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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>0001015325-09-000005.txt : 20090116
<SEC-HEADER>0001015325-09-000005.hdr.sgml : 20090116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090116131723
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001015325-09-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			mccarthy stephen
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001440473

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-22302
		FILM NUMBER:		09530670

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-391-9400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 CAMBRIDGE DRIVE
		CITY:			ELK GROVE VILLAGE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ISCO INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000888693
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS [3825]
		IRS NUMBER:				363688459
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 CAMBRIDGE DRIVE
		CITY:			ELK GROVE VILLAGE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8473919400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 CAMBRIDGE DRIVE
		CITY:			ELK GROVE VILLAGE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000888693</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ISCO INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001440473</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>mccarthy stephen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1001 CAMBRIDGE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELK GROVE VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60007</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, par value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted shares of common stock granted to Mr. McCarthy under the issuer's non-employee director compensation policy, and pursuant to the terms of its 2003 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">No purchase price was paid for this grant of restricted stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rachel Williams Mantz, Attorney-in-fact for Stephen McCarthy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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