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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                              HYCOR BIOMEDICAL INC.

                            1992 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

            1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to attract and retain
persons of ability as employees for Hycor Biomedical Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and its Subsidiaries and to provide such persons
with incentives and rewards for superior performance.

            2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan,

            "APPRECIATION RIGHT" means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 of
this Plan, including a Free-standing Appreciation Right and a Tandem
Appreciation Right.

            "AWARD SHARES" means an award of Common Shares pursuant to Section 9
of this Plan.

            "BASE PRICE" means the price to be used as the basis for determining
the Spread upon the exercise of a Free-standing Appreciation Right.

            "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

            "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.

            "COMMITTEE" means the committee described in Section 17(a) of this
Plan.

            "COMMON SHARES" means (i) shares of the common stock of the Company,
$.01 par value, and (ii) any security into which Common Shares may be converted
by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 11 of
this Plan.

            "DATE OF GRANT" means the date specified by the Committee on which a
grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares or Performance
Units or an award or sale of Restricted Shares or Deferred Shares shall become
effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes
action with respect thereto.

            "DEFERRAL PERIOD" means the period of time during which Deferred
Shares are subject to deferral limitations under Section 7 of this Plan.

            "DEFERRED SHARES" means an award pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan
of the right to receive Common Shares at the end of a specified Deferral Period.

            "FREE-STANDING APPRECIATION RIGHT" means an Appreciation Right
granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is not granted in tandem with an
Option Right or similar

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right.

            "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS" means Option Rights that are intended to
qualify as "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the Code or any
successor provision.

            "LESS-THAN-80-PERCENT SUBSIDIARY" means a subsidiary with respect to
which the Company directly or indirectly owns or controls less than 80 percent
of the total combined voting or other decision making power.

            "MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES" means any performance objectives established
pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance
Shares or Performance Units or, when so determined by the Committee, Restricted
Shares.

            "MARKET VALUE PER SHARE" means the fair market value of the Common
Shares. "Fair market value" shall mean: (a) if the Common Shares are traded on
an exchange, the closing price at which a share of Common Shares traded on the
date of valuation; (b) if the Common Shares are traded over-the-counter on the
NASDAQ System, the mean between the bid and asked closing prices of a share of
Common Shares on said System at the close of business on the date of valuation
or, if the Common Shares are designated a National Market System security, the
closing price at which a share of Common Shares traded on the date of valuation;
and (c) if neither (a) nor (b) applies, the fair market value as determined by
the Committee in good faith. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding
on all persons.

            "OPTIONEE" means the person so designated in an agreement evidencing
an outstanding Option Right.

            "OPTION PRICE" means the purchase price payable upon the exercise of
an Option Right.

            "OPTION RIGHT" means the right to purchase Common Shares upon
exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

            "PARTICIPANT" means a person who is selected by the Committee to
receive benefits under this Plan and (i) is at that time a full-time employee,
including employees who are members of the Board of Directors, of the Company or
any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) has agreed to commence serving in
any such capacity.

            "PERFORMANCE PERIOD" means, in respect of a Performance Share or
Performance Unit, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 of this
Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Performance Share
or Performance Unit are to be achieved.

            "PERFORMANCE SHARE" means a bookkeeping entry that records the
equivalent of one Common Share awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

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            "PERFORMANCE UNIT" means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit
equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

            "RELOAD OPTION RIGHTS" means additional Option Rights granted
automatically to an Optionee upon the exercise of Option Rights pursuant to
Section 4(f) of this Plan.

            "RESTRICTED SHARES" means Common Shares awarded or sold pursuant to
Section 6 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture
nor the restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 hereof have expired.

            "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (or any successor rule to the same effect), as in effect from
time to time.

            "SPREAD" means, in the case of a Free-standing Appreciation Right,
the amount by which the Market Value per Share on the date when any such right
is exercised exceeds the Base Price specified in such right or, in the case of a
Tandem Appreciation Right, the amount by which the Market Value per Share on the
date when any such right is exercised exceeds the Option Price specified in the
related Option Right.

            "SUBSIDIARY" means a corporation, partnership, joint venture,
unincorporated association or other entity in which the Company has a direct or
indirect ownership or other equity interest; provided, however, for purposes of
determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of
Incentive Stock Options, "Subsidiary" means any corporation in which the Company
owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50 percent of the total
combined voting power represented by all classes of stock issued by such
corporation at the time of such grant.

