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    <periodOfReport>2022-05-27</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000353569</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUIDEL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QDEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001391823</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Michael Edward L.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9975 SUMMERS RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2021 (the &quot;Business Combination Agreement&quot;) by and among Quidel Corporation (&quot;Quidel&quot;), Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc, QuidelOrtho Corporation (&quot;QuidelOrtho&quot;), Orca Holdco, Inc., Laguna Merger Sub, Inc. and Orca Holdco 2, Inc., each share of common stock of Quidel beneficially owned by the Reporting Person at the effective time of the transaction contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement will be exchanged for one share of common stock of QuidelOrtho.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of Quidel common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Quidel restricted stock units will be converted into an equal number of restricted stock units representing the right to receive shares of common stock of QuidelOrtho on the same terms and conditions (including applicable vesting conditions).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Release of restricted stock units was deferred pursuant to Quidel's deferred compensation program applicable to participating non-employee directors and will occur according to the elected deferral schedule.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Phillip S. Askim, attorney-in-fact for Edward L. Michael</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
