UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


          Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 9, 2006


                            IRIS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          DELAWARE                    1-11181                    94-2579751
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission               (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation)              File Number)             Identification No.)


                                9172 ETON AVENUE
                              CHATSWORTH, CA 91311
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices/Zip Code)


                                 (818) 709-1244
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


         Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (SEE General Instruction A.2. below):

         |_|      Written   communications   pursuant  to  Rule  425  under  the
                  Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

         |_|      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
                  Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

         |_|      Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)
                  under the Exchange ct (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

         |_|      Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c))
                  under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))





ITEM 1.01         ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

         Effective  May 11,  2006,  in  connection  with  Martin  G.  Paravato's
resignation as our Chief Financial Officer,  we and Mr. Paravato entered into an
agreement with respect to the terms of his  resignation  as out Chief  Financial
Officer  and  continuing  employment   relationship  with  us  (the  "Separation
Agreement").  The  Separation  Agreement  entitles Mr.  Paravato to severance in
accordance  with  the  terms  of  his  employment   agreement  in  the  form  of
continuation  of his base  salary  from June 1, 2006  through  May 31,  2007 and
health insurance benefits for Mr. Paravato through the same period.  Pursuant to
the terms of the Separation Agreement we have also engaged Mr. Paravato to serve
us a part-time  employee  until March 31,  2007.  Mr.  Paravato has released all
claims against us.

         Effective  May 1, 2006, we entered into a Key Employee  Agreement  with
Donald C. Mueller (the "Mueller Employment Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of
the Mueller Employment  Agreement,  Mr. Mueller agreed to serve as our Corporate
Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  upon the  effectiveness  of Mr.
Paravato's   resignation  at  an  annual  salary  of  $275,000  per  year.  Upon
commencement  of his  employment  by the  Company  on May 1, 2006,  Mr.  Mueller
received a five-year  Incentive  Stock Option to purchase  121,000 shares of our
common stock  pursuant to our 1998 Stock Option Plan,  and 14,500  shares of our
common  stock  that  are  subject  to  certain   repurchase   rights  and  other
restrictions.  In the event Mr.  Mueller is terminated by us without  cause,  as
defined  in the  Mueller  Employment  Agreement,  he is  entitled  to  severance
payments  equal to his  salary  upon  termination  for a period of  twelve  (12)
months.

ITEM 5.02         DEPARTURE  OF DIRECTORS  OR  PRINCIPAL  OFFICERS;  ELECTION OF
                  DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

         RESIGNATION OF CURRENT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

         Effective May 11, 2006, Martin G. Paravato resigned his position as our
Vice President,  Chief Financial Officer and Corporate  Secretary,  which is our
principal  financial and accounting officer. In connection with his resignation,
we and Mr.  Paravato  entered  into an  agreement  outlining  the  terms  of his
resignation.  Reference is made to the  description of the Separation  Agreement
under Item 1.01 above,  which  description is  incorporated in this Item 5.02 by
this reference.

         APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

         Also effective May 11, 2006,  Donald C. Mueller,  age 42, was appointed
to replace  Mr.  Paravato as our Chief  Financial  Officer and will serve as our
principal  financial and accounting officer. In connection with his appointment,
we and Mr. Mueller  entered into an employment  agreement.  Reference is made to
the description of the Mueller Employment Agreement under Item 1.01 above, which
description is incorporated in this Item 5.02 by this reference.

         Immediately  prior to his  employment by us, Mr.  Mueller  worked as an
independent financial consultant.  Prior to consulting, Mr. Mueller was employed
by Transportation  Technologies Industries from 1998 through 2005, and served as
Treasurer and Chief Financial  Officer of that company from January 2000 through
April 2005.

         There are no understandings or arrangements between Mr. Mueller and any
other  person  pursuant  to which Mr.  Mueller was  selected as Chief  Financial
Officer.  Mr. Mueller does not have any family  relationship  with any director,
executive  officer or person  nominated  or chosen by our Board of  Directors to
become a director or executive officer.  Mr. Mueller joined us as an employee on
May 1, 2006, before being appointed as Chief Financial Officer.


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ITEM 9.01         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits.

                  The following exhibits are filed herewith:

                  EXHIBIT
                  NUMBER   DESCRIPTION
                  -------  -----------------------------------------------------

                  10.1     Separation   Agreement  by  and  between   Martin  G.
                           Paravato and IRIS International,  Inc., dated May 11,
                           2006.

                  10.2     Key Employee  Agreement by and between Donald Mueller
                           and IRIS International, Inc., dated May 1, 2006.

                  99.1     Press  Release  dated May 2, 2006,  published by IRIS
                           International, Inc.


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                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                           IRIS INTERNATIONAL, INC.



Date:    May 16, 2006             By:      /S/ CESAR M. GARCIA
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Cesar M. Garcia
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER      DESCRIPTION
-------     --------------------------------------------------------------------

10.1        Separation  Agreement  by and between  Martin G.  Paravato  and IRIS
            International, Inc., dated May 11, 2006.

10.2        Key  Employee  Agreement  by and  between  Donald  Mueller  and IRIS
            International, Inc., dated May 1, 2006.

99.1        Press  Release dated May 2, 2006,  published by IRIS  International,
            Inc.


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