            "TANDEM APPRECIATION RIGHT" means an Appreciation Right granted
pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan that is granted in tandem with an Option
Right or any similar right granted under any other plan of the Company.

            3. SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 11 of this Plan, the number of Common Shares issued or
transferred (a) upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, (b)
as Award Shares, (c) as Restricted Shares and released from substantial risks of
forfeitures thereof, (d) as Deferred Shares, or (e) in payment of Performance
Shares or Performance Units that shall have been earned, shall not in the
aggregate exceed 1,000,000 Common Shares. Such shares may be Common Shares of
original issuance or Common Shares held in treasury or a combination thereof.
For purposes of this Section 3, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares and
Performance Shares shall be deemed to have been issued or transferred at the
earlier of the time when such shares are actually issued or transferred (and, in
the case of Restricted Shares, when they are no longer subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture) or

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when any dividends are paid thereon. In the event that Option Rights or
Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan expire or are terminated or canceled
unexercised as to any number of Common Shares, such shares may again be issued
under this Plan either pursuant to Option Rights, Appreciation Rights or other
awards under this Plan. In the event that Restricted Shares are issued under
this Plan and thereafter are forfeited or reacquired by the Company pursuant to
rights reserved upon issuance thereof, such forfeited and reacquired shares may
again be issued under this Plan, either as Restricted Shares or other awards
under this Plan.

            4. OPTION RIGHTS. The Committee may from time to time authorize
grants to Participants of options to purchase Common Shares upon such terms and
conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following
provisions:

      (a) Each grant shall specify the number of Common Shares to which it
      pertains and whether the option is intended as an Incentive Stock Option,
      a nonqualified stock option or a combination thereof.

      (b) Each grant shall specify an Option Price per Common Share, which shall
      be equal to or greater than the Market Value per Share on the Date of
      Grant.

      (c) Each grant shall specify the form of consideration to be paid in
      satisfaction of the Option Price and the manner of payment of such
      consideration, which may include (i) cash in the form of currency or check
      or other cash equivalent acceptable to the Company, (ii) nonforfeitable,
      unrestricted Common Shares, which are already owned by the Optionee and
      have a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the Option Price,
      (iii) any other legal consideration that the Committee may deem
      appropriate, including without limitation any form of consideration
      authorized under Section 4(d) below, on such basis as the Committee may
      determine in accordance with this Plan and (iv) any combination of the
      foregoing. For purposes of this Section, constructive delivery of shares
      shall be deemed equivalent to actual delivery.

      (d) On or after the Date of Grant of any Option Rights other than
      Incentive Stock Options, the Committee may determine that payment of the
      Option Price may also be made in whole or in part in the form of
      Restricted Shares or other Common Shares that are subject to risk of
      forfeiture or restrictions on transfer. Unless otherwise determined by the
      Committee on or after the Date of Grant, whenever any Option Price is paid
      in whole or in part by means of any of the forms of consideration
      specified in this Section 4(d), the Common Shares received by the Optionee
      upon the exercise of the Option Rights shall be subject to the same risks
      of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer as those that applied to the
      consideration surrendered by the Optionee; provided, however, that such
      risks of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer shall apply only to the
      same number of Common Shares received by the Optionee as applied to the
      forfeitable or restricted Common Shares surrendered by the Optionee.

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      (e) Any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from
      the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker of some or all of the Common
      Shares to which the exercise relates.

      (f) On or after the Date of Grant of any Option Rights, the Committee may
      provide for the automatic grant to the Optionee of Reload Option Rights
      upon the exercise of Option Rights, including Reload Option Rights, for
      Common Shares or any other noncash consideration authorized under Sections
      4(c) and (d) above.

      (g) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant regardless of
      whether any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain
      unexercised.

      (h) Each grant shall specify the period or periods of continuous
      employment of the Optionee by the Company or any Subsidiary that are
      necessary before the Option Rights or installments thereof shall become
      exercisable, provided, however, that in no event shall an Option Right
      become exercisable prior to six months from the Date of Grant; and each
      grant shall provide for the earlier exercise of such rights in the event
      of a change in control of the Company or other similar transaction or
      event.

