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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950103-08-000405.txt : 20080219
<SEC-HEADER>0000950103-08-000405.hdr.sgml : 20080218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080219201742
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950103-08-000405
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080219

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:			ROCHE HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904566
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20931
		FILM NUMBER:		08628159

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 NORTH ORANGE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE #1050
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19801-1184
		BUSINESS PHONE:		302 425 4701

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 NORTH ORANGE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE #1050
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19801-1184
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dp08709_4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904566</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROCHE HOLDINGS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1220 NORTH MARKET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 334</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19801-2535</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1631294</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>89.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35798666</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1073060</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>89.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to a tender offer by Rocket Acquisition Corporation, which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
 Roche Holdings, Inc., which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Roche Holding Ltd., pursuant to an agreement and plan
 of merger dated as of January 21, 2008 among Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Roche Holdings, Inc. and Rocket Acquisition
 Corporation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes certain shares to be delivered pursuant to a notice of guaranteed delivery.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 1,111,343 shares tendered pursuant to a notice of guaranteed delivery which were not delivered as of February 15,
 2008 but were converted into the right to receive $89.50 per share pursuant to the merger described in footnote (4)
 below.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.'s outstanding common stock was converted into the right to receive $89.50 per share pursuant to the
 merger of Rocket Acquisition Corporation, which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Roche Holdings, Inc., which is an
 indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Roche Holding Ltd., with and into Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. on February 19, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Carol Fiederlein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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