<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>ex992.txt
<DESCRIPTION>99.2
<TEXT>


   EXHIBIT 99.2


   PRESS RELEASE

          Bio-Rad Announces Proposed Private Offering of $200
                  Million of Senior Subordinated Notes

   HERCULES, Calif., July 17, 2003-- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.(AMEX: BIO;
   BIO.B), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science
   research products and clinical diagnostics announced today that it intends
   to offer, subject to market and other conditions, up to $200 million
   aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated notes in a private
   offering. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from this
   offering to fund the purchase of its outstanding 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated
   Notes due 2007 pursuant to the tender offer announced by the Company today.

   The new senior subordinated notes have not been registered under the
   Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities laws, and
   will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule
   144A and in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S under the
   Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Unless so registered, the new senior
   subordinated notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except
   pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
   Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

   This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation
   of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these
   securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
   unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of
   any such state.

   Various statements made within this press release may constitute "forward-
   looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange
   Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities
   Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange
   Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks
   and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the
   Company's expectations.




</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