      (i) Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options that are
      intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, including
      without limitation Incentive Stock Options, (ii) options that are not
      intended to so qualify or (iii) combinations of the foregoing.

      (j) No Option Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10
      years from the Date of Grant.

      (k) Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any grant of an
      Incentive Stock Option to an Optionee who owns more than ten percent (10%)
      of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of
      the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) shall specify an Option Price
      per share of Common Shares equal to or greater than one hundred ten
      percent (110%) of the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant and (ii)
      by its terms, shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years
      from the Date of Grant.

      (l) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be executed
      on behalf of the Company by an officer so authorized by the Committee and
      delivered to and accepted by the Optionee and shall contain such terms and
      provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan.

            5. APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee may also authorize grants to
Participants of Appreciation Rights. An Appreciation Right shall be a right of
the Participant to receive from the Company an amount, which shall be determined
by the Committee and shall be expressed as a percentage (not exceeding 100
percent) of the Spread at the time of the exercise of

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such right. Any grant of Appreciation Rights under this Plan shall be upon such
terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the
following provisions:

      (a) Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of an
      Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in cash, Common Shares or
      any combination thereof and may (i) either grant to the Participant or
      reserve to the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives or
      (ii) preclude the right of the Participant to receive and the Company to
      issue Common Shares or other equity securities in lieu of cash; provided,
      however, that no form of consideration or manner of payment that would
      cause Rule 16b-3 to cease to apply to this Plan shall be permitted.

      (b) Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of an
      Appreciation Right shall not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee
      on the Date of Grant.

      (c) Each grant shall specify (i) a waiting period or periods before
      Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable, provided, however, that in
      no event shall an Appreciation Right become exercisable prior to six
      months from the Date of Grant, and (ii) permissible dates or periods on or
      during which Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable.

      (d) Any grant may specify that an Appreciation Right may be exercised only
      in the event of a change in control of the Company or other similar
      transaction or event.

      (e) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be executed
      on behalf of the Company by an officer so authorized by the Committee and
      delivered to and accepted by the Optionee and shall describe the subject
      Appreciation Rights, identify any related Option Rights, state that the
      Appreciation Rights are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this
      Plan and contain such other terms and provisions as the Committee may
      determine consistent with this Plan.

      (f) Regarding Tandem Appreciation Rights only:

Each  grant shall provide that a Tandem Appreciation Right may be exercised only
      (i) at a time when the related Option Right (or any similar right granted
      under any other plan of the Company) is also exercisable and the Spread is
      positive and (ii) by surrender of the related Option Right (or such other
      right) for cancellation.

      (g) Regarding Free-standing Appreciation Rights only:

      (i) Each grant shall specify in respect of each Free-standing Appreciation
      Right a Base Price per Common Share, which shall be equal to or greater
      than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant;

      (ii) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant regardless of
      whether any

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      Free-standing Appreciation Rights previously granted to such Participant
      remain unexercised;

      (iii) Each grant shall specify the period or periods of continuous
      employment of the Participant by the Company or any Subsidiary that are
      necessary before the Free-standing Appreciation Rights or installments
      thereof shall become exercisable, provided, however, that in no event
      shall a Free-standing Appreciation Right become exercisable prior to six
      months from the Date of Grant; and each grant shall provide for the
      earlier exercise of such rights in the event of a change in control of the
      Company or other similar transaction or event; and

      (iv) No Free-standing Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be
      exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.

            6. RESTRICTED SHARES. The Committee may also authorize awards or
sales to Participants of Restricted Shares upon such terms and conditions as the
Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

      (a) Each award or sale shall constitute an immediate transfer of the
      ownership of a specified number of Common Shares to the Participant in
      consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant
      to dividend, voting and other ownership rights, subject to the substantial
      risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to.

      (b) Each award or sale may be made without additional consideration from
      the Participant or in consideration of a payment by the Participant that
      is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant, but not less
      than par value per share.

      (c) Each award or sale shall provide that the Restricted Shares covered
      thereby shall be subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture" within the
      meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the
      Committee on the Date of Grant, provided, however, that in no event shall
      such period be less than six months from the Date of Grant or sale; and
      each award or sale shall provide for the earlier termination of such
      period in the event of a change in control of the Company or other similar
      transaction or event.

