-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893160-08-000005.txt : 20080130
<SEC-HEADER>0000893160-08-000005.hdr.sgml : 20080130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080130104617
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893160-08-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080130

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:			GROGAN THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001134547

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20931
		FILM NUMBER:		08560056

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DR
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85737
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2008-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

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            <rptOwnerName>GROGAN THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1910 E INNOVATION PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TUCSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Medical Affairs &amp; Founder</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5202</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.06</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79776</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>588</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>89</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5202</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.06</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.188</value>
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                <value>2008-01-28</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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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2525</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.188</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-10-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-10-30</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2525</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options vest 20% after one year and 1/60th each month thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leslie Oaks as Attorney in Fact for Thomas Grogan, M.D.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----