-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 xwH5o7Lriigi9DFFg5HcDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194083-04-000003.txt : 20040323
<SEC-HEADER>0001194083-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040323
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040323155348
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194083-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040323

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SARAVIS CALVIN ALBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194083

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21615
		FILM NUMBER:		04685086

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		644 ROBIN LANE
		CITY:			GLENCOE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000830656</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOSTON BIOMEDICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194083</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SARAVIS CALVIN ALBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>644 ROBIN LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENCOE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options vest in four (4) equal quarterly installments on June 1, 2004, Sept 1, 2004, Dec 1, 2004 and March 1, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathi Benjamin/POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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