      (d) Each award or sale shall provide that, during the period for which
      such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of
      the Restricted Shares shall be prohibited or restricted in the manner and
      to the extent prescribed by the Committee on the Date of Grant. Such
      restrictions may include without limitation rights of repurchase or first
      refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Shares to a
      continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee.

      (e) Any award or sale may be further conditioned upon the attainment of
      Management Objectives to be established and, if appropriate, adjusted by
      the Committee.

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      (f) Any award or sale may require that any or all dividends or other
      distributions paid on the Restricted Shares during the period of such
      restrictions be automatically sequestered and reinvested on an immediate
      or deferred basis in additional shares of Common Stock, which may be
      subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award or such other
      restrictions the Committee may determine.

      (g) Each award or sale shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be
      executed on behalf of the Company by an officer so authorized by the
      Committee and delivered to and accepted by the Participant and shall
      contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine
      consistent with this Plan. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all
      certificates representing Restricted Shares, together with a stock power
      that shall be endorsed in blank by the Participant with respect to such
      shares, shall be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions
      thereon lapse.

            7. DEFERRED SHARES. The Committee may also authorize awards or sales
of Deferred Shares to Participants upon such terms and conditions as the
Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

      (a) Each award or sale shall constitute the agreement by the Company to
      issue or transfer a specified number of Common Shares to the Participant
      in the future in consideration of the performance of services, subject to
      the fulfillment during the Deferral Period of such conditions as the
      Committee may specify.

      (b) Each award or sale may be made without additional consideration from
      the Participant or in consideration of a payment by the Participant that
      is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

      (c) Each award or sale shall provide that the Deferred Shares covered
      thereby shall be subject to a Deferral Period, which shall be fixed by the
      Committee on the Date of Grant, provided, however, that in no event shall
      such Deferral Period be less than six months from the Date of Grant; and
      each award or sale shall provide for the earlier termination of such
      period in the event of a change in control of the Company or other similar
      transaction or event.

      (d) During the Deferral Period, the Participant shall not have any right
      to transfer any rights under the subject award, shall not have any rights
      of ownership in the Deferred Shares and shall not have any right to vote
      such shares.

      (e) Each award or sale shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be
      executed on behalf of the Company by an officer so authorized by the
      Committee and delivered to and accepted by the Participant and shall
      contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine
      consistent with this Plan.

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            8. PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS. The Committee may also
authorize grants of Performance Shares and Performance Units, which shall become
payable to the Participant upon the achievement of specified Management
Objectives, upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in
accordance with the following provisions:

      (a) Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares or
      Performance Units to which it pertains, which may be subject to adjustment
      to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

      (b) The Performance Period with respect to each Performance Share or
      Performance Unit (i) shall be determined by the Committee on the Date of
      Grant, provided, however, that in no event shall such Performance Period
      be less than six months from the Date of Grant and (ii) shall be subject
      to earlier termination in the event of a change in control of the Company
      or other similar transaction or event.

      (c) Each grant shall specify the Management Objectives that are to be
      achieved by the Participant, which may be described in terms of
      Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance
      of the individual Participant or the Subsidiary, division, department or
      function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Participant is
      employed.

      (d) Each grant shall specify in respect of the specified Management
      Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no
      payment will be made and shall set forth a formula for determining the
      amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above such
      minimum acceptable level but falls short of full achievement of the
      specified Management Objectives.

      (e) Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of Performance
      Shares or Performance Units that shall have been earned, and any grant may
      specify that any such amount may be paid by the Company in cash, Common
      Shares or any combination thereof and may either grant to the Participant
      or reserve to the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives;
      provided, however, that no form of consideration or manner of payment that
      would cause Rule 16b-3 to cease to apply to this Plan shall be permitted.

      (f) Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that the amount payable
      with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee
      on the Date of Grant. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that the
      amount payable, or the number of Common Shares issued, with respect
      thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Committee on the Date of
      Grant.

      (g) The Committee may adjust Management Objectives and the related minimum
      acceptable level of achievement if, in the sole judgment of the Committee,
      events or

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      transactions have occurred after the Date of Grant that are unrelated to
      the performance of the Participant and result in distortion of the
      Management Objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of
      achievement.

