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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRIS JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3130 GATEWAY DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 5625</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORCROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30091-5625</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>805</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2181</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.9</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3867</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.10 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3867</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3867</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 Company's 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1,872 of the total represents restricted stock which has not yet vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John Harris, by Rebecca Girod</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-06-05
0
0000736822
IMMUCOR INC
BLUD
0001264569
HARRIS JOHN
3130 GATEWAY DR
PO BOX 5625
NORCROSS
GA
30091-5625
1
0
0
0
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
2008-06-05
4
A
0
805
0
A
2181
D
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
26.9
2008-06-05
4
A
0
3867
0
A
2009-06-05
2014-06-05
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
3867
3867
D
The stock is restricted stock issued pursuant to the Company's 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.
1,872 of the total represents restricted stock which has not yet vested.
John Harris, by Rebecca Girod
2008-06-16