STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Accelerated Share Repurchase Program [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Accelerated Share Repurchase Program [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Accelerated Share Repurchase Program [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Share Repurchse Program and Accelerated Share Repurchase Program [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 HemoCue [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 HemoCue [Member] Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Stockholder's Equity Narrative [Details]
Currency translation adjustments				$ (26,264,000)	$ (19,183,000)	$ (30,651,000)	$ (967,000)										$ 29,300,000
Other comprehensive income, before tax																3,800,000
Dividend program				$ 0.30	$ 0.17	$ 0.30	$ 0.17	$ 0.30	$ 0.30	$ 0.17	$ 0.17
Original dividend payable per share	$ 0.17
Treasury stock aquired repurchase program		1,000,000,000
Share repurchase authorization remaining available		1,100,000,000				353,000,000
Treasury stock acquired accelerated share repurchase, initial aggregate cost												450,000,000
Treasury stock acquired accelerated share repurchase, initial shares												7,200,000	7,200,000
Treasury stock acquired accelerated share repurchase, initial price per share												$ 55.92
Treasury stock acquired accelerated share repurchase, initial aggregate cost												405,000,000		405,000,000
Accelerated share repurchase program, adjustment												45,000,000		45,000,000
Percentage of total underlying shares under the ASR agreement initially delivered at trade date.												90.00%
Treasury stock shares acquired					882,000		1,700,000								8,300,000
Treasury stock value acquired cost method					$ 50,000,000	$ 511,630,000	$ 100,000,000								$ 467,000,000
Treasury stock acquired average cost per share					$ 56.70		$ 57.83								$ 56.16
Reissuance of shares for employee benefit plan				1,100,000	659,300.0	1,500,000	2,200,000
Percentage increase in the quarterly cash dividend	76.00%
Annual common stock dividend rate	$ 1.20		$ 0.68