (4)
4.3	Security Agreement dated as of September 9, 2003 among Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.,
	as Grantor and Bank One N.A., as Administrative Agent. (4)
4.4	Indenture dated as of August 11, 2003 for 7.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
	among Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., as Issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as
	Trustee. (4)

22

4.5	The Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 11, 2003 for
	7.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. (4)
4.6	Indenture dated as of December 21, 2004, between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
	and Wells Fargo National Bank, as trustee. (6)
10.1	Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2005, by and among
	Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., the lenders referred to therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
	(successor by merger to Bank One, NA(Main Office Chicago)), as a lender
	and administrative agent,Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Union Bank of California N.A.,
	as syndication agents and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and BNP Paribas, as
	documentation agents. (7)
10.1.1	Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. (8)
10.2	Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2005, between
	Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (successor by
	merger to Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago)), as administrative agent. (7)
10.3	Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2005, between
	Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (successor by merger to
	Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago)), as administrative agent. (7)
10.4	1994 Stock Option Plan. (9)
10.4.1	Amendment to the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan
	dated April 28, 1998. (10)
10.4.2	Second Amendment to the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan
	dated December 6, 1999. (10)
10.4.3	Third Amendment to the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan
	dated September 19, 2000. (10)
10.4.4	Fourth Amendment to the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan
	dated April 25, 2001. (11)
10.5	Amended and Restated 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (12)
10.5.1	Amendment to the Amended 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (11)
10.6	Employees’ Deferred Profit Sharing Retirement Plan (Amended and Restated
	effective January 1, 1997). (13)
10.7	2003 Stock Option Plan. (14)

23

10.7.1	Amendment to the 2003 Stock Option Plan of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (19)
10.8	2007 Incentive Award Plan (21)
10.10	Non-competition and employment continuation agreement with
	James J. Bennett. (15)
10.13	Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of August 16, 2004 by and between Bio-Rad,
	MJ GeneWorks, Incorporated, Michael J. Finney and John D. Finney, excluding
	exhibits and schedules.  Pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2), the exhibits and
	schedules to this agreement have not been filed.  We agree to furnish supplementally
	a copy of any omitted exhibits or schedules to the SEC upon request.  We have
	requested confidential treatment of certain portions of this agreement. (16)
10.14	Connecticut Settlement Agreement dated as of February 9, 2006 by and between
	Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., MJ Research, Inc., and Applera Corporation, through its
	Applied Biosystems Group. (16)
10.15	Real-Time Settlement Agreement dated as of February 9, 2006 by and between
	Bio-Rad Laboratoreis, Inc., MJ Research Inc., and Applera Corporation, through
	its Applied Biosystems Group. (16)
10.15.1	Amendment No. 1 to Real-Time Settlement Agreement dated as of May 4, 2007 by and
	between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., MJ Research, Inc. and Applera Corporation,
	through its Applied Biosystems Group.(20)
10.16	Amended and Restated Thermal Cycler Supplier Agreement dated as of February 9,
	2006 by and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., MJ Research, Inc. and Applera
	Corporation, through its Applied Biosystems Group. (16)
10.17	Real-Time Instrument Patent License Agreement dated as of February 9, 2006, by
	and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., MJ Research, Inc., and Applera
	Corporation through its Applied Biosystems Group. (16)
10.17.1	Amendment No. 1 to Real-Time Patent License Agreement dated as of May 4, 2007
	by and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., MJ Research, Inc. and Applera
	Corporation through its Applied Biosystems Group.(20)
13.1	Excerpt from Annual Report to Stockholders’ for the fiscal year ended
	December 31, 2008 (to be deemed filed only to the extent required by the
	instructions to exhibits for reports on Form 10-K).
21.1	Listing of Subsidiaries.
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a)
	(17CFR 240.13a-14(a)).

24

31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a)
	(17CFR 240.13a-14(a)).
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
	1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
	2002.
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
	1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
	2002.
(1)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 10-K filing for
	the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, dated March 28, 2002.
(2)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 10-K filing
	for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, dated March 3, 2005.
(3)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Registration
	Statement on Form S-7 Registration No. 2-66797, which became
	effective April 22, 1980.
(4)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form S-4 dated
	September 19, 2003.
(5)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 8-K filing dated
	December 14, 2004.
(6)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 8-K filing, dated
	December 22, 2004.
(7)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 8-K filing, dated
	June 24, 2005.
(8)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s September 30, 2005
	10-Q filing, dated November 8, 2005
(9)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form S-8 filing, dated
	April 29, 1994.
(10)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 10-K filing for
	the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, dated March 28, 2001.
(11)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s Form 10-K filing for
	the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, dated March 15, 2004.
(12)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s September 30, 1998,
	Form 10-Q filing, dated November 12, 1998.

25

(13)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s September 30, 1997,
	Form 10-Q filing, dated November 13, 1997.
(14)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s March 31, 2003,
	Form 10-Q filing, dated May 13, 2003.
(15)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s December 31, 1996
	Form 10-K filing, dated March 27,1997.
(16)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s March 31, 2006
	Form 10-Q filing, dated May 9, 2006.
(17)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s May 14, 2007 Form 8-K
	filing, dated May 14, 2007.
(18)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s September 27, 2007
	Form 8-K filing, dated October 3, 2007.
(19)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s March 31, 2007
	Form 10-Q filing, dated May 4, 2007.
(20)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s June 30, 2007
	Form 10-Q filing, dated August 8, 2007.
(21)	Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to Bio-Rad’s S-8 filing, dated
	July 30, 2007.

26

EX-13

					Exhibit 13.1
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Summary of Operations and Selected Financial Data
(in thousands, except per share data)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2008	2007  (2)	2006	2005	2004
Net sales		$  1,764,365	$  1,461,052	$ 1,273,930	$ 1,180,985	$ 1,090,012
Cost of goods sold		801,843	669,690	561,394	534,499	479,939
Gross profit		962,522	791,362	712,536	646,486	610,073
Selling, general and administrative expense		591,304	507,978	438,949	416,084	378,264
Product research and development expense		159,518	140,535	123,376	115,104	108,344
Purchased in-process research and development expense		--	7,656	4,100	--	14,620
Impairment losses on goodwill and long-lived assets		28,757	--	--	19,770	--
Interest expense		32,113	31,606	32,022	32,643	20,219
Foreign exchange (gains) losses		7,634	2,576	1,053	(1,528)	2,394
Other (income) expense, net (1)		353	(19,832)	(28,991)	(28,958)	(11,095)
Income from continuing operations before taxes and
minority interests		142,843	120,843	142,027	93,371	97,327
Provision for income taxes		(44,579)	(26,548)	(38,764)	(15,792)	(31,035)
Minority interests in earnings of consolidated
subsidiaries		(8,754)	(1,301)	--	--	--
Income from continuing operations		89,510	92,994	103,263	77,579	66,292
Discontinued operations
Loss from discontinued operations (net of tax)		--	--	--	--	(1,487)
Gain on divestiture (net of tax)		--	--	--	3,974	3,437
Total income from discontinued operations		--	--	--	3,974	1,950
Net income		$      89,510	$      92,994	$     103,263	$      81,553	$     68,242
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations		$           3.32	$          3.49	$           3.92	$          2.98	$         2.58
Discontinued operations		--	--	--	0.15	0.07
Basic earnings per share		$           3.32	$          3.49	$           3.92	$          3.13	$         2.65
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations		$           3.25	$          3.41	$           3.83	$          2.91	$         2.51
Discontinued operations		--	--	--	0.15	0.07
Diluted earnings per share		$           3.25	$          3.41	$           3.83	$          3.06	$         2.58
Cash dividends paid per common share		--	--	--	--	--
Total assets		$   2,037,264	$  1,971,594	$  1,596,168	$ 1,426,582	$ 1,371,618
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		$      445,979	$     441,805	$     425,625	$    425,687	$    425,979
(1)	See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for components of Other income, net.  Included in 2005 is interest and investment income of $16.7 million,
	gains on sales of investments of $11.2 million and litigation expense of $1.2 million.  Included in 2006 is interest and investment income of $22.2 million and gains on sales
	of investments of $4.7 million.  Included in 2007 is interest and investment income of $21.5 million offset by a $3.6 million write-down of investments.   Included in 2008 is
	interest and investment income of $10.6 million offset by a $9.6 million other-than-temporary impairment on investments.
(2)	Included in 2007 are the fourth quarter operating results of an acquisition.  See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

1

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
	December 31,
		2008	2007
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$      204,524	$      161,764
Short-term investments		38,950	61,977
Accounts receivable less allowance of  $19,567 in 2008 and $21,410 in 2007		339,653	358,076
Inventories, net:
Raw materials		69,549	61,555
Work in process		105,007	88,375
Finished goods		201,060	171,085
Total inventories		375,616	321,015
Deferred tax assets		41,408	36,450
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		93,790	89,692
Total current assets		1,093,941	1,028,974
Property, plant and equipment:
Land and improvements		16,567	11,929
Buildings and leasehold improvements		193,318	181,772
Equipment		466,024	420,628
Total property, plant and equipment		675,909	614,329
Accumulated depreciation		(375,177)	(342,768)
Property, plant and equipment, net		300,732	271,561
Goodwill		321,820	328,439
Purchased intangibles, net		228,590	210,304
Long-term deferred tax assets		12,361	20,429
Other assets		79,820	111,887
TOTAL ASSETS		$   2,037,264	$   1,971,594

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
	December 31,
	2008	2007
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$       117,982	$        96,470
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	119,420	121,255
Notes payable	2,409	4,630
Current maturities of long-term debt	7,169	10,997
Sales, income and other taxes payable	33,731	27,905
Accrued royalties	30,874	44,069
Current deferred taxes	8,159	2,134
Other current liabilities	98,290	106,708
Total current liabilities	418,034	414,168
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	445,979	441,805
Deferred tax liabilities	42,570	51,215
Other long-term liabilities	60,041	58,282
Total liabilities	966,624	965,470
Commitments and contingent liabilities	--	--
Minority interests	29,909	34,434
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 7,500,000 shares authorized;
none outstanding	--	--
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized;
outstanding – 22,182,451 at 2008 and 21,877,695 at 2007	2	2
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value,  20,000,000 shares authorized;
outstanding – 5,137,357 at 2008 and 5,006,440 at 2007	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	124,401	98,629
Retained earnings	851,577	762,067
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Currency translation and other	64,750	110,991
Total stockholders’ equity	1,040,731	971,690
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTERESTS AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$   2,037,264	$    1,971,594

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share data)
	Year Ended December 31,
		2008	2007	2006
Net sales		$  1,764,365	$  1,461,052	$  1,273,930
Cost of goods sold		801,843	669,690	561,394
Gross profit		962,522	791,362	712,536
Selling, general and administrative expense		591,304	507,978	438,949
Product research and development expense		159,518	140,535	123,376
Purchased in-process research and development expense		--	7,656	4,100
Impairment losses on goodwill and long-lived assets		28,757	--	--
Income from operations		182,943	135,193	146,111
Interest expense		32,113	31,606	32,022
Foreign exchange losses		7,634	2,576	1,053
Other (income) expense, net		353	(19,832)	(28,991)
Income before taxes and minority interests		142,843	120,843	142,027
Provision for income taxes		(44,579)	(26,548)	(38,764)
Minority interests in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries		(8,754)	(1,301)	--
Net income		$    89,510	$     92,994	$    103,263
Basic earnings per share:
Net income		$          3.32	$         3.49	$         3.92
Weighted average common shares		27,001	26,684	26,376
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income		$          3.25	$         3.41	$         3.83
Weighted average common shares		27,527	27,260	26,949
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
		2008	2007	2006
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers		$  1,765,667	$  1,467,626	$  1,247,779
Cash paid to suppliers and employees		(1,495,669)	(1,225,968)	(1,058,977)
Litigation settlement (See Note 13)		(4,493)	(4,228)	(46,981)
Interest paid		(30,792)	(30,588)	(31,049)
Income tax payments		(49,159)	(38,253)	(16,072)
Miscellaneous receipts		10,867	25,983	24,914
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		(5,050)	(2,992)	(1,385)
Net cash provided by operating activities		191,371	191,580	118,229
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures, net		(84,809)	(60,595)	(52,987)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash received,
and long-term investments		(53,014)	(387,673)	(46,071)
Proceeds from divestitures		--	--	12,772
Payments for purchase of intangible assets		(4,000)	(2,075)	--
Purchases of marketable securities and investments		(77,800)	(270,174)	(334,047)
Sales of marketable securities and investments		78,906	470,200	178,643
Foreign currency economic hedges, net		(5,390)	(4,112)	(2,196)
Receipt of restricted cash		--	--	36,138
Net cash used in investing activities		(146,107)	(254,429)	(207,748)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net payments on notes payable		(1,642)	(4,326)	(659)
Long-term borrowings		1,600	24	--
Payments on long-term debt		(11,589)	(17,720)	(487)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		12,912	11,580	9,923
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		5,050	2,992	1,385
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		6,331	(7,450)	10,162
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(8,835)	8,456	6,248
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		42,760	(61,843)	(73,109)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		161,764	223,607	296,716
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$    204,524	$    161,764	$    223,607
Non-cash investing activities:
Tender of Accent stock		$         --	$         --	$ (3,200)
Receipt of Nanometrics stock		$         --	$         --	$   5,354
Capital lease obligation for facilities		$    9,768	$         --	$         --
Purchased intangible assets		$  11,357	$         --	$         --

