SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

         CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 31, 1999.




                                  BioTime, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   California                         1-12830                   94-3127919
(State or other               (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of incorporation)                             Identification No.)

                                935 Pardee Street
                           Berkeley, California 94710
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (510) 845-9535
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)









         Statements  made in this  Report  that  are not  historical  facts  may
constitute   forward-looking   statements   that  are   subject   to  risks  and
uncertainties  that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those
discussed. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to BioTime's
ability to obtain foreign  regulatory  approval to market  Hextend;  competition
from products  manufactured and sold or being developed by other companies;  the
price of and demand  for  Hextend;  BioTime's  ability  to  negotiate  favorable
foreign licensing or other  manufacturing and marketing  agreements for Hextend;
the  availability  of  ingredients  used in  Hextend;  and the  availability  of
reimbursement  for the cost of Hextend (and related  treatment)  from government
health  administration  authorities,  private health coverage insurers and other
organizations.  These and other risk factors are  discussed in BioTime's  Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Item 5.  Other Events.

         On March 31, 1999,  BioTime  received  approval  from the United States
Food and Drug  Administration to market  Hextend,(R)  BioTime's  physiologically
balanced  blood  plasma  volume  expander,  for the  treatment  of  hypovolemia.
Hypovolemia is a condition  often  associated  with blood loss during surgery or
from  injury.  Hextend  maintains  circulatory  system  fluid volume and oncotic
pressure and keeps vital organs  perfused  during  surgery.  Hextend is the only
blood  plasma  volume  expander  that  contains  hetastarch,   buffer,  multiple
electrolytes, and glucose.



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            BIOTIME, INC.

                                           /s/Paul Segall
Date:  April 5, 1999                 By _______________________________________
                                           Paul E. Segall,
                                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer