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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 /IPPtZ4OwAyyLbk4FmwXnQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-020884.txt : 20030917
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-020884.hdr.sgml : 20030917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030917120806
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-020884
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MANAK MARK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194085

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21615
		FILM NUMBER:		03898978

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOSTON BIOMEDIA INC
		STREET 2:		375 WEST STREET
		CITY:			WEST BRIDGEWATER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02379
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5085801900

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSTON BIOMEDICA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000830656
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				042652826
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 WEST STREET
		CITY:			WEST BRIDGEWATER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02379
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5085801900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 WEST ST
		CITY:			WEST BRIDGEWATER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02379
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-09-03</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000830656</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOSTON BIOMEDICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBII</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194085</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MANAK MARK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 STANLEY PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAUREL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20707</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-09-03</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>518</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>2.006</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>24507</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>4000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>Daughter</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>3.25</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1997-02-28</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2006-02-28</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>2500</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>2500</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>3.25</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1999-04-14</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2008-04-14</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>6000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>6000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>4.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2001-02-03</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2010-02-03</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>5000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>5000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>3.08</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-11-03</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2012-02-11</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>11500</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>11500</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>2.70</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-12-02</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2012-12-02</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>35000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>35000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Table II, Column 6 - Grant to reporting person of option to buy the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Table II, Column 7 .  The options become exercisable in 25 percent annual increments beginning on the date set forth in Table II, Column 6.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Mark M. Manak</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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