<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000736822</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMMUCOR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLUD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001395989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Moise Philip H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3130 GATEWAY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORCROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>General Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19239</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49197</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option, right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17017</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-06-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.10 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17017</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17017</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock is restricted stock issued pursuant to the Companys 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">41,972 of the total represents restricted stock which has not yet vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Philip Moise, by Rebecca Girod</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-06-07
0
0000736822
IMMUCOR INC
BLUD
0001395989
Moise Philip H
3130 GATEWAY DRIVE
NORCROSS
GA
30071
0
1
0
0
General Counsel & Secretary
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
2010-06-07
4
A
0
19239
0
A
49197
D
Stock option, right to buy
19.1
2010-06-07
4
A
0
17017
0
A
2011-06-07
2016-06-07
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
17017
17017
D
The stock is restricted stock issued pursuant to the Companys 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.
41,972 of the total represents restricted stock which has not yet vested.
Philip Moise, by Rebecca Girod
2010-06-15