SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1 and 13d-2
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT 1934(1)
DIGENE CORPORATION
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(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE
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(Title of Class of Securities)
253752 10 9
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(CUSIP Number)
[Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this
Statement. [ ] (A fee is not required only if the reporting
person: (1) has a previous statement on file reporting beneficial
ownership of more than five percent of the class of securities
described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of
such class. (See Rule 13d-7.)]
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(1) The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to
the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided
in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall
be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
Page 1
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 253752 10 9 13G Page 2 of 5 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
MUREX DIAGNOSTICS CORPORATION
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
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NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY ----------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON
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10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES* [ ]
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11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
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*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
Page 2
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SCHEDULE 13G
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ITEM 1(A). NAME OF ISSUER:
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Digene Corporation (the "Issuer").
ITEM 1(B). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
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OFFICES:
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9000 Virginia Manor Road
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
ITEM 2(A). NAME OF PERSON FILING:
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Murex Diagnostics Corporation ("Murex").
ITEM 2(B). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:
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Murex Diagnostics Corporation
Second Floor
Trident House
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Barbados
ITEM 2(C). CITIZENSHIP:
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Murex is a Barbados corporation.
ITEM 2(D). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
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Common Stock, $.01 par value
ITEM 2(E). CUSIP NUMBER:
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253752 10 9
ITEM 3. TYPE OF PERSON:
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Not applicable
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP.
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Not applicable
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.
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If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as
of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the
beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of
securities, check the following, [X].
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF
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ANOTHER PERSON.
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Not applicable.
Page 3
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ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE
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SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING
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REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY.
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Not applicable
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF
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THE GROUP.
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Not applicable
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.
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Not applicable.
Page 4
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ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION.
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By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above
were acquired in the ordinary course of business and
were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have
the effect of changing or influencing the control of
the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having such purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
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After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and accurate.
Dated: February 12, 1998
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MUREX DIAGNOSTICS CORPORATION
/s/ Peet Van Jaarsveld
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By: Peet Van Jaarsveld,
Managing Director