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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U5+V9nMdTH5YeXRoqG2+R0bK9YK4kzW3e8cNS4z+I25c9EUuSHpZv+OkB7eNAiM5
 c3mNJORw01k0Fym6hAYXrQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-006934.txt : 20030904
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-006934.hdr.sgml : 20030904
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030904191211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-006934
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030904

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENGLAND THOMAS E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239104

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16217
		FILM NUMBER:		03882425

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2211 MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90404-3900

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPECIALTY LABORATORIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001123333
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MEDICAL LABORATORIES [8071]
		IRS NUMBER:				952961036
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2211 MICHIGAN AVENUE
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90404-3900
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3108286543
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-03</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123333</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPECIALTY LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>sp</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239104</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ENGLAND THOMAS E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2211 MICHIGAN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90404-3900</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Director Research&amp; Development</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20400</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>1.21</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21834</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20400</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>12.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1434</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">There is no change in beneficial ownership to report regarding these securities.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas E. England by Ali A. Arenberg</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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