<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001162194-18-000096.txt : 20180822
<SEC-HEADER>0001162194-18-000096.hdr.sgml : 20180822
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180822170058
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001162194-18-000096
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180822
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180822

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Linthwaite Stephen Christopher
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001680808

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34180
		FILM NUMBER:		181032986

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FLUIDIGM CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		7000 SHORELINE COURT, SUITE 100
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLUIDIGM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001162194
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				770513190
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 SHORELINE COURT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6502666000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 SHORELINE COURT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_153497164208170.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001162194</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLUIDIGM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLDM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001680808</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Linthwaite Stephen Christopher</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FLUIDIGM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7000 SHORELINE COURT, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>130621</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>4750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4750.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45917</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7812</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7812.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>117188</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the contingent right to receive one share of FLDM common stock upon vesting of the unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On February 13, 2017, the Reporting Person was granted 76,000  Restricted Stock Units of which 4/48th of the total number of shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units granted vested on May 20, 2017, and 3/48th of the total number of shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units granted have vested and will vest every three months thereafter until fully vested, subject to recipient's continued status as a Service Provider (as defined in the Company's 2011 Equity Incentive Plan) through the applicable vest date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On June 11, 2018, the Reporting Person was granted 125,000 Restricted Stock Units of which 3/48th of the total number of shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units granted vested on August 20, 2018, and 3/48th of the total number of shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units granted will vest every three months thereafter until fully vested, subject to recipient's continued status as a Service Provider (as defined in the Company's 2011 Equity Incentive Plan) through the applicable vest date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen Christopher Linthwaite by Nicholas Khadder, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
