Exhibit
10.1


December 12, 2006


John Radak


Dear John:


We are pleased to
extend the following offer of employment to you:


	
  Title:

  	
   

  	
  Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Reporting to:

  	
   

  	
  Caren Mason, President & CEO

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Compensation:

  	
   

  	
  $280,000 annually

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Signing Bonus:

  	
   

  	
  Upon commencing employment with QUIDEL Corporation,
  you will receive a one-time lump sum bonus of $50,000 (gross), to be paid
  within the first week of employment.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Annual Bonus:

  	
   

  	
  You will participate in the bonus plan with a target
  bonus of 40% at achievement of plan. Your eligibility for this plan will be
  prorated in 2005.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Stock Options:

  	
   

  	
  You will receive an option to purchase 100,000
  shares of common QUIDEL stock. The vesting schedule for this option will be
  25% on the first year anniversary of the Option Grant Date and the remaining
  75% will vest quarterly over the next three years. The purchase price will be
  the closing NASDAQ market price of QUIDEL’s stock on your actual start date.
  These options are subject to approval of the Board of Directors.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Educational

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Assistance:

  	
   

  	
  You will receive $25,000 annually for each of four
  (4) years, associated with continuation of your MBA studies. This amount,
  which is separate from, and in addition to, eligibility in the annual bonus
  plan, will be payable within one week of hire and annually thereafter on the
  anniversary date as long as you continue to successfully progress through the
  MBA program and, having complete the MBA, remain employed with the company.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Vacation Benefit:

  	
   

  	
  You will receive four weeks of vacation per year,
  accrued from your anniversary date.

  



 









 



 


	
  Severance:

  	
   

  	
  You will be entitled to a payment equivalent to half
  your annual salary (six months) in the event that your employment is severed
  without cause and for reasons not subject to change in control provisions.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Change in Control

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Provisions:

  	
   

  	
  You will be provided with change of control
  protection as outlined for other officers. Details of this protection are
  contained in the attached Agreement re: Change in Control.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Start Date:

  	
   

  	
  February, 2007, the exact date TBD

  



 


In
addition to the above, as a QUIDEL employee, you will be eligible to
participate in our benefits programs, which will take effect on your first day
of employment.  A summary of these
benefits is enclosed.  Details of these
benefit plans will be provided to you upon your employment.


As
a condition of employment with QUIDEL Corporation, you will be required to: (1)
read, sign and return one copy of the enclosed Invention and Confidential
Information Agreement;  (2) within the
first three days of employment, you must provide documents from the enclosed
List of Acceptable Documents (I-9) which prove your identity and right to work
in the United States; and (3) read, sign and return one copy of page 5 of the
enclosed Employee Code of Conduct.


This offer of employment
is contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment drug screen, background and reference check.


QUIDEL Corporation is an
at-will employer.  This means that you
have the right to terminate your employment with QUIDEL at any time, for any
reason, with or without notice.  Similarly,
QUIDEL has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, for
any reason, with or without notice.  Any
contrary representations, which may have been made to you, are superseded by
this offer.  Any modifications to this “at-will”
term of your employment must be in writing and signed by you and QUIDEL’s
President.


If you should voluntarily
leave the company within one year of beginning work, you will be required to
repay a prorated portion of your signing bonus. 
You must make this repayment within 30 days of providing notice of your
resignation.


This offer expires seven
business days from the date of this letter. 
Please indicate your acceptance of our offer by signing on the following
page and returning a copy of this letter to Human Resources as soon as possible.



 2
 






 



John, on behalf of Caren
Mason, the Board of Directors, and the entire QUIDEL team, we are looking
forward to having you join us as we work together to provide quality products
to the medical community and to create value for the employees and shareholders
of QUIDEL Corporation.


Sincerely,


Phyllis Huckabee

Vice President, Human Resources


cc:                                 Caren
Mason

Human Resources


Enclosures


I have read, understand
and accept these terms and conditions of employment.  I further understand that while my salary,
benefits, job title and job duties may change from time to time without a
written modification of this agreement, the at-will term of my employment is a
term of employment which cannot be altered or modified except in writing,
signed by me and QUIDEL’s President.


	
  John Radak

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  December 18, 2006

  
	
  Signature

  	
   

  	
  Date

  



 



 3