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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001183920</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DADE BEHRING HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DADE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001054587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OZ MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9 WEST 57TH STREET, 39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166564</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OZF MANAGEMENT L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9 WEST 57TH STREET, 39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166774</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OZF MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OZF MANAGEMENT, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, 39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251785</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OCH DANIEL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OZ MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, 39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251783</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREIDHEIM STEPHEN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OZF MANAGEMENT, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, 39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>337271</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>76000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>611365</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>138800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3800002</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>948636</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4748638</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>948636</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The amount of securities shown in columns 4 and 5 of Table I of this Form 4 is owned directly by a discretionary account managed by OZF Management, L.P. (&quot;OZF&quot;).  As the investment adviser to such account, OZF may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by such discretionary account.  OZF disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Rule 16(a)-1(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The amount of securities shown in columns 4 and 5 of Table I of this Form 4 is owned directly  by a second discretionary account managed by OZF.  As the investment adviser to such account, OZF may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by  such discretionary account.  OZF disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Rule 16(a)-1(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The amount of securities shown in columns 4 and 5 of Table I of this Form 4 is owned directly  by a discretionary account managed by OZ Management, L.L.C. (&quot;OZ&quot;).  As the investment adviser to such account, OZ may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by such discretionary account.  OZ disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Rule 16(a)-1(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The amount of securities shown in columns 4 and 5 of Table I of this Form 4 and referenced in footnotes (1) and (2) are owned directly by two discretionary accounts managed by OZF.  As the general partner of OZF, OZF Management, L.L.C. (&quot;OZFLLC&quot;) may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by each of such discretionary accounts.  OZFLLC disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Rule 16(a)-1(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">As a managing member of OZFLLC, which is the general partner of OZF, Daniel S. Och (&quot;Och&quot;) may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by each of the discretionary accounts referenced in footnotes (1) and (2) of this Form 4. As the senior managing member of OZ, Och may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by the discretionary account referenced in footnote (3) of this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">As a managing member of OZFLLC, which is the general partner of OZF, Stephen C. Freidheim (&quot;Freidheim&quot;) may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by each of the discretionary accounts referenced in footnotes (1) and (2) of this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Och and Freidheim disclaim any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Rule 16(a)-1(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise. The transactions and securities reported by Och are cumulative totals of the transactions and securities reported in footnotes (1), (2) and (3) of this Form 4.  The transactions and securities reported by Freidheim are cumulative totals of the transactions and securities reported in footnotes (1) and (2) of this Form 4.  Och and Freidheim have not engaged in any transactions in the Issuer's securities individually or indirectly through any entities not listed in this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The entities and individuals identified in the footnotes of this Form 4 may be deemed members of a group holding equity securities of the Issuer.  The filing of this Form 4 shall not be deemed to be an admission that such entities and individuals are members of such group.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel S. Och, individually and as the authorized signer for OZ Management, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen C. Freidheim, individually and as the authorized signer for OZF Management, L.L.C. and OZF Management, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