      (h) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be executed
      on behalf of the Company by any officer so authorized by the Committee and
      delivered to and accepted by the Participant and shall state that the
      Performance Shares or Performance Units are subject to all of the terms
      and conditions of this Plan and such other terms and provisions as the
      Committee may determine consistent with this Plan.

            9. AWARD SHARES. The Committee may also authorize awards to
Participants of Award Shares. Each award shall constitute a transfer of Common
Shares to the Participant, without other payment therefore, as additional
compensation for his services to the Company.

            10. TRANSFERABILITY. (a) No Option Right or other derivative
security (as that term is used in Rule 16b-3) granted or awarded under this Plan
shall be transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution. Option Rights and Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable
during a Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or, in the event of the
Participant's legal incapacity, by his guardian or legal representative acting
in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under state law and court
supervision.

            (b) Any grant or award made under this Plan may provide that all or
any part of the Common Shares that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the
Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the
termination of the Deferral Period applicable to Deferred Shares or under a
grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or (ii) no longer subject to
the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in
Section 6 of this Plan, shall be subject to further restrictions upon transfer.

            11. ADJUSTMENTS. The Committee may make or provide for such
adjustments in the (a) number of Common Shares covered by outstanding Option
Rights, Appreciation Rights, Deferred Shares and Performance Shares granted or
awarded hereunder, (b) prices per share applicable to such Option Rights and
Appreciation Rights, and (c) kind of shares covered thereby, as the Committee in
its sole discretion may in good faith determine to be equitably required in
order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Optionees that
otherwise would result from (x) any stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the
Company, (y) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, spin-out, split-off, split-up,
reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets,
issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities of the Company or (z) any
other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the
foregoing. In the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee may
provide in substitution for any or all outstanding grants or awards under this
Plan such alternative consideration as it may in good faith determine to be
equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the
surrender of all awards so replaced. Moreover, the Committee may on or after the
Date of Grant provide in the agreement evidencing

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any grant or award under this Plan that the holder of the grant or award may
elect to receive an equivalent grant or award in respect of securities of the
surviving entity of any merger, consolidation or other transaction or event
having a similar effect, or the Committee may provide that the holder will
automatically be entitled to receive such an equivalent grant or award. The
Committee may also make or provide for such adjustments in the number of shares
specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion may
in good faith determine to be appropriate in order to reflect any transaction or
event described in this Section 11.

            12. FRACTIONAL SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue
any fractional Common Shares pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide
for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement thereof in cash.

            13. WITHHOLDING TAXES. To the extent that the Company is required to
withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any payment
made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under this Plan, and
the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it
shall be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such
benefit that the Participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory
to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes required to be withheld.
At the discretion of the Committee, such arrangements may include relinquishment
of a portion of such benefit. The Company and any Participant or such other
person may also make similar arrangements with respect to the payment of any
taxes with respect to which withholding is not required.

            14. PARTICIPATION BY EMPLOYEES OF A LESS-THAN-80-PERCENT-SUBSIDIARY.
As a condition to the effectiveness of any grant or award to be made hereunder
to a Participant who is an employee of a Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary,
regardless of whether such Participant is also employed by the Company or
another Subsidiary, the Committee may require the Less-Than-80-Percent
Subsidiary to agree to transfer to the Participant (as, if and when provided for
under this Plan and any applicable agreement entered into between the
Participant and the Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary pursuant to this Plan) the
Common Shares that would otherwise be delivered by the Company upon receipt by
the Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary of any consideration then otherwise payable
by the Participant to the Company. Any such award may be evidenced by an
agreement between the Participant and the Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary, in
lieu of the Company, on terms consistent with this Plan and approved by the
Committee and the Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary. All Common Shares so
delivered by or to a Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary will be treated as if they
had been delivered by or to the Company for purposes of Section 3 of this Plan,
and all references to the Company in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to the
Less-Than-80-Percent Subsidiary except with respect to the definitions of the
Board and the Committee and in other cases where the context otherwise requires.

