2.4.0.81050 - Disclosure - Credit Facilitiestruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001023131duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_DebtDisclosureAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Credit Facilities2false 2us-gaap_DebtDisclosureTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> 5.  Credit Facilities   On March 7, 2012, Covance amended its credit facility, which was not due to expire until October 2015, in order to, in part, provide sufficient liquidity to finance purchases under its 2012 Repurchase Program, as well as to secure more favorable financing rates. The amended credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $500 million.  At June 30, 2013, there were $325.0 million of outstanding borrowings and $2.9 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Agreement.  At December 31, 2012, there were $320.0 million of outstanding borrowings and $2.9 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Agreement.  Interest on all outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement varies in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and is presently based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a margin of 125 basis points.  Interest on all outstanding borrowings under the previous credit agreement was based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a margin of 200 basis points.  Interest on outstanding borrowings approximated 1.46% per annum during both the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.  Interest on outstanding borrowings approximated 1.50% per annum and 1.68% per annum during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.  Costs associated with the Credit Agreement, which expires in March 2017, consisted primarily of bank and legal fees totaling $1.9 million and are being amortized over the five-year term.   The Credit Agreement contains various financial and other covenants and is collateralized by guarantees of certain of Covance’s domestic subsidiaries and a pledge of 65 percent of the capital stock of certain of Covance’s foreign subsidiaries.  At June 30, 2013, Covance was in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 false0Credit FacilitiesfalseCredit FacilitiesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.covance.com/role/DisclosureCreditFacilities12