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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727672</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SPECTRASCIENCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>spectr#2</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000897464</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAPPAJOHN JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>666 WALNUT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2116</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DES MOINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>50309</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.72</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3947142</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The transfer is a bona fide gift made to the University of Iowa Foundation.  The transfer of the shares is not a sale within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John Pappajohn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-09-16
0
0000727672
SPECTRASCIENCE INC
spectr#2
0000897464
PAPPAJOHN JOHN
666 WALNUT STREET
SUITE 2116
DES MOINES
IA
50309
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2009-09-16
4
G
0
4000000
0.72
D
3947142
D
The transfer is a bona fide gift made to the University of Iowa Foundation.  The transfer of the shares is not a sale within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
John Pappajohn
2009-09-16