-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893160-06-000007.txt : 20060525
<SEC-HEADER>0000893160-06-000007.hdr.sgml : 20060525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060525150726
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893160-06-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060525
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000893160
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				942976937
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85755
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-227-2155

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85755

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GILES EDWARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057677
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20931
		FILM NUMBER:		06866972

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 EAST COTTAGE PL
		CITY:			CARPENTERSVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		520-229-3875

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85737
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2006-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000893160</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001057677</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GILES EDWARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1910 INNOVATION PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TUCSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                    <value>84791</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>3835</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.063</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>17634</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96322</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>114750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote 1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote 2</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
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                <value>5.063</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.063</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-04-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
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                <value>2007-04-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.688</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <value>1998-04-30</value>
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                <value>2008-04-30</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>6600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
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                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.063</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-11-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>33000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Edward M. Giles IRA Fiduciary Trust</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person receives a performance related fee in connection with the management of an investment portfolio that includes securities of the issuer</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock options vest monthly over a five year period commencing 5/6/99 with full vesting on 5/6/04.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nicholas Malden as Attorney in Fact for Edward Giles</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----