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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 VEHfn26TzgLplRc+yjHAyg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001242661-03-000020.txt : 20030930
<SEC-HEADER>0001242661-03-000020.hdr.sgml : 20030930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030930173229
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001242661-03-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030926
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030930

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880430
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PROFESSIONAL & COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5040]
		IRS NUMBER:				020451017
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LIBERTY LANE
		CITY:			HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6039265911

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LIBERTY LANE
		CITY:			LIBEHAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEISTER PAUL M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001033876

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10920
		FILM NUMBER:		03918476

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18 SHIP ROCK ROAD
		CITY:			NORTH HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03862
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6039265911

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18 SHIP ROCK ROAD
		CITY:			NORTH HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03862
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001033876d20030930f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-26</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000880430</issuerCik><issuerName>FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001033876</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MEISTER PAUL M</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>LIBERTY LANE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HAMPTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>03842</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDe
rivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>39.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-26</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-30</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-09-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>300000</value></un
derlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>300000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This stock option becomes exercisable in five equal quarterly installments of 20% of the total grant beginning on the following dates: December 30, 2003; March 30, 2004; June 30, 2004; September 30, 2004; and December 30; 2004.  Shares acquired upon exercise will be subject to substantial restrictions on transfer for 1 year following the date of exercise.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Todd M. DuChene</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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