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Common stock, $0.0001 par value:
Balance at beginning of year	$            3	$            3	$            3
Issuance of common stock	--	--	--
Balance at end of year	3	3	3
Additional paid-in capital:
Balance at beginning of year	98,629	78,230	60,112
Issuance of common stock	12,912	11,580	9,923
Stock compensation expense	7,328	5,506	5,363
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	5,532	3,313	2,832
Balance at end of year	124,401	98,629	78,230
Retained earnings:
Balance at beginning of year	762,067	674,070	570,807
Net income	89,510	92,994	103,263
FIN 48 adjustment	--	(4,997)	--
Balance at end of year	851,577	762,067	674,070
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Balance at beginning of year	110,991	67,235	27,052
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(46,241)	43,756	40,183
Balance at end of year	64,750	110,991	67,235
Total stockholders’ equity	$ 1,040,731	$  971,690	$  819,538
Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	$     89,510	$   92,994	$  103,263
Currency translation adjustments	(18,671)	45,856	30,059
Other post-employment benefits adjustments net of tax of
($357) in 2008	1,848	--	--
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) net of tax of ($9,381)
in 2008, ($1,396) in 2007, and $5,767 in 2006	(19,162)	(2,433)	10,175
Reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) included in net income,
net of tax of $0 in 2008, ($193) in 2007, and $30 in 2006	(10,256)	333	(51)
Total comprehensive income, net of tax	$     43,269	$  136,750	$  143,446

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and all subsidiaries (referred to in this report as “Bio-Rad,” “we,” “us” and “our”) after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts report­ed in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less which are readily convertible into cash.  Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair market value.

Available-for-Sale Investments

Available-for-sale investments consist of corporate obligations, municipal securities, asset backed securities, U.S. agencies and marketable equity securities.  Management classifies investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates such classification at each balance sheet date.  Investments with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term based on their liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations.  Available-for-sale investments are reported at fair value based on quoted market prices and other observable market data.  Unrealized gains and losses are reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of any related tax effect.  Unrealized losses are charged against income when a decline in the fair market value of an individual security is determined to be other than temporary.  We review our available-for-s ale investments for other-than-temporary losses on a quarterly basis.Realized gains and losses and other than temporary impairments on investments are included in Other income, net (see Note 10).

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and trade accounts receivable.  Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are placed with highly rated major financial institutions.  We perform credit evaluation procedures related to our trade receivables and with the exception of certain developing countries, generally do not require collateral.  As a result of increased risk in these developing countries, some Bio-Rad sales are subject to collateral letters of credit.  Credit risk is generally limited due to the large number of customers and their dispersion across many geographic areas.  However, a significant amount of trade receivables are with national healthcare systems in coun­tries within the European Economic Community.  We do not currently anticipate a credit risk associated with these re ceivables.

7

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments.  The amount of the allowance is determined by analyzing known uncollectible accounts, aged receivables, economic conditions in the customers’ country or industry, historical losses and our customers’ credit-worthiness.  Amounts later determined and specifically identified to be uncollectible are charged or written off against this reserve.  This valuation allowance is reviewed quarterly to determine whether a change is warranted.

Inventory Valuation

Inventories are valued at the lower of actual cost or market and include material, labor and overhead costs.  Management reviews the need for an inventory obsolescence reserve on a quarterly basis or, if warranted by circumstances, more frequently.  In evaluating this reserve, technology changes, competition, customer demand and manufacturing quality are considered.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at historical cost.  Included in property, plant and equipment is reagent rental equipment.  We provide these instruments to our customers for use with our reagents.  Property, plant and equipment are assessed for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets.  Buildings and leasehold improvements are amortized over 15-30 years or the lives of the leases or improvements, whichever is shorter.  With the exception of reagent rental equipment, which is amortized over a 1-5 year period, equipment is depreciated over 3-12 years.

Capital expenditures are net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment of $0.9 million, $0.2 million and $0.3 million for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Purchased Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses.  Goodwill and intangible assets are assessed for impairment by applying fair-value based tests annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  Impairment expense is calculated as the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value.  The fair value is estimated based on its discounted future cash flows.  Impairment losses of $28.8 million were recorded in 2008.  No impairment was recorded for 2007 or 2006 (see Note 5).

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.  The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

8

We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized.  In making such determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations.  To the extent we determine that we are able to realize our deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, we make an adjustment to the valuation allowance which may reduce the provision for income taxes.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when pervasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, collectibility is reasonably assured and title has passed to the customer or product has been delivered absent specific contractual specifications.  Equipment that requires factory installation is not recorded until installation is complete and customer acceptance, if required contractually, has occurred.  At the time the related revenue is recognized, a provision is recognized for estimated product returns.  Reagent agreements are a diagnostic industry sales method that provides use of an instrument if the customer exclusively purchases the company’s reagents to use on that instrument.  We have evaluated the reagent agreements and account for the contracts under the terms of the guidance set forth in EITF 00-21, Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.  All revenues that we earn under our reagent agreements are recognized when the reagent has been delivered to the customer.  Service revenues on extended warranty contracts are recognized ratably over the life of the service agreement or as services are performed, if not under contract.

Shipping and Handling

We classify all freight billed to customers as net sales.  Related freight costs are included in cost of goods sold.

Warranty

We warrant certain equipment against defects in design, materials and workmanship, generally for a period of one year.  Upon delivery of that equipment, we establish, as part of cost of goods sold, a provision for the expected costs of such warranty based on historical experience, specific warranty terms and customer feedback.  A review is performed on a quarterly basis to assess the adequacy of our warranty reserve.

Components of the warranty accrual, included in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities, were as follows (in millions):

	2008	2007
January 1	$    15.3	$    12.9
Provision for warranty	18.5	14.9
Actual warranty costs	(18.0)	(13.3)
DiaMed acquisition	--	0.8
December 31	$    15.8	$    15.3

9

Research and Development

Internal research and development costs are expensed as incurred.  Third-party research and development costs are expensed when the contracted work has been performed.  Purchased in-process research and development costs are expensed at the time of purchase.

Foreign Currency

Balance sheet accounts of international subsidiaries are translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the accounting period.  Income statement items are translated at average exchange rates for the period.  The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in Foreign exchange (gains) losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  Transaction gains and losses result primarily from fluctuations in exchange rates when intercompany receivables and payables are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of our subsidiary that recorded the transaction.

Forward Exchange Contracts

As part of distributing our products, we regularly enter into intercompany transactions.  We enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to manage foreign exchange risk of future movements in foreign exchange rates that affect foreign currency denominated intercompany receivables and payables.  We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, we do not seek hedge accounting treatment for these contracts.  As a result, these contracts, generally with maturity dates of 90 days or less and related primarily to currencies of industrial countries, are recorded at their fair value at each balance sheet date.  The resulting gains or losses offset exchange gains or losses on the related receivables and payables, both of which are recorded as Foreign exchange (gains) losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  The cash flows related to these contracts are classified as cash flows from investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Minority Interests

We do not own 100% of the voting stock of some of our consolidated subsidiaries.  The remaining shares held by third parties represent a minority (or noncontrolling) interest in these subsidiaries.  Our consolidated statements present the full amount of assets, liabilities, income and expenses of all of our consolidated subsidiaries, with offsetting amounts shown in Minority Interests for the portion of these items that do not belong to us.

Employee Share-Based Compensation Plans

We maintain stock option and stock award plans for officers and certain other key employees.  We also have an employee stock purchase plan that provides that eligible employees may contribute toward the purchase of our Class A common stock.  These plans are described more fully in Note 9.

10

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for that period less the weighted average number of unvested restricted shares outstanding for that period.  Diluted earnings per share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of common stock equivalents that are to be added to the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  Common stock equivalents are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation if the effect would be anti-dilutive.  The following table summarizes the basic and diluted weighted average common shares (in thousands).

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Weighted average shares outstanding	27,112	26,716	26,376
Weighted average unvested restricted shares	(111)	(32)	--
Basic shares	27,001	26,684	26,376
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Stock-based compensation awards	526	576	573
Diluted weighted average common shares	27,527	27,260	26,949
Anti-dilutive shares	105	279	253

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, marketable securities, notes payable, and accounts payable, the carrying amounts approximate fair value.

The estimated fair value of financial instruments in the table below has been determined using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies.  Estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange as considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data used to develop estimates of fair value.  The use of different market assumptions or estimation techniques could have a material effect on the estimated fair value.  Other assets includes some financial instruments that have fair values based on market quotations.  The decline in Other assets is mainly related to our investment in Sartorius.  Long-term debt has an estimated fair value based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues.

The estimated fair value of our financial instruments is as follows (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008			2007
		Carrying	Fair		Carrying	Fair
		Amount	Value		Amount	Value
Other assets		$    79.8	$    78.2		$  111.9	$  173.2
Total long-term debt		$  425.0	$  381.0		$  452.8	$  446.0

11

We determine the fair value of an asset or liability based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not assumptions made by the reporting entity.  The identification of market participant assumptions provides a basis for determining what inputs are to be used for pricing each asset or liability.  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy which gives precedence to fair value measurements calculated using observable inputs to those using unobservable inputs.  This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows:

•	Level 1	Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
•	Level 2	Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices in active
		markets for similar securities)
•	Level 3	Significant unobservable inputs (including our assumptions in determining
		the fair value of investments)

Financial assets carried at fair value as of December 31, 2008 are classified in the hierarchy as follows (in millions):

	Level 1	Level 2	Total
Short-term investments
Corporate obligations	$     6.0	$      1.0	$      7.0
Municipal obligations	--	5.0	5.0
Asset backed securities	--	12.5	12.5
U.S. Agencies	--	7.3	7.3
Marketable equity securities	7.0	0.2	7.2
	13.0	26.0	39.0
Long-term marketable equity securities	20.3	--	20.3
Total	$     33.3	$     26.0	$     59.3

Recent Financial Accounting Standards

In June 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities.  FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 concluded that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of basic earnings per share (EPS) pursuant to the two-class method.  This FSP becomes effective for us on January 1, 2009.  Early adoption of the FSP is not permitted; however, it will apply retrospectively to EPS data for all periods presented in the financial statements or in financial data.  We do not currently expect that this FSP will have a material impact on our EPS data in fiscal year 2009 or on EPS for any prior periods.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  SFAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting principles to be used in the preparation and presentation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.  The adoption of SFAS 162 will not have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.

