8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    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): September 6, 2005

                          Third Wave Technologies, Inc.

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

          Delaware                        000-31745              39-1791034
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction             (Commission            (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)                 File Number)        Identification No.)

502 South Rosa Road, Madison, Wisconsin                            53719
- ----------------------------------------                         ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                         (Zip Code)

                                 (608) 273-8933
              (Registrant's Telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A

          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
      (17 CFR 230.425)

|_|   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
      (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

      On September 6, 2005, Third Wave Technologies, Inc. ("Third Wave")
reported that a federal jury found Stratagene Corp. guilty of willfully
infringing two key patents that protect Third Wave's nucleic acid chemistry and
awarded Third Wave $5.3 million in damages. Stratagene had aggressively
challenged the validity of those patents, but the jury also upheld their
validity.

      A copy of the news release announcing the verdict and award in the
Stratagene lawsuit is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   Exhibits.

      99.1 News Release


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                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                                   THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Date: September __, 2005                           By: /s/ Kevin T. Conroy
                                                      --------------------------
                                                   Name: Kevin T. Conroy
                                                   Title: Vice President,
                                                   General Counsel and Secretary


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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 Washington, DC

                                    EXHIBITS

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                                       ON
                                    FORM 8-K

Date of Event Reported: September 6, 2005          Commission File No: 000-31745

                          THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit No.                Exhibit Description
         -----------                -------------------
         99.1                       News Release

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:
Third Wave Technologies                              Vida Communications
Rod Hise                                             Stephanie Diaz (investors)
(608) 663-4010                                       (415) 885-2298

                                                     Tim Brons (media)
                                                     (646) 319-8981

For Immediate Release

          Jury Finds Stratagene Willfully Infringed Third Wave Patents

                 Also awards Third Wave $5.3 million in damages

      MADISON, Wis., Sept. 6, 2005--Third Wave Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: TWTI)
today announced that a federal jury has found Stratagene liable for willful
patent infringement and awarded Third Wave $5.3 million in damages. Third Wave
will seek additional damages, given the willful infringement verdict.

      Stratagene last week was found guilty of infringing two key Third Wave
patents. Stratagene had aggressively challenged the validity of those patents,
but the jury also upheld their validity.

      Third Wave filed suit against Stratagene alleging the infringement in U.S.
District Court in September 2004. Third Wave seeks a permanent injunction and
destruction of the infringing "FullVelocity" QPCR and QRT-PCR products.

      With the jury's findings, Third Wave's unique position in nucleic acid
testing has been galvanized. Given the expiration of the patents for basic
polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, Third Wave is one of a very few companies
that can leverage its nucleic acid testing (NAT) chemistry--the Invader
technology--with basic PCR.

      "The positive outcome of this trial for Third Wave underscores the value
of the Invader chemistry in the emerging nucleic acid testing market," said John
Puisis, president and chief executive officer of Third Wave. "It is clear that
many companies want to enter the NAT market, especially given the expiration of
basic PCR patents. With the sensitivity of off-patent PCR and the specificity of
the Invader chemistry, Third Wave has the unique opportunity to offer better
technology than TaqMan, the current industry-leading NAT chemistry. This ability
enables Third Wave to develop the best performing products that set a new
standard for the industry.

      "Because Third Wave owns something of such substantial value, we will
continue to vigorously protect of our patent estate," Mr. Puisis said. "We are
pleased to see our initial


patents withstand an aggressive legal battle. We have a broad patent estate to
leverage and its strength continues to grow."

Third Wave's Invader technology is used to analyze, detect and measure DNA and
RNA, the foundation of genetic material and infectious agents. The Invader
technology and the methods of using it are protected by a suite of more than 45
issued patents; more than 100 additional Third Wave patents are pending.

      About Third Wave Technologies

      Third Wave Technologies is a leader in the development and marketing of
molecular diagnostics for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications,
providing physicians and researchers with superior molecular solutions. Third
Wave's Invader(R) technology provides the company's customers with exceptional
performance, scalability and ease of use. The company offers a number of
clinical products based on its Invader(R) technology for genetic testing related
to multiple disease areas. For more information about Third Wave and its
products, please visit the company's website at www.twt.com.

All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially for Third Wave from those projected. Those factors
include risks and uncertainties relating to technological approaches of Third
Wave and its competitors, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance,
cost and pricing of Third Wave products, dependence on collaborative partners
and commercial customers, successful performance under collaborative and
commercial agreements, competition, the strength of the Third Wave intellectual
property, the intellectual property of others and other risk factors identified
in the documents Third Wave has filed, or will file, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Copies of the Third Wave filings with the SEC may be
obtained from the SEC Internet site at www.sec.gov. Third Wave expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any
change in Third Wave's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based. Third Wave
Technologies, Invader and the Third Wave logo are trademarks of Third Wave
Technologies, Inc.