<PAGE>   1

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 1996

                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             
                            -----------------------
                            
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            -----------------------

                               QUIDEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                                       94-2573850
  (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

                            -----------------------

                              10165 MCKELLAR COURT
                          SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
                                 (619) 552-1100
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                            -----------------------

                        1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             (Full Title of Plan)   

                            -----------------------

                               STEVEN T. FRANKEL
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               QUIDEL CORPORATION
                              10165 MCKEILAR COURT
                          SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
                                 (619) 552-1100
          (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)

                            -----------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================================================================================================
                                                               PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                               MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
                                            AMOUNT             OFFERING         AGGREGATE       AMOUNT OF
         TITLE OF SECURITIES                TO BE              PRICE PER        OFFERING       REGISTRATION
          TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED(1)         SHARE(2)         PRICE(2)           FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------          
 <S>                                    <C>                    <C>             <C>              <C>
 COMMON STOCK, $.001 PAR VALUE          750,000 SHARES         $4.375          $3,281,250       $1,131.47
=========================================================================================================== 
</TABLE>

(1)  There is also being registered hereunder such additional undetermined
     number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued from time to time as a
     result of the anti-dilution provisions of the Plan.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rules 457(h) and 457(c) and based on the high and low prices
     of the Common Stock of Quidel Corporation as reported on August 16, 1996
     on the NASDAQ National Market System.

===============================================================================



                                       1
<PAGE>   2



                                  INTRODUCTION
                                  ------------

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Quidel
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") relating to an additional
750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), issuable under the Company's 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan"), and consists of only those items required by General Instruction
E to Form S-8.


            INCORPORATION OF PREVIOUSLY FILED REGISTRATION STATEMENT
            --------------------------------------------------------

         The contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration
No. 33-39175, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 6, 1991 by the Company are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof.


ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

         4.1     Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (filed
                 as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                 dated February 26, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference)

         4.2     Certificate of Designations of the Series B Preferred Stock of
                 the Company (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current
                 Report on Form 8-K dated January 5, 1995, and incorporated
                 herein by reference)

         4.3     Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit
                 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 16,
                 1995, and incorporated herein by reference)

         5       Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality of
                 the securities being registered

         23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors

         23.2    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

         24      Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto)





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for a filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on August 6,
1996.


                                           QUIDEL CORPORATION


                                           By: /s/  STEVEN T. FRANKEL
                                               ------------------------------
                                                    Steven T. Frankel
                                                    President and Chief
                                                    Executive Officer



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
STEVEN T. FRANKEL and STEVEN C. BURKE his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full powers of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, each acting alone, with full powers and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about
the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

 SIGNATURE                                                 TITLE                            DATE
 ---------                                                 -----                            ----
 <S>                                       <C>                                           <C>

  /s/ RICHARD C.E. MORGAN                        Chairman of the Board                  August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------                                                                       
      Richard C.E. Morgan


 /s/  STEVEN T. FRANKEL                     President and Chief Executive Officer       August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------            (Principal Executive Officer)                                     
      Steven T. Frankel                                 and Director        
                                                                            


 /s/  STEVEN C. BURKE                            Vice President-Finance and             August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------         Administration and Chief Financial       
      Steven C. Burke                        Officer (Principal Financial and
                                                     Accounting Officer)


 /s/  JOHN D. DIEKMAN, Ph.D.                              Director                      August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------                                                                         
      John D. Diekman, Ph.D.


 /s/  THOMAS A. GLAZE                                     Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                                
      Thomas A. Glaze
</TABLE>





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>

 <S>                                                     <C>                           <C>
 
/s/  MARY LAKE POLAN, M.D., Ph.D.                        Director
 ---------------------------------                                                       August 6, 1996
      Mary Lake Polan, M.D., Ph.D



 /s/  FAYE WATTLETON                                      Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                                 
      Faye Wattleton


 /s/  ROGER F. GREAVES                                    Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                               
      Roger F. Greaves



 /s/  ROCKELL N. HANKIN                                   Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                              
      Rockell N. Hankin


 /s/  MARGARET G. McGLYNN, R.Ph.                          Director                      August 7, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                      
      Margaret G. McGlynn, R.Ph.

</TABLE>





                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Exhibit No.       Description
       -----------       -----------
         <S>             <C>
         4.1*            Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended


         4.2*            Certificate of Designations of the Series B Preferred Stock of the Company


         4.3*            Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company


         5               Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality of the securities being
                         registered


         23.1            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors


         23.2            Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)


         24              Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereof)
</TABLE>


- ------------------
*  Incorporated herein by reference.  See sequentially numbered page 2.
                  