12

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities –an amendment of SFAS 133.  SFAS 161 seeks to improve financial reporting for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures regarding the impact on financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  SFAS 161 is effective for us on January 1, 2009.  Since SFAS 161 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, the adoption of SFAS 161 will not affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

As amended in February 2008 by FSP No. FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  FSP FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except those items recognized or disclosed at fair value on an annual or more frequently recurring basis, until January 1, 2009.  As such, we partially adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 effective January 1, 2008.  We expect to adopt the remaining provisions of SFAS 157 beginning in 2009.  We expect the adoption of SFAS 157 to impact the way in which we calculate fair value for our annual impairment review of goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets, and when conditions exist that require us to calculate the fair value of long-lived assets; however, we d o not expect this adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141R, Business Combinations.  SFAS 141R continues to require the purchase method of accounting to be applied to all business combinations, but it significantly changes the accounting for certain aspects of business combinations.  Under SFAS 141R, an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions.  SFAS 141R will change the accounting treatment for certain specific acquisition related items including: (1) expensing acquisition related costs as incurred; (2) valuing noncontrolling interests at fair value at the acquisition date; and (3) expensing restructuring costs associated with an acquired business.  SFAS 141R also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements.  SFAS 141R is to be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009.  We expect SFAS 141R will have an impact on our accounting for future business combinations once adopted but the effect is dependent upon the acquisitions that are made in the future.

In December 2007, SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, was issued. SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (minority interest) is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent company’s equity.  Among other requirements, this statement requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest.  It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling income interest.  This statement is effe ctive for us on January 1, 2009. When implemented, prior periods will be recast for the changes required by SFAS 160.  The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

13

2. ACQUISITIONS

DiaMed Holding AG (“DiaMed”) develops manufactures and markets worldwide a complete line of reagents used in blood typing and screening as well as instruments and instrument systems that use its proprietary reagents.  Its products are used by hospitals, clinical laboratories and blood banks to identify certain properties of the cell and serum components of human blood prior to a blood transfusion.  On October 1, 2007, we acquired approximately 85.96% of the outstanding shares of DiaMed for approximately $399.3 million.   In March 2008, we acquired an additional 556 shares of DiaMed for approximately $14 million, with a second payment to be paid when the final tender offer is made to the remaining minority shareholders.  In December 2008 we acquired an additional 600 shares of DiaMed for approximately $19.6 million.  As of December 31, 2008, our total ownership of the outstanding shares of DiaMed amounted t o 93.46%.  The total purchase to date of approximately $432.9 million includes $38.1 million of net tangible assets, $202.0 million of goodwill, and $192.8 million of intangible assets.  The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.  The allocation of the total purchase price to net tangible assets, goodwill and other intangible assets has been recorded at their fair market value based upon management estimates except for the minority interest share in such assets and liabilities which was recorded at historical cost.  The results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated financial statements beginning with the fourth quarter of 2007, in our Clinical Diagnostics segment.  In connection with the original acquisition of DiaMed we recorded acquisition liabilities related to the termination of a small number of DiaMed employees of $4.9 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2008, we paid approximately $3.1 million related to these termination liabilities.  T here were no payments made during the year ending December 31, 2007.

The remaining 1,000 outstanding shares of DiaMed are held by multiple minority shareholders.  Their interest is recorded as Minority Interests on the consolidated balance sheet.  We are obligated to submit a cash tender offer to acquire the remaining 6.54% of shares from the minority shareholders for 92.25% of the price paid to the majority shareholders.  Based on December 31, 2008 foreign exchange rates, we estimate the offer would require approximately $38 million if fully accepted.  The minority shareholders are under no obligation to accept our tender offer.  The acquisition of the minority shares will be accounted for as a step acquisition if, and when, such shares are acquired.

In December 2008, we acquired 100% of the shares of DiaMed Fennica Oy (Fennica) and 100% of the shares of DiaMed (G.B.) Limited.  These companies were independent distributors of DiaMed products and will be included in our Clinical Diagnostics segment.  The total cash purchase price of these acquisitions was approximately $17.0 million.  We acquired $3.3 million of net tangible liabilities, $7.4 million of goodwill and $12.9 million of intangible assets.  The goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes.  We are in the process of finalizing the allocation of the purchase price to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  The preliminary allocation of the purchase price included in the current period balance sheet is based on the best estimates of management.  The completion of the purchase price allocation is pending the finalization of certain analyses of inventory, taxes and liabilities. &n bsp;The final allocation may result in adjustments to the carrying value of the recorded assets and liabilities, revisions of the useful lives of intangible assets and the determination of any residual amount that will be allocated to goodwill.  The related depreciation and amortization from the acquired assets is also subject to revision based on the final allocation.

14

In November 2006, we acquired Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.’s (Ciphergen) ProteinChip Systems business and worldwide rights to its Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization (SELDI) technology for approximately $20 million in cash.  The acquisition includes certain product lines, manufacturing capability, and intellectual property as well as access to Ciphergen’s life science customer base.  Under the terms of the agreement, Ciphergen will retain rights to the diagnostics market.  Through a separate supply agreement, Bio-Rad supplies instruments and reagents to Ciphergen to support their diagnostics business.  The total purchase of $20.0 million included $5.4 million of net

tangible assets, $3.0 million of goodwill and $11.6 million of intangible assets.  The goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.  An initial amount of $18.0 million was paid in 2006.  An additional $2.0 million was paid in 2007 after the SELDI patent was granted.  This $2.0 million is shown as additional goodwill in 2007.  Purchased in-process research and development of $3.8 million was charged to expense in the fourth quarter of 2006.  The allocation of the total purchase price to net tangible assets, goodwill and other intangible assets has been recorded at their fair market value based upon management estimates.  The results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date, in our Life Science segment.

3. AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE INVESTMENTS

Available-for-sale investments consist of the following (in millions):

	December 31,
		2008	2007
Current:
Corporate obligations		$    7.0	$   10.3
Municipal obligations		5.0	--
Asset backed securities (including mortgage-backed)		12.5	34.5
U.S Agencies		7.3	--
Marketable equity securities		7.2	17.2
		39.0	62.0
Long-term:
Marketable equity securities		20.3	47.7
Total		$   59.3	$ 109.7

At December 31, 2008 we had total accumulated unrealized losses of $13.2 million and no accumulated unrealized gains.  At December 31, 2007 we had accumulated unrealized losses of $1.1 million and accumulated unrealized gains of $26.7 million.  The fair value of our available-for-sale investments has declined due to a number of factors, including changes in interest rates, changes in economic conditions and changes in market outlook for various industries, among others.  Because Bio-Rad has the ability to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, or for a reasonable period of time sufficient for a forecasted recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2008.

15

In 2008, we recognized $9.6 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale investments.  In light of continuing declines in their market price, we no longer believe that these investments will recover in the foreseeable future.  No securities were considered other-than-temporarily impaired in 2007 or 2006.

4. INVESTMENTS

We own shares of ordinary voting stock of Sartorius AG, of Goettingen, Germany, a process technology supplier to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical and food and beverage industries.  We purchased shares for approximately $1 million in both 2008 and 2007, bringing our total investment to approximately 28% of the outstanding voting shares of Sartorius at December 31, 2008.  The Sartorius family trust and Sartorius family members hold a controlling interest of the outstanding voting shares.  We do not have any representative or designee on Sartorius’ board of directors, nor do

we have any other influence over the operating and financial policies of Sartorius.  Therefore, we account for this investment using the cost method.  This investment is reported in Other assets.

During July 2006, Accent Semiconductor Technology Inc. (Accent), a private company, was acquired by Nanometrics Inc. (Nanometrics), a publicly held company.  In preparation for the merger, Accent repaid the $11.8 million note receivable and accrued interest owed to Bio-Rad as part of Accent’s 2000 purchase of the assets and certain liabilities of our former semiconductor and optoelectronic metrology

business.  As part of the merger agreement, we tendered our ownership interest in Accent in exchange for approximately 600,000 shares of Nanometrics stock valued at $5.4 million on conversion.  We also received a $2.5 million facilitation fee for aiding in the merger.  These transactions resulted in a gain of $4.7 million included in Other income, net (see Note 10) in 2006.  Our current ownership interest in Nanometrics is less than 5%, is marked to market and is included in Other assets.  At December 31, 2008 we recognized $4.5 million of impairment expense related to Nanometrics.

5. GOODWILL AND OTHER PURCHASED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill balances have been included in Corporate for segment reporting purposes in Note 14.  Changes to Goodwill were as follows (in millions):

	2008	2007
January 1	$  328.4	$  119.5
DiaMed acquisition/additional share purchase	12.2	201.4
DiaMed purchase accounting true-ups	(11.6)	--
Distributor acquisitions	7.4	--
Impairment	(27.2)	--
Ciphergen acquisition	--	2.0
Currency fluctuations/other	12.6	5.5
December 31	$  321.8	$  328.4

16

As part of the acquisition of DiaMed in October 2007 and the purchase of additional shares in March and December 2008, (see Note 2), we added net $202.0 million of goodwill and $192.8 million of intangible assets: $72.6 million of customer relationships, $81.1 million of know how, $17.0 million of tradenames, $18.7 million of developed product technology and $3.4 million of licenses.

In 2008, the purchase price allocation related to the DiaMed acquisition was finalized.  The completion of the purchase price allocation involved certain analyses of inventory, taxes and external valuations for certain fixed assets and property.  The final revisions included adjustments to the carrying value of DiaMed’s recorded assets and liabilities and related depreciation and amortization, with the residual amount being allocated to goodwill.  Some estimated acquisition liabilities were settled without requiring payment, additional collections were made on opening balance receivables, and an increase in work in process inventory was recorded.

As part of the acquisition of two distributors in December 2008 (see Note 2), we added $7.4 million of goodwill and $12.9 million of intangible assets: $2.9 million of tradenames, $2.3 million of covenants not to compete and $7.7 million of customer relationships.

During the fourth quarter of 2008, a $27.2 million impairment loss related to goodwill was recorded in the Life Science segment.  The goodwill was originally recorded as part of an acquisition in 1999. The impairment was caused primarily by the continuing decline in sales of the BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) product line.

Other than goodwill, we have no intangible assets with indefinite lives.  Information regarding our identifiable purchased intangible assets is as follows (in millions):

	December 31, 2008
	Average
	Remaining	Carrying	Accumulated
	Life (years)	Amount	Amortization	Net
Customer relationships/lists	2-15	$  83.4	$   7.6	$  75.8
Know how	1-8	90.8	18.9	71.9
Developed product technology	1-13	44.7	12.6	32.1
Licenses	3-11	37.5	8.8	28.7
Tradenames	4-13	21.1	4.2	16.9
Covenants not to compete	3-10	4.9	2.1	2.8
Patents	2	1.0	0.6	0.4
Other	3	0.1	0.1	--
		$ 283.5	$ 54.9	$ 228.6

17

	December 31, 2007
	Average
	Remaining	Carrying	Accumulated
	Life (years)	Amount	Amortization	Net
Customer relationships/lists	1-16	$   71.0	$    2.0	$   69.0
Know how	1-9	81.4	9.7	71.7
Developed product technology	1-14	44.3	7.6	36.7
Licenses	1-12	20.4	4.3	16.1
Tradenames	5-14	16.2	0.8	15.4
Covenants not to compete	1-4	2.4	1.6	0.8
Patents	3	1.0	0.4	0.6
Other	4	0.1	0.1	--
		$  236.8	$   26.5	$  210.3

During the fourth quarter of 2008, $1.6 million of impairment losses related to intangible assets were recorded in the Life Science segment.  The intangible asset impairment related to the developed technology intangible assets of certain product lines that were acquired in 2006.

Recorded purchased intangible asset amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 was $29.8 million, $12.8 million, and $5.3 million, respectively.  Estimated purchased intangible asset amortization expense (based on existing intangible assets) for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 is $32.1 million, $30.6 million, $29.3 million, $27.4 million and $24.7 million, respectively.

6. NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Notes payable include local credit lines maintained by our subsidiaries aggregating approximately $27.5 million, of which $20.3 million was unused at December 31, 2008.  At December 31, 2007, these lines aggregated approximately $52.0 million, of which $42.1 million was unused.  The weighted average interest rate on these lines was 4.1% and 3.9% at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Bio-Rad guarantees most of these credit lines.

The principal components of Long-term debt are as follows (in millions):

	December 31,
	2008	2007
7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes	$   225.0	$   225.0
6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes	200.0	200.0
Other debt	0.4	0.4
Capitalized leases	27.8	27.4
	453.2	452.8
Less current maturities	(7.2)	(11.0)
Long-term debt	$   446.0	$   441.8

18

In September 2007, Bio-Rad entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”).  Amendment No. 2 amends certain provisions of the Credit Agreement including increasing the amount of borrowings permissible under the Credit Agreement to $200 million from $150 million, which may be increased up to an additional $50 million under certain conditions, and amending certain covenants to permit the acquisition by Bio-Rad of DiaMed including, but not limited to, the incurrence of certain indebtedness and liens in connection with such acquisition.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are on a revolving basis and can be used to make acquisitions, for working capital and other general corporate purposes.  Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are payable on June 21, 2010.  We had no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2008.

In December 2004, Bio-Rad sold $200.0 million principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (6.125% Notes).  The notes pay a fixed rate of interest of 6.125% per year.  We have the option to redeem any or all of the 6.125% Notes at various declining redemption prices or at 100% of the principal amount plus the “applicable premium” (as defined by the indenture) along with accrued and unpaid interest and certain other charges depending on the date redeemed.  Bio-Rad’s obligations under the 6.125% Notes are not secured, rank equal to other senior subordinated notes and rank junior to all of Bio-Rad’s existing and future senior debt.

In August 2003, Bio-Rad sold $225.0 million principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (7.5% Notes).  The notes pay a fixed rate of interest of 7.5% per year.  We have the option to redeem any or all of the 7.5% Notes at various declining redemption prices or at 100% of the principal amount plus the “applicable premium” (as defined by the indenture) along with accrued and unpaid interest and certain other charges depending on the date redeemed.  Bio-Rad’s obligations under the 7.5% Notes are not secured, rank equal to other senior subordinated notes and rank junior to all Bio-Rad’s existing and future senior debt.

The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of our personal property assets, the assets of our domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of certain foreign subsidiaries.  It is guaranteed by all of our existing and future material domestic subsidiaries.  The Credit Agreement, the 6.125% Notes, and the 7.5% Notes require Bio-Rad to comply with certain financial ratios and covenants, among other things. The covenants include a leverage ratio test, an interest coverage test and a consolidated net worth test.  There are also restrictions on our ability to declare or pay dividends, incur debt, guarantee debt, enter into transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate, sell assets, make investments, create liens and prepay subordinated debt.  We were in compliance with all financial ratios as of December 31, 2008 and 2007.

Maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2008 are as follows: 2009 - $7.2 million; 2010 - $4.1 million; 2011 - $6.8 million; 2012 - $0.2 million; 2013 - $225.0 million; thereafter - $209.8 million.

19

7. INCOME TAXES

The U.S. and international components of income before taxes and minority interests are as follows (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
U.S.	$    52.7	$    75.5	$    66.8
International	90.1	45.3	75.2
Income before taxes and minority interests	$  142.8	$  120.8	$  142.0

The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Current tax expense
U.S. Federal	$28.3	$  13.9	$  12.0
State	4.0	1.1	1.2
International	15.2	12.6	24.6
Current tax expense	47.5	27.6	37.8
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
U.S. and State	2.6	(1.3)	0.8
International	(5.9)	(4.6)	0.2
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(3.3)	(5.9)	1.0
Non-current tax expense	0.4	4.8	--
Provision for income taxes	$  44.6	$  26.5	$  38.8

The reconciliation between Bio-Rad’s effective tax rate on income before taxes and minority interests and the statutory tax rate is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
U. S. statutory tax rate	35%	35%	35%
Foreign income at other than U.S. tax rates	(4)	(2)	(1)
Foreign losses not benefited	2	3	1
Non-taxable dividend income	(4)	(5)	(3)
Export sales benefit	--	--	(2)
Research and development tax credits	(9)	(8)	(2)
Increase in tax reserves	1	3	1
Change in valuation allowance	3	(3)	1
Examination settlements	--	(2)	(1)
Foreign tax credit claims	--	(3)	--
In-process research and development	--	2	--
Goodwill impairment	7	--	--
Other	--	2	(2)
Provision for income taxes	31%	22%	27%

20

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):

	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2008	2007
Deferred tax assets
Receivable allowances	$     6.0	$      5.4
Inventory reserve	15.3	14.6
Warranty reserve	8.1	7.3
Vacation pay reserve	7.9	7.4
Net operating loss	20.8	20.9
Impaired investments	7.6	3.5
Unrealized holding losses	4.9	--
Retirement reserve	5.4	5.8
Depreciation	5.0	5.9
Goodwill and intangibles	16.4	16.9
State tax credit carryforward	8.1	7.5
Other	18.1	16.7
Valuation allowance	(40.7)	(31.1)
	82.9	80.8
Deferred tax liabilities
Unrealized holding gains	--	9.4
Deferred gain	5.1	5.2
Foreign exchange gain/loss	2.4	2.4
Depreciation	7.4	4.1
Goodwill and intangibles	52.1	49.1
Other	12.9	7.1
	79.9	77.3
Net deferred taxes	$        3.0	$      3.5

At December 31, 2008, Bio-Rad’s international subsidiaries had combined net operating loss carryforwards of $74.1 million.  The amount of carryforwards subject to expiration includes $6.0 million, $8.9 million and $4.8 million in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.  The remaining loss carryforwards have no expiration date.  The utilization of these carryforwards is limited to the separate taxable income of each individual subsidiary.  We believe that it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain of these net operating loss carryforwards will not be realized.  We have provided a valuation allowance of $17.6 million on the deferred tax assets relating to these net operating loss carryforwards.  If or when recognized, the tax benefits relating to any reversal of the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets at December 31, 2008 will be recognized as a reduction of income tax expense.

At December 31, 2008, Bio-Rad had U.S. Federal net operating loss carryforwards of $8.6 million as a result of an acquisition.  The utilization of these net operating loss carryforwards is subject to annual limitations.  The loss carryforward will expire in the year 2018.

21

At December 31, 2008, Bio-Rad had a California research and experimental tax credit carryforward of $8.1 million which has no expiration date.  Based on our judgment and consistent with prior years, we believe that it is more likely than not that the benefit from these tax credit carryforwards will not be realized.  Therefore, we have provided a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset.  The tax benefits relating to any reversal of the valuation allowance will be recognized as a reduction of income tax expense if and when it becomes realizable.

The change in the total valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets was a net increase of $9.6 million primarily due to our inability to generate capital gains to offset our investment impairments and unrealized holding losses on available for sale securities.

During 2008, the IRS has continued the audit of our Federal tax returns for 2004 and 2005.  The examination will, however, cover tax years 2001 through 2005 as we have filed amended U.S. tax returns for these years and have credits generated in prior years which are being utilized in the years subject to examination by the IRS.  We believe appropriate provisions for all outstanding issues have been made for all jurisdictions and all open years.  We do not expect that the results of this examination will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to tax audits on various tax matters around the world.

The following table summarizes the open tax years by major tax jurisdiction that are subject to examination by tax authorities as of December 31, 2008:

U.S.	2001 - 2008
France	2006 - 2008
Germany	2004 - 2008
Italy	2002 - 2008
Japan	2004 - 2008
Switzerland	2007 - 2008

The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the year (in millions):

	2008	2007
Unrecognized tax benefit – January 1	$ 22.3	$  13.3
Additions to tax positions related to prior years	1.9	1.1
Reductions to tax positions related to prior years	(0.7)	(2.4)
Additions/(Reductions) to tax positions related to the current year	2.4	11.0
Settlements	(4.3)	(2.5)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(2.6)	(1.4)
Acquisitions	--	2.9
Currency translation	(0.9)	0.3
Unrecognized tax benefit – December 31	$  18.1	$  22.3

22

Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively, are $17.1 million and $19.1 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. Also included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively, are $1.1 million and $0.3 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would result in adjustments to other tax accounts, primarily deferred taxes.

Bio-Rad recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.  Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, Bio-Rad accrued interest of $2.4 million during 2008.  During 2007, Bio-Rad accrued interest of $2.8 million.

We believe that it is reasonably possible that approximately $1.9 million of our currently remaining unrecognized tax benefits, each of which are individually insignificant, may be recognized by the end of 2009 as a result of the lapse of the statute of limitations.  These benefits are related to uncertainty regarding sustainability of certain deductions and credits for tax years that remain subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities.  As of December 31, 2007 we believed that it was reasonably possible that $6.4 million of our unrecognized tax benefits may be recognized by the end of 2008 as a result of the lapse of the statute of limitations.

In general, it is our practice and intention to reinvest the earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in their operations.  As of December 31, 2008, Bio-Rad has not made a provision for U.S. or additional foreign withholding taxes on approximately $434 million of the excess of the amount for financial reporting over the tax basis of investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration.  Generally, such amounts become subject to U.S. taxation upon remittance of dividends and under certain other circumstance.  If these earnings were repatriated to the U.S., they would generate foreign tax credits that would reduce the U.S. federal tax liability associated with the distribution.  The potential deferred tax liability for these earnings would be approximately $73 million.

8. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Bio-Rad’s outstanding stock consists of Class A Common Stock (Class A) and Class B Common Stock (Class B).  Each share of Class A and Class B participates equally in the earnings of Bio-Rad, and is identical in most respects except that Class A has limited voting rights.  Each share of Class A is entitled to one-tenth of a vote on most matters, and each share of Class B is entitled to one vote.  Additionally, Class A stockholders are entitled to elect 25% of the Board of Directors and Class B stockholders are entitled to elect the balance of the directors.  Cash dividends may be paid on Class A shares without paying a cash dividend on Class B shares but no cash dividend may be paid on Class B shares unless at least an equal cash dividend is paid on Class A shares.  Class B shares are convertible at any time into Class A shares on a one-for-one basis at the option of the stockholder.  The Schwartz family collect ively holds a majority of Bio-Rad’s voting stock.  As a result, the Schwartz family is able to exercise significant influence over Bio-Rad.

23

9. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION/STOCK OPTION AND PURCHASE PLANS

Description of Share-Based Compensation Plans

Stock Option and Award Plans

We have three stock option plans for officers and certain other employees: the Amended 1994 Stock Option Plan (the “1994 Plan”); the 2003 Stock Option Plan (the “2003 Plan”); and the 2007 Incentive Award Plan (the “2007 Plan”).  The 1994 Plan and 2003 Plan authorize the grant of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options to employees.  The 2007 Plan authorizes the grant of stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights and other types of equity awards to employees.  We no longer make stock option grants under the 1994 Plan or 2003 Plan.  A total of 1,650,360 shares have been reserved for issuance of equity awards and may be of either Class A or Class B common stock.  At December 31, 2008 there were 1,318,579 shares available to be granted.

Under these plans, Class A and Class B options have been granted at prices not less than fair market value on the date of grant.  Generally, options granted have a term of 10 years and vest in increments of 20% per year over a five-year period on the yearly anniversary date of the grant.  For options granted before January 1, 2001, options vested in increments of 25% over a four-year period on the yearly anniversary date of the grant.  Stock awards issued under the 2007 Plan generally vest in increments of 20% per year over a five-year period on the yearly anniversary date of the grant.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

We have an employee stock purchase plan which provides that eligible employees may contribute up to 10% of their compensation up to $25,000 annually toward the quarterly purchase of our Class A common stock.  The employees’ purchase price is 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the stock on the first business day or the last business day of each calendar quarter.  We have authorized the sale of 2,390,000 shares of common stock under the ESPP.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

Included in our share-based compensation expense in 2008, 2007 and 2006 is the cost related to stock option grants and ESPP stock purchases. In 2008 and 2007, share-based compensation also includes the cost related to restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards issued in 2008 and 2007.

For 2008, 2007 and 2006, we recognized pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $7.3 million, $5.5 million and $5.4 million, respectively.  We did not capitalize any share-based compensation expense.  In accordance with SFAS 123(R), we recognize share-based compensation net of estimated forfeitures.

For options granted before January 1, 2006, we amortized the fair value on an accelerated basis.  For options and awards granted after January 1, 2006, we amortized the fair value on a straight-line basis.  

All stock compensation awards are amortized over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.

24

Stock Options

The following table summarizes stock option activity.

