CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands	Total		Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock, at Cost	Non-controlling Interests
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 4,011,464		$ 2,141	$ 2,302,368	$ 3,216,639	$ (20,961)	$ (1,510,548)	$ 21,825
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009			183,293
Net income	757,017				720,894			36,123
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	31,587					31,587
Dividends declared	(70,113)				(70,113)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(36,739)							(36,739)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, value	20,532		2	1,050			19,480
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, shares			1,125
Stock-based compensation expense	53,927			24,454			29,473
Exercise of stock options, value	48,535			(14,545)			63,080
Exercise of stock options, shares			1,269
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, value	(15,401)		(1)	(5,786)			(9,614)
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, shares			(277)
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans	3,880			3,880
Purchases of treasury stock, value	(750,000)						(750,000)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	(14,693)		(14,693)
Other	(564)							(564)
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010	4,054,125		2,142	2,311,421	3,867,420	10,626	(2,158,129)	20,645
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010			170,717
Net income	505,650	[1]			470,567			35,083
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18,693)					(18,693)
Dividends declared	(74,388)				(74,388)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(35,671)							(35,671)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, value	19,927		7	1,919			18,001
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, shares			1,206
Stock-based compensation expense	71,906			68,388			3,518
Exercise of stock options, value	136,818			(22,462)			159,280
Exercise of stock options, shares			3,141
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, value	(19,709)		(3)	(19,706)
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, shares			(347)
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans	7,958			7,958
Purchases of treasury stock, value	(934,994)						(934,994)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	(17,297)		(17,297)
Other	2,070							2,070
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	3,714,999		2,146	2,347,518	4,263,599	(8,067)	(2,912,324)	22,127
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011			157,420
Net income	592,134	[1]			555,721			36,413
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	22,387					22,387
Dividends declared	(128,942)				(128,942)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(37,794)							(37,794)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, value	20,409		8	3,227			17,174
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, shares			1,226
Stock-based compensation expense	50,332			46,729			3,603
Exercise of stock options, value	162,096			(14,968)			177,064
Exercise of stock options, shares	3,467		3,467
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, value	(20,337)		(3)	(20,334)
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, shares			(352)
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans	8,505			8,505
Purchases of treasury stock, value	(199,996)						(199,996)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	(3,430)		(3,430)
Other	1,936							1,936
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 4,185,729		$ 2,151	$ 2,370,677	$ 4,690,378	$ 14,320	$ (2,914,479)	$ 22,682
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012			158,331

[1] During the third quarter of 2006, the Company completed its wind down of NID and classified the operations of NID as discontinued operations. Results of operations have been prepared to report the results of HemoCue, OralDNA and NID as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 18).