-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O8m0LD+cI2RcBKI4RpUKjxmx4vpAHR41znkvu+k7c+VdLIbrNp4+wQduv9MbguYN
 VfvCDH/QffLAHTX2/U5DRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001191157-04-000001.txt : 20040421
<SEC-HEADER>0001191157-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040421
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040421161911
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001191157-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040420
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040421

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILDER ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191157

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19720
		FILM NUMBER:		04745729

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ABAXIS INC
		STREET 2:		3240 WHIPPLE ROAD
		CITY:			UNION CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94587

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABAXIS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000881890
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				770213001
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3240 WHIPPLE
		STREET 2:		ROAD
		CITY:			UNION CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94587
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(510) 675-6500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3240 WHIPPLE
		STREET 2:		ROAD
		CITY:			UNION CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94587
</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>2004-04-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000881890</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABAXIS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABAX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191157</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILDER ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ABAXIS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3240 WHIPPLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>UNION CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94587</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operations Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>218658</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options granted under the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan.  Options vest at the rate of one-fourth on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/48 for each full month thereafter.  Options may be exercised to the extent vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes - (a) 43,200 shares of common stock; (b) 175,458 shares subject to options exercisable by Mr. Robert Milder as of 4/21/2004; (c) 93,542 shares granted, of which 93,542 shares are unvested as of 4/21/2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert Milder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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