            15. CERTAIN TERMINATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, HARDSHIP AND APPROVED LEAVES
OF ABSENCE. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in
the event of termination of employment by reason of death, disability, normal
retirement, early retirement with the consent of the Company or leave of absence
approved by the Company, or in the event of

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hardship or other special circumstances, of a Participant who holds an Option
Right or Appreciation Right that is not immediately and fully exercisable, any
Restricted Shares as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the
prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, any Deferred Shares as to
which the Deferral Period is not complete, any Performance Shares or Performance
Units that have not been fully earned, or any Common Shares that are subject to
any transfer restriction pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Plan, the Committee
may in its sole discretion take any action that it deems to be equitable under
the circumstances or in the best interests of the Company, including without
limitation waiving or modifying any limitation or requirement with respect to
any award under this Plan.

            16. FOREIGN EMPLOYEES. In order to facilitate the making of any
grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for
such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals, or who
are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of
America, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate
differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may
approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions
of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes
without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other
purpose; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements
or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with
the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless this Plan could have been
amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the
shareholders of the Company.

            17. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. (a) This Plan shall be administered
by a committee of the Board composed of members of the Board, each of whom shall
be a "disinterested person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, provided, however,
that the number of directors appointed to serve on the Committee shall not be a
number which would cause Rule 16b-3 to cease to be applicable to this Plan. A
majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the members
of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is
present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in
writing, shall be the acts of the Committee.

            (b) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any
provision of this Plan or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing
the grant or award of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares,
Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Award Shares, and any
determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or any
such agreement, notification or document, shall be final and conclusive. No
member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action taken or
determination made in good faith.

            18. AMENDMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS. (a) This Plan may be amended from
time to time by the Committee, but no such amendment shall increase the maximum
number of shares specified in Section 3 of this Plan except as expressly
authorized by this Plan, or cause Rule 16b-3 to become inapplicable to this
Plan, without the further approval of the stockholders of the Company.

                                       12
<PAGE>

            (b) With the concurrence of the affected Optionee, the Committee may
cancel any agreement evidencing Option Rights or any other grant or award
granted under this Plan. In the event of such cancellation, the Committee may
authorize the granting or awarding of new Option Rights or other grants or
awards hereunder, which may or may not cover the same number of Common Shares
that had been the subject of the prior award, in such manner, at such Option
Price and subject to such other terms, conditions and discretions as would have
been applicable under this Plan had the canceled Option Rights or other grant or
award not been granted.

            (c) This Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with
respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any
Subsidiary and shall not interfere in any way with any right that the Company or
any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate any Participant's employment or
other service at any time.

      (d)(i) To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any
      Option Right that was intended to qualify under particular provisions of
      the Code from so qualifying, such provision of this Plan shall be null and
      void with respect to such Option Right; provided, however, that such
      provision shall remain in effect with respect to other Option Rights, and
      there shall be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.

      (ii) Any award that may be made pursuant to an amendment to this Plan that
      shall have been adopted without the approval of the stockholders of the
      Company shall be null and void if it is subsequently determined that such
      approval was required in order for Rule 16b-3 to remain applicable to this
      Plan.

            (e) This Plan is intended to comply with and be subject to Rule
16b-3 as in effect prior to May 1, 1991. The Committee may at any time elect
that this Plan shall be subject to Rule 16b-3 as in effect on and after May 1,
1991.

                                       13<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                              HYCOR BIOMEDICAL INC.
                         NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
                           FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

            1. Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to assist Hycor Biomedical
Inc. (the "Company") in attracting and retaining dedicated and qualified persons
to serve as non-employee Directors of the Company.

            2. Shares. The total number of shares that may be issued or
transferred and sold pursuant to this Plan shall not exceed 325,000 shares of
the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), except to
the extent of adjustments authorized by Paragraph 6 of this Plan. Such shares
may be treasury shares or shares of original issue or a combination of the
foregoing. If any option terminates, expires or is cancelled with respect to any
shares of Common Stock, new options may thereafter be granted covering such
shares of Common Stock.

            3. Eligibility and Option Grants. The following options to purchase
Common Stock are hereby granted under this Plan:

            (a) Commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders of the
            Company to be held June 4, 1992, each non-employee director shall
            receive a grant of an option to purchase 6,000 shares of Common
            Stock on each Annual Meeting Date following his election as a
            director of the Company.

            (b) With respect to each person who first becomes a director of the
            Company after the Company's annual meeting of stockholders to be
            held on June 4, 1992 and who is a non-employee director, an
            additional one-time grant of an option to purchase 4,000 shares of
            Common Stock granted as of the date such person first becomes a
            non-employee director.

