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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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001242661-04-000089.txt : 20041217
<SEC-HEADER>0001242661-04-000089.hdr.sgml : 20041217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041217163601
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001242661-04-000089
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041217

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:			DELLA PENTA DAVID T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248746

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10920
		FILM NUMBER:		041211737

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		LIBERTY LANE
		CITY:			HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001248746d20041217f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880430</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248746</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DELLA PENTA DAVID T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LIBERTY LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMPTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03842</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRES\CHIEF OPER. OFFICER</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.867</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>74387</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale of shares was accomplished pursuant to a 10b5-1(c) sales plan adopted on December 2, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sales price shown is the aggregate sales price for all option shares sold on December 15, 2004, actual denominations are as follows: 1,100 shares at $59.66; 9,400 shares at $59.75; 400 shares at $59.78; 400 shares at $59.80; 1,000 shares at $59.82; 200 shares at $59.83; 1,400 shares at $59.84; 4,500 shares at 59.85; 2,700 shares at $59.90; 200 shares at $59.91; 5,600 shares at $59.92; 1,700 shares at $59.93; 400 shares at $59.94; 5,400 shares at $59.95; 1,000 shares at $59.96; 500 shares at $60.00; 300 shares at $60.02; 400 shares at $60.07; 200 shares at $60.10; 700 shares at $60.22.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Todd M. DuChene</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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