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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,
 NmRL24S7YJlAwLQjNelx4lL2HenpJX7/q2iE9XnOHV9UnFMvpuUweKsorl9sOOSv
 XZsOXwm90TyukBiKBlRlsg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-007788.txt : 20040409
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-007788.hdr.sgml : 20040409
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040409105854
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-007788
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040407
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040409

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESTES DEBORAH A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239102

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16217
		FILM NUMBER:		04726405

	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>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123333</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPECIALTY LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239102</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESTES DEBORAH A</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Corp Secretary (non-employee)</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option(right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Grant to Spouse (Jim Estes)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Deborah A. Estes by Les McClafferty-Helley, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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