8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                         TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 22, 2003

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                      FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


                 1-10920                                   02-0451017
          (Commission File No.)                (IRS Employer Identification No.)


ONE LIBERTY LANE, HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE                      03842
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)


                                 (603) 926-5911
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is the registrant's press release dated August
22, 2003 announcing that it has extended its exchange offer regarding its 8 1/8
percent Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on
August 26.

                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                     FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.


DATE  August 22, 2003                BY:     /s/ Todd M. DuChene
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           NAME:  Todd M. DuChene
                                           TITLE: Vice President,
                                                  General Counsel and Secretary

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION
- --------------                             -----------

Exhibit 99.1           Fisher Scientific International Inc.'s press release
                       dated August 22, 2003 announcing that it has extended its
                       exchange offer regarding its 8 1/8 percent Senior
                       Subordinated Notes due 2012 to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
                       Time on August 26.

EX-99.1

(FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC. LOGO)

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:                           INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Gia L. Oei, 603-929-2489                 Carolyn Miller, 603-929-2381
E-mail: Gia.Oei@nh.fishersci.com         E-mail: Carolyn.Miller@nh.fishersci.com



            FISHER SCIENTIFIC EXTENDS NOTES EXCHANGE OFFER TO AUG. 26

HAMPTON, N.H., Aug. 22, 2003 -- Fisher Scientific International Inc. (NYSE: FSH)
announced today that it has extended its exchange offer regarding its 8 1/8
percent Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
on Aug. 26. The exchange offer was originally scheduled to expire at 5 p.m. EDT
Aug. 21.

      Fisher is offering to exchange notes that are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 for its outstanding 8 1/8 percent Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2012, which were issued and sold in a private placement on Jan. 14,
2003, and were not registered under the Securities Act.

      As of the close of business on Aug. 21, 2003, approximately $199 million
(out of $200 million) in aggregate principal amount of the unregistered notes
have been confirmed as tendered in exchange for a like principal amount of the
registered notes.

      This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation
of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the registered notes or the
unregistered notes in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would
be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of
any such state.

                                    - more -

Fisher Scientific Extends Notes Exchange Offer - 2

ABOUT FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.

As a world leader in serving science, Fisher Scientific International Inc.
(NYSE:FSH) offers more than 600,000 products and services to more than 350,000
customers located in approximately 145 countries. As a result of its broad
product offering, electronic-commerce capabilities and integrated global
logistics network, Fisher serves as a one-stop source of products, services and
global solutions for its customers. The company primarily serves the
scientific-research, clinical-laboratory and safety markets. Additional
information about Fisher is available on the company's Web site at
www.fisherscientific.com

This announcement includes forward-looking statements. Fisher Scientific has
based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and
projections about future events. Although Fisher Scientific believes that its
assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, no assurances can be given that its assumptions and expectations
will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are subject to
various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Fisher Scientific undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in
this announcement might not occur.

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