BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member] In-process research and development [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member] Customer-related intangibles [Member]	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member] Customer-related intangibles [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Customer-related intangibles [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member] Non-compete agreements [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Non-compete agreements [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member] Technology [Member]	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member] Technology [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Technology [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member] Tradenames [Member]	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member] Tradenames [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member] Informatics Database [Member]	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member] Outlicensed technology [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member] March 2011 Senior Notes [Member]	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member] Credit Facilities [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Athena [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Athena [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Athena [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Athena [Member]	May 31, 2011 Celera [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Celera [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Celera [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Celera [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Celera [Member]
All-cash purchase price	$ 1,248,692,000	$ 1,248,692,000														$ 740,000,000	$ 667,000,000				$ 740,000,000	$ 667,000,000
Business Acquisition, Revenue Reported by Acquired Entity for Last Annual Period																				110,000,000						128,000,000
Acquisition related transaction costs																		7,100,000	8,200,000					7,200,000	8,400,000
Cash and cash equivalents																						112,312,000
Short-term marketable securities																						213,418,000
Accounts receivable																					17,853,000	16,810,000
Other current assets																					13,427,000	25,809,000
Property, plant and equipment																					3,038,000	11,091,000
Intangible assets			5,500,000	21,420,000	6,750,000		37,000,000		92,580,000	21,730,000		34,520,000	5,400,000	34,520,000	46,450,000						220,040,000	85,830,000
Goodwill																					563,974,000	134,283,000
Non-current deferred income taxes (assets)																						102,838,000
Other assets																					135,000	34,586,000
Total assets acquired																					818,467,000	736,977,000
Current liabilities																					8,511,000	59,008,000
Non-current deferred income taxes (liabilities)																					69,956,000
Long-term liabilities																						10,717,000
Total liabilities assumed																					78,467,000	69,725,000
Net assets acquired	1,407,252,000	1,407,252,000																			740,000,000	667,252,000
Weighted Average Amortization Period				20	9	19	4	4	16	8	14	10	5	10	6
Total acquired amortizable intangibles																					220,040,000	80,330,000
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes																					42,000,000	28,000,000
Purchase price net of cash and ST marketable securities																						341,000,000
Acquired cash and short-term marketable securities																						326,000,000
Future tax benefits of acquired company																						110,000,000
Cash tender offer price per share																							$ 8
Right to receive for remaining untendered shares, per share																						$ 8
Cash consideration paid																								508,000,000
Merger consideration payable	158,560,000	158,560,000
Financing related costs																								800,000	3,100,000
Goodwill acquired and allocated to clinical testing business																						$ 103,000,000