-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O7x093rnhd1BbUGqaZHIH0Msir4TeyKR/3tBKICjjKeGULyj4V0vya4TLULGaVpu
 gbsxfKgUM5te5Y+f0jWvCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-020885.txt : 20030917
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-020885.hdr.sgml : 20030917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030917121043
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-020885
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:			PETERSON DAVID F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194069

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21615
		FILM NUMBER:		03898984

	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>0001194069</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSON DAVID F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1315 ALABAMA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTINGTON BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92648</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>363</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>2.006</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>2649</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>3.25</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1998-10-15</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2007-10-15</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>4000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>4000</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>1999-12-17</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2008-12-17</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>11000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>11000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>2.50</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2001-12-18</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2010-12-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>15000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>15000</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>David F. Petersen</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----