			Weighted-
			Average	Aggregate
		Weighted-	Remaining	Intrinsic
		Average	Contractual	Value
	Shares	Exercise Price	Term (years)	(in millions)
Outstanding, January 1, 2006	1,589,206	$  34.43
Granted	313,233	$  62.68
Exercised	(177,867)	$  25.81
Forfeited/Expired	(56,803)	$  51.79
Outstanding, December 31, 2006	1,667,769	$  40.06
Granted	59,000	$  75.09
Exercised	(222,808)	$  28.16
Forfeited/Expired	(15,686)	$  56.70
Oustanding, December 31, 2007	1,488,275	$  43.06
Granted	59,000	$  88.35
Exercised	(269,731)	$  25.09
Forfeited/Expired	(23,417)	$  53.99
Outstanding, December 31, 2008	1,254,127	$  48.84	5.28	$  34.0
Vested and expected to vest,
December 31, 2008	1,229,977	$  48.40	5.23	$  34.0
Exercisable, December 31, 2008	828,458	$  40.36	4.40	$  29.0

The following summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2008:

	Options Outstanding			Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding at 12/31/08	Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)	Weighted -Average Exercise Price	Number Exercisable at 12/31/08	Weighted - Average Exercise Price
$ 10.75 - $ 35.50	373,702	2.76	$  23.45	373,702	$  23.45
$ 36.00 - $ 56.40	352,171	5.13	$  50.80	274,982	$  49.67
$ 57.49 - $ 62.47	322,354	6.52	$  60.22	133,174	$  59.69
$ 63.00 - $ 88.48	205,900	8.18	$  73.79	46,600	$  65.90

Intrinsic value for stock options is defined as the difference between the current market value and the grant price.  The total intrinsic value on the date of exercise of stock options exercised during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $17 million, $13 million and $8 million, respectively.

Cash received from stock options exercised during the years 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $6.8 million, $6.3 million and $4.6 million, respectively.  The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from stock options exercised totaled $6.3 million, $3.6 million and $1.8 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  

25

As of December 31, 2008, there was $7.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost from stock options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2 years.

The weighted-average fair value for stock options granted was estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Expected volatility	34%	34%	36%
Risk-free interest rate	3.92%	4.72%	4.62%
Expected life (in years)	8.5	8.5	7.4
Expected dividend	--	--	--
Weighted-average fair value of options granted	$  42.21	$37.05	$29.85

Volatility was based on the historical volatilities of our common stock for a period equal to the stock option’s expected life.  The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.  In 2008 and 2007 the expected life represents the number of years that we estimate, based primarily on historical experience, that the options will be outstanding prior to exercise. In 2006, we estimated the expected life using the simplified method described in the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107.  We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the future and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock was granted in 2008 and 2007 under the 2007 Plan.  The fair value of each share of restricted stock is the market value as determined by the closing price of the stock on the day of grant.

The following table summarizes restricted stock activity:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008		2007
	Restricted	Weighted-Average	Restricted	Weighted-Average
	Stock	Grant-Date	Stock	Grant-Date
	Shares	Fair Value	Shares	Fair Value
Nonvested shares, at beginning of year	75,720	$  75.33	--	--
Granted	78,485	$  88.09	75,970	$  75.33
Vested	(14,625)	$  75.33	--	--
Cancelled/Forfeited	(3,666)	$  77.24	(250)	$  75.32
Nonvested shares, at end of year	135,914	$  82.64	75,720	$  75.33

As of December 31, 2008, there was approximately $8.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock granted under the 2007 Plan.  The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 4 years.

26

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units, which are rights to receive shares of company stock, were granted during 2008 and 2007 under the 2007 Plan.  The fair value of each restricted stock unit is the market value as determined by the closing price of the stock on the day of grant.

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity:

						Aggregate
			Weighted-		Weighted-Average	Intrinsic Value
	Restricted		Average		Remaining	as of
	Stock		Grant-Date		Contractual Term	December 31, 2008
	Units		Fair Value		(in years)	(in millions)
Outstanding, January 1, 2007	--		--
Granted	28,010		$  75.32
Vested	--		--
Cancelled/Forfeited	(1,260)		$  75.32
Outstanding, December 31, 2007	26,750		$  75.32
Granted	37,445	$  88.00
Vested	(2,593)	$  75.32
Cancelled/Forfeited	(953)	$  79.58
Outstanding, December 31, 2008	60,649			2.29		$  4.6
Expected to vest, December 31, 2008	54,306			2.20		$  4.1

As of December 31, 2008 there was approximately $3.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock units granted under the 2007 Plan.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 4 years.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The fair value of the employees’ purchase rights was estimated using a Black-Scholes model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	Year Ended December 31,
		2008	2007	2006
Expected volatility		37%	29%	28%
Risk-free interest rate		1.87%	4.79%	4.66%
Expected life (in years)		.25	.25	.25
Expected dividend		--	--	--
Weighted-average fair value
of purchase rights		$20.79	$17.05	$13.68

The major assumptions are primarily based on historical data.  Volatility was based on the historical volatilities of our common stock for a period equal to the expected life of the purchase rights.  The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.  We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the future and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero.

We sold 88,533 shares for $6.1 million, 81,388 shares for $5.3 million, and 99,888 shares for $5.3 million under the ESPP to employees in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  At December 31, 2008, 337,629 shares remain authorized under the ESPP.

27

We currently issue new shares to satisfy stock option exercises, restricted stock issuances and ESPP stock purchases.

10. OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE

Other income, net includes the following income (expense) components (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Interest and investment income	$   10.6	$   21.5	$   22.2
Net realized gains (losses) on investments	(0.7)	0.5	0.1
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	(9.6)	--	--
Write-down of investments	(1.3)	(3.6)	--
Gain on sale of investment (Note 4)	--	--	4.7
Miscellaneous other items	0.6	1.4	2.0
Other income (expense), net	$  (0.4)	$   19.8	$   29.0

11. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

The reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities is as follows (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Net Income	$     89.5	$    93.0	$    103.3
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities
(net of effects of acquisitions):
Depreciation	66.3	53.5	48.7
Amortization	30.8	13.8	6.7
Minority interests	8.8	1.3	--
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(5.1)	(3.0)	(1.4)
Share-based compensation	7.3	5.5	5.4
Foreign currency economic hedge transactions, net	5.4	4.1	2.2
Losses (gains) on dispositions of securities	10.6	(0.5)	(0.1)
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net	11.1	9.0	(25.5)
Decrease (increase) in inventories, net	(51.9)	4.4	(22.8)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets	(0.6)	(2.8)	16.9
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable
and other current liabilities	(3.6)	10.6	17.3
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable	(1.6)	(10.1)	3.8
Increase (decrease) in deferred taxes	(3.2)	(5.9)	1.2
Litigation settlement related to MJ acquisition	--	--	(47.0)
Goodwill and purchased intangible asset impairments	28.8	--	--
Other	(1.2)	18.7	9.5
Net cash provided by operating activities	$   191.4	$  191.6	$    118.2

28

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Rents and Leases

Net rental expense under operating leases was $38.8 million in 2008, $32.8 million in 2007 and $26.7 million in 2006.  Leases are principally for facilities and automobiles.

Annual future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2008 under operating leases are as follows: 2009 - $31.7 million; 2010 - $28.8 million; 2011 - $20.1 million; 2012 - $13.1 million; 2013 - $6.4 million; subsequent to 2013 - $8.0 million.

Deferred Profit Sharing Retirement Plan

We have a profit sharing plan covering substantially all U.S. employees.  Contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  Bio-Rad has no liability other than for the current year’s contribution.  Contributions charged to income were $10.5 million, $9.4 million, and $7.8 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

Other Post-Employment Benefits

In several foreign locations we are statutorily required to provide a lump sum severance or termination indemnity to our employees.  Under these plans, the vested benefit obligation at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $19.0 million and $19.4 million, respectively and has been included in Other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.  These plans are not required to be funded, and as such, there is no trust or other device used to accumulate assets to settle these obligations.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

We enter into forward foreign exchange con­tracts as an economic hedge against foreign currency denominated intercompany receivables and payables.  At December 31, 2008, we had contracts maturing in January through March 2009 to sell foreign currency with a nominal value of $163.7 million and an unrealized loss of $0.1 million.  Contracts to purchase foreign currency had a nominal value of $22.0 million with an unrealized gain of $0.1 million.

Insurance

We carry a deductible for workers’ compensation and a portion of our group health insurance cost.  Accruals for losses are based on our claims experience and actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry.  Should a greater amount of claims occur compared to our estimates or cost of medical care increase beyond what has been anticipated, reserves recorded may not be sufficient and additional charges to income may be required.

29

Letters of Credit

In the ordinary course of business, we are at times required to post letters of credit.  The letters of credit are issued by our banks to guarantee our obligations to various parties including insurance companies. We were contingently liable for $12.5 million of standby letters of credit with banks as of December 31, 2008.

13. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On February 9, 2006, Bio-Rad completed negotiations with Applera Corporation (Applera) and Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. to settle the patent infringement litigation against MJ Research, Inc. (MJ Research) which Bio-Rad acquired in 2004.  The total net settlement amount, including amounts related to previously accrued back royalties, was approximately $62 million.  We recognized $1.2 million of additional expense in the fourth quarter of 2005 to adjust our estimated liability as a result of the settlements.  In connection with the settlements, we entered into a royalty-bearing license agreement with Applera relating to our real-time instrument business in the United States and a term limited license in the rest of the world.

We are party to various claims, legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any ultimate liability resulting from any of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.  However, we cannot give any assurance regarding the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits and their resolution could be material to our operating results for any particular period, depending upon the level of income for the period.

14. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Bio-Rad is a multinational manufacturer and worldwide distributor of its own life science research products and clinical diagnostics products.  We have two reportable segments:  Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics.  These reportable segments are strategic business lines that offer different products and services and require different marketing strategies.

The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, sells and services reagents, apparatus and instruments used for biological research.  These products are sold to university and medical school laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, food testing laboratories and government and industrial research facilities.

The Clinical Diagnostics segment develops, manufactures, sells and services automated test systems, informatics systems, test kits and specialized quality controls for the healthcare market.  These products are sold to reference laboratories, hospital laboratories, state newborn screening facilities, physicians’ office laboratories, transfusion laboratories, and insurance and forensic testing laboratories.

Other Operations include the remainder of our former Analytical Instruments segment.

30

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Significant Accounting Policies (see Note 1).  Segment profit or loss used for corporate management purposes includes an allocation of corporate expense based upon sales and an allocation of interest expense based upon accounts receivable and inventories.  Segments are expected to manage only assets completely under their control.  Accordingly, segment assets include primarily accounts receivable, inventories and gross machinery and equipment.  Goodwill balances have been included in corporate for segment reporting purposes.

Information regarding industry segments at December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 and for the years then ended is as follows (in millions):

		Life		Clinical		Other
		Science		Diagnostics		Operations
Segment net sales	2008	$ 643.5		$ 1,106.4		$  14.5
	2007	615.1		832.2		13.8
	2006	575.6		684.9		13.4
Allocated interest expense	2008	$   10.5		$     21.4		$    0.2
	2007	12.2		19.2		0.2
	2006	13.0		18.8		0.2
Depreciation and amortization	2008	$   17.5		$     74.9		$    0.1
	2007	19.1		44.8		0.1
	2006	18.0		33.8		0.3
Segment profit	2008	$   13.3	(1)	$   139.8		$    0.6
	2007	24.7		80.7	(2)	0.6
	2006	25.7	(3)	89.6		0.6
Segment assets	2008	$ 343.1		$   675.2		$    6.9
	2007	321.3		677.1		8.3
	2006	318.5		458.8		7.8
Capital expenditures	2008	$   10.6		$    56.6		$   0.1
	2007	8.9		40.3		0.1
	2006	10.3		34.7		0.3

(1)  The Life Science segment profit for 2008 includes $28.8 million of goodwill and purchased intangibles impairment expense (see Note 5).

(2)  The Clinical Diagnostics segment profit for 2007 includes $7.7 million of in-process research and development expense purchased in the DiaMed acquisition (see Note 2).

(3)  The Life Science segment profit for 2006 includes $3.8 million of in-process research and development expense purchased in the Ciphergen acquisition (see Note 2).

