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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,
 CbajOr5+Rh/2nByLEW1vRKHrhTqbsOz93z3i/w7MW/x+a362kXQPD3dSjbXFmbU4
 cYuD1UfSvx7ahFgJihWvew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903574-04-000023.txt : 20041207
<SEC-HEADER>0000903574-04-000023.hdr.sgml : 20041207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041207131344
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903574-04-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041206
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOSITE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000834306
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				330288606
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11030 ROSELLE ST
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6194554808

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11030 ROSELLE ST
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIOSITE DIAGNOSTICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960710

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREENE HOWARD E JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903574

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21873
		FILM NUMBER:		041188078

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6195522200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9360 TOWNE CENTRE DR
		STREET 2:		#100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000834306</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOSITE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSTE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENE HOWARD E JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BIOSITE INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11030 ROSELLE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>55.6476</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>269869</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust - Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on August 3, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Robyn Shutak  For: Howard E. Greene, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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