<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001174567-18-000020.txt : 20180320
<SEC-HEADER>0001174567-18-000020.hdr.sgml : 20180320
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180320101421
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001174567-18-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180316
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180320
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180320

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHAW THOMAS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174567

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16465
		FILM NUMBER:		18700866

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 LOBO LANE
		CITY:			LITTLE ELM
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75068

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RETRACTABLE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000946563
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				752599762
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 LOBO LANE
		CITY:			LITTLE ELM
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75068-0009
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9722941010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 LOBO LANE
		CITY:			LITTLE ELM
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75068-0009
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-03-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946563</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RETRACTABLE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RVP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAW THOMAS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>511 LOBO LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLE ELM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75068</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.9676</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13341688</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.975</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13343188</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4270000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Voting or Investment Control</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The purchases reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Purchase Plan entered into September 29, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the weighted average purchase price.  Mr. Shaw will provide on request to the SEC, the Issuer, or any security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Shaw has investment power over 1,500,000 shares as Trustee for the benefit of family members.  Mr. Shaw has voting control over the remainder of the shares pursuant to a voting agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas J. Shaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
