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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-27</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920947</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHFIELD LABORATORIES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NFLD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218710</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>135 E. 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377459</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Atlas Master Fund, Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377458</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Atlas Global, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001373876</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ATLAS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Atlas Global Investments II, Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001345030</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Visium Balanced Fund LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001356806</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VISIUM LONG BIAS FUND L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001356805</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VISIUM BALANCED OFFSHORE FUND LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377456</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Balyasny Dmitry</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>181 W. MADISON STREET; SUITE 3600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60602</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377453</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Visium Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 E. 57TH STREET, 27TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Group Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>338400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NFLD Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>481400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NFLD Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>418000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NFLD Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1526500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NFLD Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are held as follows: Atlas Master Fund, Ltd. (&quot;AMF&quot;) owns 5.86% or 162,017 shares; Visium Balanced Fund LP (&quot;VBF&quot;) owns 21.92% or 606,044 shares; Visium Long Bias Fund LP (&quot;VLB&quot;) owns 9.41% or 260,168 shares; Visium Balanced Offshore Fund, Ltd. (&quot;VBOF&quot;) owns 36.34% or 1,004,728 shares; and Visium Long Bias Offshore Fund Ltd. (&quot;VLBOF&quot;) owns 25.85% or 714,701 shares. Additionally, Dmitry Balyasny owns 0.63% or 17,418 shares.  By virtue of its position as investment advisor and/or sub-advisor to each of Atlas Master Fund, Ltd. (&quot;AMF&quot;), Atlas Global, LLC (&quot;AG&quot;), Atlas Global Investments, Ltd. (&quot;AGI&quot;), Atlas Global Investments II, Ltd. (&quot;AGII&quot;), Visium Balanced Fund LP (&quot;VBF&quot;), Visium Long Bias Fund LP (&quot;VLB&quot;), Visium Balanced Offshore Fund, Ltd. (&quot;VBOF&quot;) and Visium Long Bias Offshore Fund Ltd. (&quot;VLBOF&quot;), Balyasny Asset Management LP may be deemed to beneficially own all 2,764,800 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">By virtue of Atlas Global, LLC's (&quot;AG&quot;) ownership of 10.79% of the equity interest in AMF, AG may be deemed to beneficially own the 162,017 shares of Northfield Laboratories, Inc.'s (&quot;NFLD&quot;) stock that is beneficially owned by AMF.  By virtue of Atlas Global Investments, Ltd. (&quot;AGI&quot;) ownership of 83.72% of the equity interest in AMF, AGI may be deemed to beneficially own the 162,017 shares of NFLD stock that is beneficially owned by AMF.  By virtue of Atlas Global Investments II, Ltd. (&quot;AGII&quot;) ownership of 5.48% of the equity interest in AMF, AGII may be deemed to beneficially own the 162,017 shares of NFLD stock that is beneficially owned by AMF.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR  ATLAS MASTER FUND, LTD.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR ATLAS GLOBAL, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR ATLAS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LTD.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR ATLAS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS II, LTD.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR VISIUM BALANCED FUND LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR VISIUM LONG BIAS FUND LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR VISIUM BALANCED OFFSHORE FUND, LTD.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR DMITRY BALYASNY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SCOTT SCHROEDER, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY FOR VISIUM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