31

The difference between total segment allocated interest expense, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditures and the corresponding consolidated amounts is attributable to our corporate headquarters.  The following reconciles total segment profit to consolidated income before taxes and minority interests (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Total segment profit	$     153.7	$     106.0	$      115.9
Other income (expense), net	(0.4)	19.8	29.0
Foreign exchange losses	(7.6)	(2.6)	(1.1)
Net corporate operating, interest and other
income (expense) not allocated to segments	(2.9)	(2.4)	(1.8)
Consolidated income before taxes and
minority interests	$     142.8	$     120.8	$     142.0

The following reconciles total segment assets to consolidated total assets (in millions):

	December 31,
	2008	2007
Total segment assets	$  1,025.1	$  1,006.7
Cash and other current assets	388.5	363.3
Net property, plant and equipment excluding
segment specific gross machinery and equipment	(6.6)	(49.0)
Goodwill	321.8	328.4
Other long-term assets	308.5	322.2
Total assets	$  2,037.3	$  1,971.6

The following presents sales to external customers by geographic area based primarily on the location of the use of the product or service (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Europe	$    872.1	$    671.2	$    559.4
Pacific Rim	253.3	209.9	200.7
United States	525.3	498.1	443.7
Other (primarily Canada and Latin America)	113.7	81.9	70.1
Total sales	$ 1,764.4	$  1,461.1	$  1,273.9

32

The following presents long-lived assets by geographic area based upon the location of the asset (in millions):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Europe	$    543.4	$    523.4	$      88.1
Pacific Rim	14.9	12.9	9.2
United States	382.0	402.3	366.0
Other (primarily Canada and Latin America)	3.0	4.0	3.1
Total long-lived assets	$    943.3	$    942.6	$    466.4

15. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

Summarized quarterly financial data for 2008 and 2007 are as follows (in millions, except per share data):

	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter
2008
Net sales	$     422.2	$     452.4	$     441.8	$     448.0
Gross profit	226.9	248.4	240.5	246.7
Net income (loss)	26.5	43.4	27.8	(8.2)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.99	$ 1.61	$ 1.03	($0.30)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.96	$ 1.58	$ 1.01	($0.30)
2007
Net sales	$     322.5	$     339.1	$     339.7	$     459.7
Gross profit	179.4	190.0	188.4	233.6
Net income	27.0	25.7	28.0	12.4
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.02	$  0.96	$ 1.05	$ 0.46
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.99	$  0.95	$ 1.03	$ 0.45

33

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Hercules, California

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008.  We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financia l Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating th e design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accord ance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

34

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

As discussed in Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, in 2007 the Company adopted a new interpretation of accounting standards for uncertainty in income taxes.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP 

San Francisco, California 

February 25, 2009 

35

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes which are an integral part of the statements.

Other than statements of historical fact, statements made in this Annual Report include forward-looking statements, such as statements with respect to our future financial performance, operating results, plans and objectives that involve risk and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “believe”, “expect,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions.  Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.  We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.  However, actual results may differ materially from those currently antic ipated depending on a variety of risk factors including among other things: changes in general domestic and worldwide economic conditions; our ability to successfully develop and market new products; our reliance on and access to necessary intellectual property; our ability to successfully integrate any acquired business; our substantial leverage and ability to service our debt; competition in and government regulation of the industries in which we operate; and the monetary policies of various countries.  We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise except as required by Federal Securities law.

Overview.  Bio-Rad is a multinational manufacturer and worldwide distributor of our own life science research and clinical diagnostics products.  Our business is organized into two primary segments, Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics, with the mission to provide scientists with specialized tools needed for biological research and clinical diagnostics.  We sell more than 8,000 products and services to a diverse client base comprised of scientific research, healthcare, education and government customers worldwide.  We manufacture and supply our customers with a range of reagents, apparatus and equipment to separate complex chemical and biological materials and to identify, analyze and purify components.  Because our customers require replication of results in manufacturing processes, research experiments and diagnostic tests, much of our revenues are recurring.  Approximately 30% of our 2008 consolidated net sales are from the United States and approximately 70% are international sales, largely denominated in local currency with the majority of these sales in Euros, Yen and British Sterling.  As a result, our consolidated net sales expressed in dollars benefit when the U.S. dollar weakens and suffer when the U.S. dollar strengthens in relation to other currencies.  Currency fluctuations benefited our consolidated net sales expressed in U.S. dollars in 2008, 2007 and 2006.  The market for reagents and apparatus remains good while growth rates have slowed due to both public and private grant funding being more measured.  The market for large capital equipment has slowed, as many pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers delayed or reduced their capital spending.  Bio-Rad is generally less impacted by trends in capital spending as lower priced reagents and apparatus comprise more than 70% of product sales.

36

The following shows gross profit and expense items as a percentage of net sales:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008	2007	2006
Net sales	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%
Cost of goods sold	45.4	45.8	44.1
Gross profit	54.6	54.2	55.9
Selling, general and administrative expense	33.5	34.8	34.5
Product research and development expense,
excluding in-process research and development	9.0	9.6	9.7
Net income	5.1	6.4	8.1

We intend that the discussions of critical accounting policies and estimates and recent accounting pronouncements that follow will assist you in understanding how such principles, estimates and pronouncements affect our financial condition and results of operations as well as significant factors that caused changes in our financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The accompanying discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP).  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and contingencies as of the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  However, fut ure events may cause us to change our assumptions and estimates which may require routine adjustment.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.  We have determined that for the periods reported in this Exhibit 13.1 the following accounting policies and estimates are critical in understanding our financial condition and results of operations.

Accounting for Income Taxes.  As part of the process of preparing consolidated financial statements, management is required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes.  These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet.  Management then assesses the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent management believes that recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance must be established.  To the extent management establishes a valuation allowance or increases this allowance in a period, an increase to expense within the provision for income taxes in the statement of income may result .

37

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded in connection with the deferred tax assets.  We have recorded a valuation allowance of $40.7 million and $31.1 million as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively, due to uncertainties related to our ability to utilize some of the deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of certain foreign net operating losses carried forward, before they expire. The valuation allowance is based on management’s current estimates of taxable income for the jurisdictions in which we operate and the period over which the deferred tax assets will be recoverable. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates, or these estimates are adjusted in future periods, an additional valuation allowance may need to be established which would increase the tax provision, lowering income and impacting our financial position.  Should realization of these deferred assets previously reserved occur, the provision for income tax would decrease, raising income and positively impacting Bio-Rad’s financial position.

Valuation of Long-lived and Intangible Assets and Goodwill.  We assess the impairment of identifiable intangibles, long-lived assets and goodwill annually in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  Projected future operating results and cash flows of the reporting units’ asset or asset group are used to establish the fair value used in evaluating the carrying value of long-lived and intangible assets and goodwill.  Factors that we consider important that could trigger an impairment review include the following:

·	significant under-performance relative to expected, historical or projected future operating results;
·	significant changes in the manner of use of the long-lived assets, intangible assets or the strategy
	for our overall business; and
·	significant negative industry or economic trends.

When management determines that the carrying value of intangibles or long-lived assets may not be recoverable based upon the existence of one or more of the above indicators of impairment, we test for any impairment based on a projected undiscounted cash flow method.  Goodwill is tested for impairment based on a projected discounted cash flow method.  Projections are inherently uncertain and accordingly, actual future cash flows may differ materially from projected cash flows.  The discounted cash value projected for goodwill may be different from the fair value that would result from an actual transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller.  Such analyses are particularly sensitive to changes in discount rates.  Changes to these rates might result in material changes in the valuation and determination of the recoverability of goodwill.  For example, an increase in the interest rate used to discount cash f lows will decrease the discounted cash value.

In 2008, our review indicated a $28.8 million impairment loss: $1.6 million related to the developed technology intangible assets of certain product lines that were acquired in 2006 and $27.2 million related to goodwill from a 1999 acquisition.  The goodwill impairment was caused primarily by the continuing decline in the BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) product line.  There were no impairments taken in 2007 and 2006.

38

Valuation of Inventories.   We value inventory at the lower of the actual cost to purchase and/or manufacture the inventory, or the current estimated market value of the inventory.  We review inventory quantities on hand and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based primarily on an estimated forecast of product demand and production requirements for the next twelve months on a quarterly basis or, if warranted by the circumstances, more frequently.  In addition, our industry is characterized by technological change, frequent new product development and product obsolescence that could result in an increase in the amount of obsolete inventory quantities on hand.  Our estimates of future product demand may prove to be inaccurate, in which case we may have understated or overstated the valuation allowance required for excess and obsolete inventory.  In the future, if

inventory is determined to be overvalued, we would be required to recognize such costs in our cost of goods sold at the time of such determination by initiating or increasing our inventory valuation allowance.  Likewise, if the inventory valuation allowance is determined to be no longer required, we may have over-reported cost of goods sold in previous periods and would be required to recognize such additional operating income at the time of sale until the inventory allowance is depleted.  In no case is inventory valued at an amount greater than cost.  Therefore, although we make efforts to ensure the accuracy of our forecasts of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand, technological developments or regulations could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory and reported results of operations.

Valuation of Investments.  We regularly review our investments for factors that may indicate that a decline in the fair value of an investment below its cost is other than temporary.  Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary include our ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in value, the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer.  Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods resulting in realized losses.

Warranty Reserves.   We warrant certain equipment against defects in design, materials and workmanship, generally for a period of one year.  Upon delivery and on acceptance of that equipment, we establish, as part of cost of goods sold, a provision for the expected costs of such warranty based on historical experience, specific warranty terms and customer feedback.   A review is performed on a quarterly basis to assess the adequacy of our warranty reserve and it is adjusted if necessary.  The warranty percentage and accrual are based on actual experience and expected future costs to be incurred.  Should realized costs be higher than expected costs, cost of goods sold would be lower in the period of estimation and higher when realized.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.   We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments.  The amount of the allowance is determined by analyzing known uncollectible accounts, the age of our receivables, economic conditions in the customers’ country or industry, historical losses and our customers’ general credit-worthiness.  Amounts later determined and specifically identified to be uncollectible are charged or written off against this reserve.  This valuation allowance is reviewed on a quarterly basis to determine whether an increase or decrease is warranted.  Uncertainty in the current economic environment, if prolonged, could result in greater amounts becoming uncollectible in the future.  Should the estimates of losses be higher than the actual uncollectible accounts, we would report lower profitability w hen the estimates are made and higher profitability when the receivable is collected.

39

Litigation Reserves.   We estimate amounts for claims that are probable and can be reasonably estimated are recorded as liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. The likelihood of a material change in these estimated reserves is dependent on the possible outcome of settlement negotiations, regulatory or judicial review and the development of facts and circumstances in extended litigation which could change claims or assessments when both the amount and range of loss on some outstanding litigation is uncertain.  We disclose in the footnotes of the financial statements when we are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the liability that could result from unfavorable outcomes in litigation.  As events occur, we will assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and revise our estimates. Such revisions could materially impact our results of operations.

Corporate Results -- Sales, Margins and Expenses

Our net sales increased by 20.8% in 2008 to $1,764.4 million as compared to 2007.  This includes sales related to the fourth quarter 2007 acquisition of DiaMed Holding AG (DiaMed).  The impact of foreign exchange translation aided sales growth by approximately 3%.  The incremental sales from the additional nine months in 2008 attributable to DiaMed accounted for approximately 13% of our annual growth.  

The Life Science segment achieved sales growth of 4.6% in 2008 as compared to 2007 aided by the impact of foreign exchange translation of 3.2%.  The decline in sales of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) products continued in 2008, as both product prices eroded among multiple suppliers and government mandated tests declined.  Excluding the impact of the BSE product line, this segment grew by 6.6%.  Increased sales were the result of growth in multianalyte detection, protein interaction, DNA amplification and laboratory chromatography product lines.  Sales in the United States, emerging markets and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), were the drivers of increased sales growth.  

The Clinical Diagnostics segment achieved sales growth of 33.0% in 2008 as compared to 2007 which includes sales growth from our acquisition of DiaMed.  The incremental sales from the additional nine months of DiaMed operations provided 22.8% of our Clinical Diagnostics sales growth.  The impact of foreign exchange on Clinical Diagnostics segment sales growth added approximately 2.9% to total segment sales.  The Clinical Diagnostics segment experienced growth across a wide range of its product offerings with the BioPlex 2200 system, quality controls and clinical microbiology having the strongest growth.  Geographically, the drivers of sales growth excluding the DiaMed acquisition were in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan).