            (c) The date of grant under Paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) shall be as
            follows: under Paragraph 3(a), the Annual Meeting Date for the year
            in which the option was granted; and under Paragraph 3(b), the date
            such person first becomes a director. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
            for purposes of Paragraph 3(b), if the date on which a person first
            becomes a director falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the
            date of grant shall be the first business day following the date
            such person first becomes a director.

            (d) For purposes of this Paragraph 3, "Annual Meeting Date" means
            the date of the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company at
            which the directors are elected.

            4. Terms and Conditions of Options. Each option granted hereunder
shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto with the blanks appropriately filled. No option
granted under this Plan shall be transferable otherwise than (i) by will or the
laws of descent and distribution or (ii) pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, as in effect from time
to time or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules
thereunder. The option price per share of each such option shall be the fair
market value per share of Common Stock determined as of the date of grant. "Fair
Market Value" shall mean: (a) if

<PAGE>

the Common Stock is traded on an exchange, the closing price at which a share of
Common Stock is traded on the date of valuation; (b) if the Common Stock is
traded over-the-counter on the NASDAQ System, the mean between the bid and asked
closing prices of a share of Common Stock on said System at the close of
business on the date of valuation or, if the Common Stock is designated a
National Market System security, the closing price at which a share of Common
Stock traded on the date of valuation; and (c) if neither (a) nor (b) applies,
the fair market value as determined by the Committee in good faith. Such
determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

            5. Administration. This Plan shall be administered by a committee
(the "Committee") of members of the Board of Directors of the Company, appointed
by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board; provided, however, that the
number of directors appointed to serve on the Committee shall not be a number
which would cause Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (or any applicable successor rule to the same effect) to cease
to be applicable to this Plan.

            Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall
have the authority to construe and interpret this Plan and, to the extent not
otherwise defined herein, to define the terms used in this Plan; to prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this
Plan; and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan. The determinations of the Committee on all matters
referred to in this Paragraph 5 shall be conclusive.

            The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may
determine in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company. A majority of the
members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any such meeting. All
determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members at a
meeting or by the unanimous written consent of all members of the Committee. In
the event action by the Committee is taken by unanimous written consent, the
action of the Committee shall be deemed to be at the date the last Committee
member signs the consent.

            6. Adjustments Upon Capitalization and Corporate Changes. The
Committee may make or provide for such adjustments in the option price and in
the number or kind of shares of the Common Stock or other securities covered by
outstanding options as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good
faith, may determine is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of
the rights of optionees that would otherwise result from (a) any stock dividend,
stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the
capital structure of the Company, or (b) any merger, consolidation,
reorganization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, issuance of rights
or warrants to purchase stock, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event
having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, in the event of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is
not the surviving corporation and the agreement of merger or consolidation
provides for the assumption of options granted, and the Company's obligations,
under this Plan, the shares of common stock or securities of the successor
corporation may be issued under this Plan in lieu of shares of Common Stock,
subject to all the adjustments which the Committee may determine are equitably
required under this Paragraph 6 and such substitution of securities shall not
require the consent of any person who is granted options pursuant to this Plan.
The Committee may also make or provide for such adjustments in the number or
kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities (including, but not limited
to, shares of a successor referenced above) which may be sold under this Plan,
and in the number of shares granted to newly elected Directors under Paragraph
3(c) of this Plan, as such Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good
faith, may determine is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event
described in the two preceding sentences.

            7. Amendment. This Plan may be amended from time to time by the
Board of Directors, but without further approval by the stockholders of the
Company no such amendment shall (a) increase the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock that may be issued and sold under this Plan

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

(except that adjustments authorized by the last sentence of Paragraph 6 shall
not be limited by this provision) or (b) change the designation in Paragraph 3
of the class of persons eligible to receive options or (c) cause Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any
successor rule to the same effect), to cease to be applicable to this Plan. In
no event shall the provisions of this Plan relating to (i) the number of shares
of Common Stock for which an option may be granted, (ii) the option price, and
(iii) the timing of the grant and vesting of an option, be amended more than
once every six months, with the exception of amendments required to comport with
changes in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules promulgated thereunder.

            8. Effective Date. The effective date of this Plan shall be the date
of its approval by the Stockholders of the Company.

                                      -3-

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