EXHIBIT 12

Apogent Technologies

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	Pro Forma (a)		Years Ended September 30, (in thousands)
	2003		2003		2002		2001		2000		1999
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense	$	20,875	$	46,227	$	40,737	$	48,820	$	49,584	$	41,228
Deferred financing		5,846		4,046		3,461		472		521		224
1/3 Rental expense		5,203		5,203		4,374		3,424		2,905		2,235
	$	31,924	$	55,476	$	48,572	$	52,716	$	53,010	$	43,687
Earnings:
Pre tax income from continuing operations	$	145,709	$	122,157	$	205,311	$	163,411	$	134,759	$	145,750
Add: Fixed Charges		31,924		55,476		48,572		52,716		53,010		43,687
Earnings		177,633		177,633		253,883		216,127		187,769		189,437
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		5.6		3.2		5.2		4.1		3.5		4.3
Rental Expense	$	15,608	$	15,608	$	13,123	$	10,272	$	8,716	$	6,704

(a) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges, after giving pro forma effect to the private placement of CODES and the application of the proceeds therefrom, for the year ended September 30, 2003, assuming the sale of the CODES was completed on October 1, 2002. The pro forma information is based upon the assumption that the proceeds of the CODES were applied to repurchase the Company’s 8% senior notes on October 1, 2002.