Our net sales increased by 14.7% in 2007 to $1,461.0 million as compared to 2006.  This includes $62.0 million of sales in the fourth quarter related to the acquisition of DiaMed completed on October 1, 2007.  Excluding these sales, sales growth was 9.8%.  The impact of foreign exchange translation aided sales growth by approximately 4.6%.

The Life Science segment achieved sales growth of 6.9% in 2007 as compared to 2006 aided by the impact of foreign exchange translation of 4.2%.  Excluding the impact of the food science product line, this segment grew by 11.0%.  Increased sales were the result of growth in multianalyte detection, protein interaction and process chromatography product lines.  Sales in the United States, emerging markets and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), were the drivers of increased sales growth.  The decline in sales of BSE products continued in 2007, as multiple test providers lowered product prices and government mandated tests declined.

40

The Clinical Diagnostics segment achieved sales growth of 21.5% in 2007 as compared to 2006 which includes sales growth that resulted from our acquisition of DiaMed.  We include DiaMed’s results in this reporting segment because DiaMed’s customers, technology, distribution channels and economics (post integration) are all similar to our Clinical Diagnostics segment.  DiaMed’s sales provided 9.1% of our Clinical Diagnostics sales growth.  The impact of foreign exchange on Clinical Diagnostics segment sales growth added approximately 5.1% to total segment sales.  The Clinical Diagnostics segment experienced growth across a wide range of its product offerings.  Geographically, the drivers of sales growth excluding the DiaMed acquisition were in the United States and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan).

The 2008 consolidated gross margin of 54.6% represents an increase of 0.4% from 2007.  Life Science segment gross margins increased by 2.0% to 54.1% as a result of decreasing factory costs in some overhead areas, improved production planning, reduced quality defects and improved sales mix. The Clinical Diagnostics segment gross margins decreased by 0.8% in 2008 as compared to 2007 as a result of including an additional nine months of DiaMed operations.  The DiaMed gross margins include the amortization of manufacturing related purchased intangibles and the effect of higher inventory values after work-in-process inventory values were increased in compliance with purchase accounting requirements.

The 2007 consolidated gross margin of 54.2% represents a decline of 1.7% from 2006.  Life Science segment gross margins declined by less than 1% from the underabsorption of factory costs due to lower than planned activity in the first half of 2007, rising costs throughout the year and an unfavorable sales mix.  The Clinical Diagnostics segment gross margins declined by 2.4% from 2006, as the result of the DiaMed acquisition and the inclusion of $11.7 million in 2006 of back royalties with no related costs.

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) for 2008 was 33.5% of net sales compared to 34.8% in 2007.  The decline from the prior year is mainly attributable to the inclusion of DiaMed which has an overall lower SG&A margin compared to its total sales.  Growth in absolute SG&A spending was proportional to sales with Life Science segment’s SG&A growing just faster than sales growth while Clinical Diagnostics grew at a slightly lower rate, excluding the impact of DiaMed.  Approximately half of the increase in SG&A is related to personnel costs including compensation and travel.  The remaining increases are attributable to agent commissions, technology infrastructure cost, professional services and provision for bad debts.

Consolidated SG&A was 34.8% of net sales for 2007 compared to 34.5% in 2006.  Increased spending on a currency neutral basis represents approximately $32 million of SG&A growth for Bio-Rad in 2007, excluding DiaMed.  Two-thirds of the increased spending is related to the Clinical Diagnostics segment with the remainder associated with the Life Science segment.  Personnel and related costs account for approximately 60% of total SG&A expense. Other increasing areas of costs are travel, marketing and technology costs.

41

Product research and development expense in 2008 declined to 9.0% of net sales as compared to 9.6% of net sales in 2006.  Areas of development for the Life Science segment were amplification, proteomics, protein function, food safety and process chromatography.  Clinical Diagnostics segment research and development were focused on additional assays for the BioPlex 2200 testing platform as well as investments in automation for the DiaMed line of blood typing instruments and reagents, product line extensions in diabetes, infectious disease, quality control and software offerings.  In absolute dollars, the increase in R&D was almost exclusively in the Clinical Diagnostics segment.

Product research and development expense in 2007 declined to 9.6% of net sales compared to 9.7% of net sales in 2006 excluding the purchased in-process research and development associated with acquisitions made in 2007 and 2006.  Areas of development for the Life Science segment were amplification, proteomics and process chromatography. Clinical Diagnostics segment research and development were focused on additional assays for the BioPlex 2200 testing platform as well as enhancements to existing clinical microbiology, autoimmune, diabetes monitoring, blood virus and quality control products.  In absolute dollars, the increased spending was proportionately much higher in the Clinical Diagnostics segment than in the Life Science segment.

Corporate Results – Non-operating

Interest expense increased by approximately $0.5 million in 2008 as compared to 2007.  The increase reflects higher average borrowings on local lines of credit and increased interest on capital leases.  Our principal debt obligations are the 2003 and 2004 Senior Subordinated Notes totaling $425.0 million which carry fixed rates of interest of 7.5% and 6.125%, and are not due until August 2013 and December 2014.

Interest expense declined by approximately $0.4 million in 2007 compared to 2006.  The decline reflects lower average borrowings on local lines of credit.  The majority of interest costs are associated with the $425.0 million in Senior Subordinated Notes.

Foreign exchange losses for 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $7.6 million, $2.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  The largest component in the current year loss is a fourth quarter loss of approximately $5.2 million.  The loss reflects a number of unhedged European based intercompany loans denominated in Euros, GBP and Swiss Francs which arose as part of our acquisitions in December 2008.  The significant volatility in December resulted in an approximate $3.0 million non-cash loss on these accounts.  Additionally, we recorded a loss of $1.6 million on unhedged intercompany payables for our Brazilian subsidiaries, which we have not historically hedged due to the high cost.  In the fourth quarter of 2007 there was a loss of approximately $2.5 million on the exchange of Euros for Swiss Francs related to our purchase of DiaMed.  All years are affected by the economic hedging program we employ to hedge our intercompa ny receivables and payables.

42

Other income and expense for 2008 is comprised of interest and investment income of $10.6 million on cash and short-term investments.  We expect interest and investment income to decline in 2009 as returns on short-term fixed income investment have declined significantly in the current economic environment.  During the year we impaired $9.6 million of marketable equity securities, marketable fixed income securities and long-term investees.  In each case, the market value of these securities had declined so significantly at December 31, 2008 that their recovery in the foreseeable future could not be anticipated.  Additional write-downs could be possible should markets continue to function with only limited liquidity and some regulatory forbearance is not offered.

Other income and expense for the year 2007 is principally comprised of $21.5 million of investment income for interest on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.  Our investment income declined faster as the amount invested declined in the fourth quarter when we used approximately $400 million to purchase DiaMed.  Other factors affecting comparability between years is the 2007 impairment of two investments totaling $3.6 million.  Conversely in 2006, we had other income of $4.7 million relating to a facilitation fee received and a gain on the tendering of our shares in the merger between Accent Semiconductor Technology Inc. and Nanometrics Inc.

Bio-Rad’s consolidated effective tax rate was 31%, 22%, and 27% in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.  The 2008, 2007, and 2006 effective tax rates reflect tax rate benefits of 4%, 5% and 3%, respectively for non-taxable dividend income, and 9%, 8%, and 2%, respectively for tax credits.  The 2008, 2007, and 2006 effective tax rates also reflect benefits in the difference between U.S. and foreign taxes of 4%, 2%, and 1%, respectively.  The 2008 tax rate reflects a rate detriment of 7% with respect to goodwill impairments.  The 2007 tax rate reflects a rate benefit of 3% for the removal of a valuation allowance related to Canadian deferred tax assets.

Our effective tax rate may be impacted in the future, either favorably or unfavorably, by many factors including but not limited to fluctuations in statutory tax rates and changes in tax laws or regulations, which could cause our estimate of taxes to change.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Bio-Rad operates and conducts business globally, primarily through subsidiary companies established in the markets in which we trade.  Goods are manufactured in a small number of locations, and intermediate or finished products are then shipped for completion and/or distribution to facilities around the globe.  Our product mix is diversified, and certain products compete largely on product efficacy, while others compete on price.  Gross margins are generally sufficient to exceed normal operating costs.  Funding for research and development of new products as well as routine outflows of capital expenditure, and tax expense are covered by cash flow from operations.  We currently operate with an adequate level of interest coverage and our current market capitalization is high relative to our current level of debt.  In addition to the positive cash flow from operating activities, additional liquidity is readily availabl e via the sale of short-term investments and our revolving credit facility.

43

Recent financial and economic developments may adversely affect our future results of operations.  Demand for our products and services could change more dramatically than in previous years based on activity and support levels from government, universities, hospitals and private industry including diagnostic laboratories.  A slowdown in the global economy including the United States has caused many governments to announce stimulus packages that often promote support for healthcare and research.  These efforts, should they materialize, could offset other declines to our business.  To date we are unable to conclude how dramatically the global economic recession will impact us.

At December 31, 2008, we had available $243.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and $20.3 million under international lines of credit.  Under the $200.0 million restated and amended Revolving Credit Facility, we have $192.3 million available with $7.7 million reserved for standby letters of credit issued by our banks to guarantee our obligations to certain insurance companies.  Management believes that this availability, together with cash flow from operations, will be adequate to meet our current objectives for operations, research and development, capital additions for plant, equipment and systems and to make the tender offer to the minority shareholders of DiaMed Holding as outlined in the DiaMed purchase and sale agreement.

Recent deteriorations in credit markets along with the financial service industry experiencing upheavals characterized by bankruptcy, foreclosures, collapse and government intervention could impact both our ability and our customer’s ability to access the necessary capital for acquisition, equipment and technology modernization and the financing of inventory and receivables.  Without this crucial intermediary function manufacturers and end users may have to renegotiate sharing additional costs, reduce activity levels or seek other business partners.

Cash Flow from Operations

Net cash provided by operations was $191.4 million, $191.6 million, and $118.2 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.  The small net change between 2008 and 2007 is the result of an increase in net cash collections reduced by supplier and employee payments, offset by income tax payments and lower investment income and other miscellaneous operating receipts.

During 2008 the increase in inventory compared to 2007 is concentrated in the Life Science segment and the quality control product line of the Clinical Diagnostics segment.  Quality control products are characterized by long lead times and market opportunities going forward appear stable.  Life Science segment inventories grew to meet anticipated sales that were delayed or cancelled as economic activities declined in the fourth quarter.  First quarter 2009 cash flows are historically the lowest as annual payments for royalties and bonuses are due in this period.

During 2007, the moderation of growth in inventory and accounts receivable compared to 2006 contributed to the overall improvement in cash flow from operations.  Additional cash flows were also generated by the acquisition of DiaMed.

44

Management regularly reviews the allowance for uncollectible receivables and believes net accounts receivable are fully realizable.  Management routinely reviews inventory for the impact of obsolescence and changes in market prices caused by the introduction of new products, technologies and in government reimbursement policies.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities, including capital expenditures, was $146.1 million for the year 2008.  During the year we paid cash for the acquisition of additional DiaMed minority shares and two distributors.  In 2009, we intend to offer to buy the outstanding shares of the minority shareholders of DiaMed Holding.  We estimate this offer will use approximately another $38 million in cash.  We may also purchase some additional distributors.

Capital expenditures in 2008 totaled $84.8 million, compared to $60.6 million and $53.0 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Net capital expenditures for 2008 reflect investment in improvements to new information technology systems, new e-commerce and content management technology for our website and the expansion of manufacturing capabilities as well as refurbishing some administrative space. Spending on reagent rental instruments was $24.9 million.  We place reagent rental instruments with our Clinical Diagnostics customers for use with our clinical reagents.  We continued in 2008 to invest in business systems to modernize and standardize distribution capabilities and enhance data communication.  Other ongoing expenditures are for the replacement and improvement of production equipment and facilities to meet the necessary Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Clini cal Diagnostics segment and to meet the requirements of European and other regulatory bodies as well as many customers in our Life Science segment.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

Net cash flow provided by financing activities was $6.3 million for 2008 and principally reflects the cash flow for the exercise of stock options and receipts from the Employee Stock Purchase Plan transactions.  Payments on long-term debt represent the reduction of acquired DiaMed debt.  We have previously borrowed $200 million at 6.125% due 2014 and $225 million at 7.5% due 2013. This has provided us with capital at a fixed rate for the next five and four years, respectively.  We routinely meet and discuss potential acquisitions with specific companies, principals or their agents.  Should we identify any significant potential acquisitions it could require an increase in our total indebtedness.