                  
                  
                                       5
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12222}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "QUIDEL CORP /DE/", "cik": "0000353569", "assigned-sic": "2835", "irs-number": "942573850", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-10505", "film-number": "96618255"}, "business-address": {"street1": "10165 MCKELLAR CT", "city": "SAN DIEGO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92121", "phone": "6195521100"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES INC /DE/", "date-changed": "19910210"}}
1

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 1996

                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             
                            -----------------------
                            
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            -----------------------

                               QUIDEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                                       94-2573850
  (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

                            -----------------------

                              10165 MCKELLAR COURT
                          SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
                                 (619) 552-1100
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                            -----------------------

                        1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             (Full Title of Plan)   

                            -----------------------

                               STEVEN T. FRANKEL
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               QUIDEL CORPORATION
                              10165 MCKEILAR COURT
                          SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
                                 (619) 552-1100
          (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)

                            -----------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===========================================================================================================
                                                               PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                               MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
                                            AMOUNT             OFFERING         AGGREGATE       AMOUNT OF
         TITLE OF SECURITIES                TO BE              PRICE PER        OFFERING       REGISTRATION
          TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED(1)         SHARE(2)         PRICE(2)           FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON STOCK, $.001 PAR VALUE          750,000 SHARES         $4.375          $3,281,250       $1,131.47
===========================================================================================================
(1)  There is also being registered hereunder such additional undetermined
     number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued from time to time as a
     result of the anti-dilution provisions of the Plan.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rules 457(h) and 457(c) and based on the high and low prices
     of the Common Stock of Quidel Corporation as reported on August 16, 1996
     on the NASDAQ National Market System.

===============================================================================

                                       1
2

                                  INTRODUCTION
                                  ------------

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Quidel
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") relating to an additional
750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), issuable under the Company's 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan"), and consists of only those items required by General Instruction
E to Form S-8.

            INCORPORATION OF PREVIOUSLY FILED REGISTRATION STATEMENT
            --------------------------------------------------------

         The contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration
No. 33-39175, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 6, 1991 by the Company are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

         4.1     Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (filed
                 as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                 dated February 26, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference)

         4.2     Certificate of Designations of the Series B Preferred Stock of
                 the Company (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current
                 Report on Form 8-K dated January 5, 1995, and incorporated
                 herein by reference)

         4.3     Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit
                 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 16,
                 1995, and incorporated herein by reference)

         5       Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality of
                 the securities being registered

         23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors

         23.2    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

         24      Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto)

                                       2
3
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for a filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on August 6,
1996.

                                           QUIDEL CORPORATION

                                           By: /s/  STEVEN T. FRANKEL
                                               ------------------------------
                                                    Steven T. Frankel
                                                    President and Chief
                                                    Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
STEVEN T. FRANKEL and STEVEN C. BURKE his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full powers of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, each acting alone, with full powers and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about
the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the date indicated.
SIGNATURE                                                 TITLE                            DATE
 ---------                                                 -----                            ----
/s/ RICHARD C.E. MORGAN                        Chairman of the Board                  August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------                                                                       
      Richard C.E. Morgan

 /s/  STEVEN T. FRANKEL                     President and Chief Executive Officer       August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------            (Principal Executive Officer)                                     
      Steven T. Frankel                                 and Director        
                                                                            

 /s/  STEVEN C. BURKE                            Vice President-Finance and             August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------         Administration and Chief Financial       
      Steven C. Burke                        Officer (Principal Financial and
                                                     Accounting Officer)

 /s/  JOHN D. DIEKMAN, Ph.D.                              Director                      August 6, 1996
- -----------------------------------                                                                         
      John D. Diekman, Ph.D.

 /s/  THOMAS A. GLAZE                                     Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                                
      Thomas A. Glaze
3
4
/s/  MARY LAKE POLAN, M.D., Ph.D.                        Director
 ---------------------------------                                                       August 6, 1996
      Mary Lake Polan, M.D., Ph.D

 /s/  FAYE WATTLETON                                      Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                                 
      Faye Wattleton

 /s/  ROGER F. GREAVES                                    Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                               
      Roger F. Greaves

 /s/  ROCKELL N. HANKIN                                   Director                      August 6, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                              
      Rockell N. Hankin

 /s/  MARGARET G. McGLYNN, R.Ph.                          Director                      August 7, 1996
- ----------------------------------                                                                      
      Margaret G. McGlynn, R.Ph.
4
5
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.       Description
       -----------       -----------
4.1*            Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended

         4.2*            Certificate of Designations of the Series B Preferred Stock of the Company

         4.3*            Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company

         5               Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality of the securities being
                         registered

         23.1            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors

         23.2            Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)

         24              Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereof)
- ------------------
*  Incorporated herein by reference.  See sequentially numbered page 2.
                  
                  
                  
                                       5