Our $200.0 million revolving credit facility is secured by substantially all of our personal property assets and the assets of our domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of certain foreign subsidiaries, and is guaranteed by all of our existing and future domestic subsidiaries (other than immaterial domestic subsidiaries as defined for purposes of the new credit facility).

The Board of Directors has authorized us to repurchase up to $18 million of Bio-Rad’s common stock over an indefinite period of time of which $3.3 million is remaining.  Our credit agreements restrict our ability to repurchase our own stock.  There were no share repurchases made during 2008 or 2007.

45

Contractual Obligations

The following summarizes certain of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2008 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our cash flows in future periods (in millions):

					Less			More
					Than	1-3	3-5	than
Contractual Obligations				Total	One Year	Years	Years	5 Years
Long-term debt, including current portion (1)				453.1	7.2	10.9	225.2	209.8
Interest payments				152.3	29.1	58.3	52.6	12.3
Operating lease obligations (2)				108.1	31.7	48.9	19.5	8.0
Purchase obligations (3)				22.7	20.9	1.8	--	--
Long-term liabilities (4)				40.7	--	9.0	7.9	23.8
	(1)	These amounts represent expected cash payments, include capital lease obligations and are included in our
		Consolidated Balance Sheets.  See Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information
		about our debt.
	(2)	Operating lease obligations are described in Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
	(3)		Purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding
			to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms.  Purchase obligations exclude agreements that are cancelable
			without penalty.
	(4)		Excluded from this table is our liability for income tax payable, including uncertain tax positions,
			in the amount of $19.4 million.  We are not able to reasonably estimate the timing of future cash flows of these
			tax liabilities, therefore, our income tax obligations are excluded from the table above.  See Note 7 of the
			Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial Risk Management

The main goal of Bio-Rad’s financial risk management program is to reduce the variance in expected cash flows arising from unexpected foreign exchange rate and interest rate changes.  Financial exposures are managed through operational means and by using various financial instruments, including cash and liquid resources, borrowings, spot foreign exchange contracts and derivatives.  The derivative instruments used are principally comprised of forward foreign exchange contracts.  No derivative financial instruments are entered into for the purpose of trading or speculation.  Company policy requires that all derivative positions are undertaken to manage the risks arising from underlying business activities.  These derivative transactions do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.  Derivative instruments used in these transactio ns are valued at fair value and changes in fair value are included in reported earnings.

Foreign Exchange Risk

We operate and conduct business in many countries and are exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates.  We face transactional currency exposures that arise when we enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars.  Additionally, our consolidated net equity is impacted by the conversion of the net assets of our international subsidiaries for which the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

46

Foreign currency exposures are managed on a centralized basis.  This allows for the netting of natural offsets and lowers transaction costs and net exposures.  Where possible, we seek to manage our foreign exchange risk in part through operational means, including matching same-currency revenues to same currency costs, and same-currency assets to same-currency liabilities.  Moreover, weakening in one currency can often be offset by strengthening in another currency.  Foreign exchange risk is also managed through the use of forward foreign exchange contracts.  Positions are primarily in Euro, Swiss Franc, British Sterling and Japanese Yen.  The majority of forward contracts are for periods of 90 days or less. We record the change in value of our foreign currency receivables and payables as a foreign exchange (gain) loss on our Consolidated Statements of Income along with the change in fair market value of the forward exchange contract used as an economic hedge of those assets or liabilities.

Our forward contract holdings at year-end were analyzed to determine their sensitivity to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.  All other variables were held constant.  Market risk associated with derivative holdings is the potential change in fair value of derivative positions arising from an adverse movement in foreign exchange rates.  A decline of 10% on quoted foreign exchange rates would result in an approximate net-present-value loss of $18 million on our derivative position.  This impact of a change in exchange rates excludes the offset derived from the change in value of the underlying assets and liabilities, which could reduce the adverse effect significantly.

Interest Rate Risk of Debt Instruments

Bio-Rad centrally manages the short-term cash surpluses and shortfalls of its subsidiaries.  Our holdings of variable rate debt instruments at year-end were analyzed to determine their sensitivity to movements in interest rates.  Due to the relatively small amount of short-term variable rate debt we have outstanding, there would not be a material impact to earnings or cash flows if interest rates moved adversely by 10%.  Our long-term debt consists primarily of fixed-rate instruments, and is thus insulated from interest rate changes.  As of December 31, 2008 the overall interest rate risk associated with our debt was not significant.

Recent Financial Accounting Standards

In June 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities.  FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 concluded that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of basic earnings per share (EPS) pursuant to the two-class method.  This FSP becomes effective for us on January 1, 2009.  Early adoption of the FSP is not permitted; however, it will apply retrospectively to EPS data for all periods presented in the financial statements or in financial data.  We do not currently expect that this FSP will have a material impact on our EPS data in fiscal year 2009 or on EPS for any prior periods.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  SFAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting principles to be used in the preparation and presentation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.  The adoption of SFAS 162 will not have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.

47

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities –an amendment of SFAS 133.  SFAS 161 seeks to improve financial reporting for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures regarding the impact on financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  SFAS 161 is effective for us on January 1, 2009.  Since SFAS 161 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, the adoption of SFAS 161 will not affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

As amended in February 2008 by FSP No. FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  FSP FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except those items recognized or disclosed at fair value on an annual or more frequently recurring basis, until January 1, 2009.  As such, we partially adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 effective January 1, 2008.  We expect to adopt the remaining provisions of SFAS 157 beginning in 2009.  We expect the adoption of SFAS 157 to impact the way in which we calculate fair value for our annual impairment review of goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets, and when conditions exist that require us to calculate the fair value of long-lived assets; however, we d o not expect this adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141R, Business Combinations.  SFAS 141R continues to require the purchase method of accounting to be applied to all business combinations, but it significantly changes the accounting for certain aspects of business combinations.  Under SFAS 141R, an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions.  SFAS 141R will change the accounting treatment for certain specific acquisition related items including: (1) expensing acquisition related costs as incurred; (2) valuing noncontrolling interests at fair value at the acquisition date; and (3) expensing restructuring costs associated with an acquired business.  SFAS 141R also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements.  SFAS 141R is to be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009.  We expect SFAS 141R will have an impact on our accounting for future business combinations once adopted but the effect is dependent upon the acquisitions that are made in the future.

In December 2007, SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, was issued. SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (minority interest) is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent company’s equity.  Among other requirements, this statement requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest.  It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling income interest.  This statement is effe ctive for us on January 1, 2009. When implemented, prior periods will be recast for the changes required by SFAS 160.  The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

48

EX-21

		Exhibit 21.1
LISTING OF SUBSIDIARIES
	JURISDICTION OF
SUBSIDIARY	ORGANIZATION
Bio-Rad Laboratories Pty. Limited	Australia
Bio-Rad Laboratories Ges.m.b.H.	Austria
DiaMed Österreich G.m.b.H.	Austria
Bio-Rad Laboratories S.A.- N.V.	Belgium
Research Specialties for Laboratories N.V.	Belgium
DiaMed Eurogen N.V.	Belgium
Bio-Rad Laboratorios Brasil Ltda.	Brazil
DiaMed Latino America S.A.	Brazil
Bio-Metrics Properties, Limited	California, USA
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Israel) Inc.	California, USA
Bio-Rad Pacific Limited	California, USA
Blackhawk Biosystems, Inc.	California, USA
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Canada) Limited	Canada
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Shanghai) Limited	China
Bio-Rad (Shanghai) Life Science R&D Co. Ltd.	China
Bio-Rad Spol S R.O.	Czech Republic
Bio-Rad Export LLC	Delaware, USA
Bio-Metrics Ltd.	Delaware, USA
Bio-Rad Holdings LLC	Delaware, USA
MJ Bioworks, Inc.	Delaware, USA
DiaMed Baltica Ou	Estonia
Bio-Rad France Holding	France
Bio-Rad France Holding 2	France
Bio-Rad Pasteur	France
ADIL Instruments SAS	France
Bio-Rad Laboratories SAS	France
Bio-Rad Verdot SAS	France
Bio-Rad SNC	France
Central Labo Europe SAS	France
DiaMed France SA	France
Noviloire SA	France
DiaMed Instruments Logistics SAS	France
DiaMed Fennica Oy	Finland
Bio-Rad Laboratories G.m.b.H.	Germany
DiaMed Deutschland G.m.b.H.	Germany
Bio-Rad Laboratories M.E.P.E	Greece
Bio-Rad Hungary Trading Ltd.	Hungary

	Exhibit 21.1
	(continued)
	JURISDICTION OF
SUBSIDIARY	ORGANIZATION
IMV Medical Information Division, Inc	Illinois, USA
Bio-Rad Laboratories(India) Private Limited	India
Bio-Rad Haifa Ltd.	Israel
Bio-Rad Laboratories S.r.l.	Italy
Bio-Rad Laboratories K.K.	Japan
BRD K.K.	Japan
Bio-Rad Korea Limited	Korea
Bio-Rad Luxembourg S.à.r.l.	Luxembourg
International Marketing Ventures, Limited	Maryland, USA
MJ Research, Inc.	USA
Bio-Rad S.A.	Mexico
Bio-Rad Laboratories B.V.	The Netherlands
Bio-Rad Polska Sp. z o.o.	Poland
Bio-Rad Laboratoires-Aparelhos e Reagentes Hospitalares, LDA	Portugal
Bio-Rad Laboratorii OOO	Russia
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Singapore) Pte. Limited	Singapore
Bio-Rad Laboratories (Pty) Limited	South Africa
Bio-Rad Laboratories S.A.	Spain
Distr. de Analitica para Medicina Iberica	Spain
Bio-Rad Laboratories AB	Sweden
DiaMed Holding AG	Switzerland
DiaMed AG	Switzerland
DiaMed (Schweiz) AG	Switzerland
DiaMed Assets Management AG	Switzerland
ADS Applied Diagnostic Systems AG	Switzerland
Bio-Rad Laboratories AG	Switzerland
Bio-Rad Laboratories Limited	Thailand
DiaMed South East Asia Ltd.	Thailand
DiaMed Middle East Ltd.	UAE
Bio-Rad Ltd.	United Kingdom
Bio-Rad Laboratories Europe Limited	United Kingdom
Bio-Rad Laboratories Limited	United Kingdom
Bio-Rad Laboratories Deeside Ltd.	United Kingdom
DiaMed (G.B.) Limited	United Kingdom
MJ Geneworks, Inc.	Wisconsin, USA

EX-23

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-144962, 333-133507, 333-124187, 33-53335, 33-53337 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 25, 2009 (which report on the financial statements expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph concerning the adoption of a new accounting standard in 2007), relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in and incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2008.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

San Francisco, California

February 25, 2009

EX-31

	Exhibit 31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Required By
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a)
I, Norman Schwartz, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report fairly present, in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13-a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))for the registrant and have:
		(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
		(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
		(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

		(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
		(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonable likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
		(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	February 26, 2009	/s/ Norman Schwartz
		Norman Schwartz
		Chief Executive Officer

EX-31

	Exhibit 31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Required By
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a)
I, Christine A. Tsingos, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report fairly present, in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13-a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))for the registrant and have:
		(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
		(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
		(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

		(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
		(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonable likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
		(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	February 26, 2009	/s/ Christine A.Tsingos
		Christine A. Tsingos
		Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Periodic Report

I, Norman Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1)

the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and

(2)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	February 26, 2009	/s/ Norman Schwartz
		Norman Schwartz
		Chief Executive Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32.2

Certification of Periodic Report

I, Christine A. Tsingos, Chief Financial Officer of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1)

the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and

(2)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	February 26, 2009	/s/ Christine A. Tsingos
		Christine A. Tsingos
		Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer