2.4.0.82020 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)truefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001023131duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Summary of Significant Accounting Policies2false 2us-gaap_ConsolidationPolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Principles of Consolidation   These unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all entities controlled by Covance. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated.  The equity method of accounting is used for investments in affiliates in which Covance owns between 20 and 50 percent and does not have the ability to exercise control.  For investments in which Covance owns less than 20 percent and does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating or financial decisions of the investee, the cost method of accounting is applied.  Where the fair value of the shares of the cost method investee is based on quoted prices in active markets, Covance accounts for such investments as available-for-sale securities. See Note 4. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 97-2 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph c -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph k -Article 1 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 5, 6, 16-19 -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 140 -Paragraph 46 -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph d -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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02, 03 -Article 3A Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 96-16 -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 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a(2) -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 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 14, 15 -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 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2197480 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=d3e5614-111684 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3A-02) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959686&loc=d3e355033-122828 Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 2-6 -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 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 40 -Section 45 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/section&trid=2197723 Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2196966 Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2197087 Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33801-111570 false0Principles of Consolidation3false 2us-gaap_UseOfEstimatesus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Use of Estimates   These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from these estimates. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for the use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6143-108592 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6132-108592 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6061-108592 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-6 -Paragraph 11, 14 -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. false0Use of Estimates4false 2us-gaap_InventoryPolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Inventory   Inventories, which consist principally of finished goods and supplies, are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market.  Finished goods accounted for $27.6 million and $32.7 million and supplies accounted for $20.3 million and $16.6 million of total inventory at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for major classes of inventories, bases of stating inventories (for example, lower of cost or market), methods by which amounts are added and removed from inventory classes (for example, FIFO, LIFO, or average cost), loss recognition on impairment of inventories, and situations in which inventories are stated above cost. If inventory is carried at cost, this disclosure includes the nature of the cost elements included in inventory.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Paragraph 3, 5-10, 15, 16, 17 -Chapter 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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR) -Number 206 -Paragraph b -Subparagraph i, ii -Chapter 2 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361739&loc=d3e7789-107766 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Section A -Paragraph 9 -Chapter 3 -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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386783&loc=d3e4492-108314 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2126999 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386783&loc=d3e4556-108314 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 81-1 -Paragraph 69-75 -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. false0Inventory5false 2cvd_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherCurrentAssetsPolicyTextBlockcvd_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets   In connection with the management of multi-site clinical trials, Covance pays on behalf of its customers fees to investigators, volunteers and other out-of-pocket costs (such as travel, printing, meetings, couriers, etc.), for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Amounts receivable from customers in connection with billed and unbilled investigator fees, volunteer payments and other out-of-pocket pass-through costs are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and totaled $108.0 million and $82.0 million at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.  See Note 2 “Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses”. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of the entity's accounting policy relating to certain prepaid expenses and other current assets.No definition available.false0Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets6false 2us-gaap_ImpairmentOrDisposalOfLongLivedAssetsPolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Impairment of Long-Lived Assets   Covance reviews its long-lived assets, other than goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based upon Covance’s judgment of its ability to recover the value of the asset from the expected future undiscounted cash flows of the related operations. Actual future cash flows may be greater or less than estimated.  During the second quarter of 2012, Covance determined that the carrying value of its equity method investment in a supplier of research products was no longer recoverable based upon changes in the research product market. The impairment was determined to be other-than-temporary and Covance recorded a charge of $7.4 million to write off the remaining carrying value of the equity investment as of June 30, 2012.  See Note 4. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for recognizing and measuring the impairment of long-lived assets. An entity also may disclose its accounting policy for long-lived assets to be sold. This policy excludes goodwill and intangible assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section CC -Subsection 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2155824 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 7-15, 26, 30-37 -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. false0Impairment of Long-Lived Assets7false 2us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsPolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Impairment   Goodwill represents costs in excess of the fair value of net tangible and identifiable net intangible assets acquired in business combinations.  Covance performs an annual test for impairment of goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets during the fourth quarter.  Covance tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level only when, after completing a qualitative analysis, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying value. This test is performed by comparing the carrying value of the reporting unit to its fair value. Covance assesses fair value based upon its estimate of the present value of the future cash flows that it expects to be generated by the reporting unit. In the second quarter of 2012, Covance commenced actions to close its clinical pharmacology operations located in Basel, Switzerland and as a result determined the goodwill associated with the acquisition of the Basel clinic was impaired and recorded a charge of $18.0 million to write off the carrying value of the goodwill as of June 30, 2012. The Basel clinic is part of Covance’s Early Development segment and clinical pharmacology reporting unit, however, because the clinic was operated on a standalone basis and was not integrated into the reporting unit after its acquisition, the related goodwill was evaluated for impairment at the site level and not the reporting unit level. The most recent annual test for impairment performed for 2012 indicated that no reporting units were at significant risk for impairment and there were no events or changes in circumstances through June 30, 2013 that warranted a reconsideration of our impairment test results. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for goodwill and intangible assets. This accounting policy also may address how an entity assesses and measures impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2144471 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 7-18, 22 -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 350 -SubTopic 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2144439 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 4, 11-23, 26, 34 -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. false0Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Impairment8false 2us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionPolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Revenue Recognition   Covance recognizes revenue either as services are performed or products are delivered, depending on the nature of the work contracted. Historically, a majority of Covance’s net revenues have been earned under contracts which range in duration from a few months to two years, but can extend in duration up to five years or longer. Covance also has committed minimum volume arrangements with certain clients with initial terms that generally range in duration from three to ten years. Underlying these arrangements are individual project contracts for the specific services to be provided. These arrangements enable our clients to secure our services in exchange for which they commit to purchase an annual minimum dollar value (“volume”) of services. Under these types of arrangements, if the annual minimum volume commitment is not reached, the client is required to pay Covance for the shortfall. Progress towards the achievement of annual minimum volume commitments is monitored throughout the year. Annual minimum commitment shortfalls are not included in net revenues until the amount has been determined and agreed to by the client.   Service contracts generally take the form of fee-for-service or fixed-price arrangements. In cases where performance spans multiple accounting periods, revenue is recognized as services are performed, measured on a proportional-performance basis, generally using output measures that are specific to the service provided. Examples of output measures in our early development segment include the number of slides read, dosings performed, or specimens prepared for preclinical laboratory services, or number of dosings or number of volunteers enrolled for clinical pharmacology. Examples of output measures in our late-stage development segment’s Phase II-IV clinical development service offering include among others, number of investigators enrolled, number of sites initiated, number of patients enrolled and number of monitoring visits completed. Revenue is determined by dividing the actual units of work completed by the total units of work required under the contract and multiplying that percentage by the total contract value. The total contract value, or total contractual payments, represents the aggregate contracted price for each of the agreed upon services to be provided. Covance does not have any contractual arrangements spanning multiple accounting periods where revenue is recognized on a proportional-performance basis under which the Company has earned more than an immaterial amount of performance-based revenue (i.e., potential additional revenue tied to specific deliverables or performance). Changes in the scope of work are common, especially under long-term contracts, and generally result in a change in contract value. Once the client has agreed to the changes in scope and renegotiated pricing terms, the contract value is amended and revenue is recognized, as described above. Estimates of costs to complete are made to provide, where appropriate, for losses expected on contracts. Costs are not deferred in anticipation of contracts being awarded, but instead are expensed as incurred.   Billing schedules and payment terms are generally negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis. In some cases, Covance bills the client for the total contract value in progress-based installments as certain non-contingent billing milestones are reached over the contract duration, such as, but not limited to, contract signing, initial dosing, investigator site initiation, patient enrollment or database lock. The term “billing milestone” relates only to a billing trigger in a contract whereby amounts become billable and payable in accordance with a negotiated predetermined billing schedule throughout the term of a project. These billing milestones are not performance-based (i.e., potential additional arrangement consideration tied to specific deliverables or performance). In other cases, billing and payment terms are tied to the passage of time (e.g., monthly billings). In either case, the total contract value and aggregate amounts billed to the client would be the same at the end of the project. While Covance attempts to negotiate terms that provide for billing and payment of services prior or within close proximity to the provision of services, this is not always the case, as evidenced by fluctuations in the levels of unbilled receivables and unearned revenue from period to period. While a project is ongoing, cash payments are not necessarily representative of aggregate revenue earned at any particular point in time, as revenues are recognized when services are provided, while amounts billed and paid are in accordance with the negotiated billing and payment terms.   In some cases, payments received are in excess of revenue recognized. For example, a contract invoicing schedule may provide for an upfront payment of 10% of the full contract value upon contract signing, but at the time of signing, performance of services has not yet begun, and therefore, no revenue has yet been recognized. Payments received in advance of services being provided, such as in this example, are deferred as unearned revenue on the balance sheet. As the contracted services are subsequently performed and the associated revenue is recognized, the unearned revenue balance is reduced by the amount of revenue recognized during the period.   In other cases, services may be provided and revenue is recognized before the client is invoiced.  In these cases, revenue recognized will exceed amounts billed, and the difference, representing an unbilled receivable, is recorded for this amount which is currently unbillable to the customer pursuant to contractual terms. Once the client is invoiced, the unbilled services are reduced for the amount billed, and a corresponding account receivable is recorded. All unbilled services are billable to customers within one year from the respective balance sheet date.   Most contracts are terminable by the client, either immediately or upon notice. These contracts often require payment to Covance of expenses to wind down the study or project, fees earned to date and, in some cases, a termination fee or a payment to Covance of some portion of the fees or profits that could have been earned by Covance under the contract if it had not been terminated early. Termination fees are included in net revenues when realization is assured. In connection with the management of multi-site clinical trials, Covance pays on behalf of its customers fees to investigators, volunteers and other out-of-pocket costs (such as for travel, printing, meetings, couriers, etc.), for which it is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Investigator fees are not reflected in total revenues or expenses where Covance acts in the capacity of an agent on behalf of the pharmaceutical company sponsor, passing through these costs without risk or reward to Covance. All other out-of-pocket costs are included in total revenues and expenses. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 13 -Section B -Paragraph Question 1 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.B.Q1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6600647&loc=d3e214044-122780 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8, 12, 13 -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18823-107790 false0Revenue Recognition9false 2cvd_TaxPolicyTextBlockcvd_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Taxes   Covance uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse.  The effect on deferred taxes of a change in enacted tax rates is recognized in income in the period when the change is effective.   The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if the Company believes it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. The amount of the accrual for which an exposure exists is measured as the largest amount of benefit determined on a cumulative probability basis that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the position. Components of the reserve are classified as either a current or long-term liability in the consolidated balance sheet based on when the Company expects each of the items to be settled. Covance accrues interest and penalties in relation to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.   As of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the balance of the reserve for unrecognized tax benefits was $8.1 million, including accrued interest of $0.5 million, and $9.4 million, including interest of $0.6 million, respectively, which is recorded as a long-term liability in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.  This reserve relates to exposures for income tax matters such as transfer pricing, nexus and deemed income.   The Company also maintains a tax reserve related to exposures for non-income tax matters including value-added tax, state sales and use and other taxes.   The balance of this reserve was $1.1 million at both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and is recorded as a current liability in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.   While Covance believes it has identified all reasonably identifiable exposures and the reserve it has established for identifiable exposures is appropriate under the circumstances, it is possible that additional exposures exist and that exposures may be settled at amounts different than the amounts reserved. It is also possible that changes in facts and circumstances could cause Covance to either materially increase or reduce the carrying amount of its tax reserve.   Covance’s historical policy has been to leave its unremitted foreign earnings invested indefinitely outside the United States. Covance intends to continue to leave its unremitted foreign earnings invested indefinitely outside the United States. As a result, taxes have not been provided on any of the remaining accumulated foreign unremitted earnings as of June 30, 2013. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for income and non-income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carry forwards, tax credit carry forwards, and other carry forwards, tax treatment of unremitted earnings in foreign subsidiaries, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.No definition available.false0Taxes10false 2cvd_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomePolicyPolicyTextBlockcvd_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income   Covance’s accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments, actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs in connection with its defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plans and the unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, each recorded and presented net of tax.  The components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:   <table style="text-align:left;WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr style="padding:0;"> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 45%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="45%">  </td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 10%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="10%" colspan="2"> Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 13%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="13%" colspan="2"> Unrealized Gain on Available for Sale Securities</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 11%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="11%" colspan="2"> Defined Benefit Plans</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 12%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="12%" colspan="2"> Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="1%">  </td></tr> <tr style="padding:0;"> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 45%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="top" width="45%"> Balance at December 31, 2012</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 8.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="8%"> 52,070</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 11.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="11%"> 7,418</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 9.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="9%"> (30,968</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%"> )</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 10.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="10%"> 28,520</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%">  </td></tr> <tr style="padding:0;"> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 45%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="top" width="45%"> Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, before reclassifications</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 10%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="10%" colspan="2"> (25,149</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%"> )</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 13%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="13%" colspan="2"> 2,776</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 11%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="11%" colspan="2"> ¾</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 12%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="12%" colspan="2"> (22,373</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="1%"> )</td></tr> <tr style="padding:0;"> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 45%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="top" width="45%"> Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 10%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="10%" colspan="2"> ¾</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 13%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="13%" colspan="2"> (10,194</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.375pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%"> )</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 11%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="11%" colspan="2"> 468</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 12%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="12%" colspan="2"> (9,726</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.375pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> )</td></tr> <tr style="padding:0;"> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 45%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="top" width="45%"> Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 10%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="10%" colspan="2"> (25,149</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.375pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%"> )</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 13%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="13%" colspan="2"> (7,418</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.375pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%"> )</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 11%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="11%" colspan="2"> 468</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 12%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="12%" colspan="2"> (32,099</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.375pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" valign="bottom" width="1%"> )</td></tr> <tr style="padding:0;"> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 45%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="top" width="45%"> Balance at June 30, 2013</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 8.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="8%"> 26,921</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 11.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="11%"> ¾</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%">  </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 9.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="9%"> (30,500</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 2%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="2%"> )</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1.3%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> $</td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2.25pt double; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 10.7%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="10%"> (3,579</td> <td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 1%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #cceeff; PADDING-TOP: 0in;" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" valign="bottom" width="1%"> )</td></tr></table>   Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, represent the realized gain on the sale of Covance’s investment in BioClinica, Inc. of $15.7 million, net of tax of $5.5 million (see Note 4) and the amortization of actuarial losses and prior service credits to net periodic pension cost of $0.7 million, net of tax of $0.2 million (see Note 6). </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for accumulated other comprehensive income.No definition available.false0Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income11false 2cvd_ReimbursableOutOfPocketExpensesPolicyTextBlockcvd_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses   As discussed in Note 2 “Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets”, Covance pays on behalf of its customers fees to investigators, volunteers and other out-of-pocket costs for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Amounts paid to volunteers and other out-of-pocket costs are reflected in operating expenses, while the reimbursements received are reflected in revenues in the consolidated statements of income. Covance excludes from revenue and expense in the consolidated statements of income fees paid to investigators and the associated reimbursement since Covance acts as an agent on behalf of the pharmaceutical company sponsors with regard to investigator payments. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of the entity's accounting policy for reimbursable expenses which are fees paid by the entity on behalf of the client (for example investigator fees, volunteer fees, other out of pocket costs), for which the entity is reimbursed at cost without mark-up or profit.No definition available.false0Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses12false 2us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationOptionAndIncentivePlansPolicyus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Stock-Based Compensation   The Company sponsors several stock-based compensation plans pursuant to which non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards are granted to eligible employees.  These plans are described more fully in Note 7 herein and Note 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The grant-date fair value of awards expected to vest is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the related awards. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for stock option and stock incentive plans. This disclosure may include (1) the types of stock option or incentive plans sponsored by the entity (2) the groups that participate in (or are covered by) each plan (3) significant plan provisions and (4) how stock compensation is measured, and the methodologies and significant assumptions used to determine that measurement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph a -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b),(f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2228939 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 06-11 -Paragraph 7 -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. false0Stock-Based Compensation13false 2us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansPolicyus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Defined Benefit Pension Plans   The Company sponsors various pension and other post-retirement benefit plans. These plans are described more fully in Note 6 herein and Note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The measurement of the related benefit obligations and the net periodic benefit costs recorded each year are based upon actuarial computations, which require management’s judgment as to certain assumptions. These assumptions include the discount rates to use in computing the present value of the benefit obligations and the net periodic benefit costs, the expected future rate of salary increases (for pay-related plans) and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (for funded plans). The discount rates are derived based on a hypothetical yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual discount rates. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on the target asset allocation and the average expected rate of growth for the asset classes invested. The average expected rate of growth is derived from a combination of historic returns, current market indicators, the expected risk premium for each asset class and the opinion of professional advisors.  Liabilities related to all of Covance’s pension and other post-retirement benefit plans are measured as of December 31. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for pension and other postretirement benefit plans. This accounting policy may address (1) the types of plans sponsored by the entity, and the benefits provided by each plan (2) groups that participate in (or are covered by) each plan (3) how plan assets, liabilities and expenses are measured, including the use of any actuaries and (4) significant assumptions used by the entity to value plan assets and liabilities and how such assumptions are derived.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2235116 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph m -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 87 -Paragraph 15-19, 63, 64 -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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 106 -Paragraph 19, 20, 21, 22 -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 158 -Paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7 -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 -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 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b -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 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph a -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 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph h -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 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph q -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 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 80 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2235144 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 60 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2235172 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2235074 false0Defined Benefit Pension Plans14false 2us-gaap_EarningsPerSharePolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)   Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.  The computation of diluted EPS is similar to the computation of basic EPS, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares had been issued; computed under the treasury stock method.   In computing diluted EPS for the three months ended June 30, 2013, the denominator was increased by 2,218,022 shares and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the denominator was increased by 2,164,373 shares and 1,490,744 shares, respectively, representing the dilutive effect of all unvested restricted shares as well as those stock options outstanding at June 30, 2013 and 2012, with exercise prices less than the average market price of Covance’s common stock during each respective period.  In computing diluted EPS for the three months ended June 30, 2012, there were 1,500,115 potentially dilutive shares that were not included in the computation, as their effect would be anti-dilutive. Excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the three months ended June 30, 2013 were options to purchase 213,695 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $77.72 to $94.34 per share because the exercise prices of such options were greater than the average market price of Covance’s common stock during this period.  Excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the six months ended June 30, 2013 were options to purchase 214,112 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $73.32 to $94.34 per share because the exercise prices of such options were greater than the average market price of Covance’s common stock during this period.  Excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the three months ended June 30, 2012 were options to purchase 3,499,610 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $46.40 to $94.34 per share because the exercise prices of such options were greater than the average market price of Covance’s common stock during this period.  Excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were options to purchase 3,205,785 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $46.70 to $94.34 per share because the exercise prices of such options were greater than the average market price of Covance’s common stock during this period. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for computing basic and diluted earnings or loss per share for each class of common stock and participating security. Addresses all significant policy factors, including any antidilutive items that have been excluded from the computation and takes into account stock dividends, splits and reverse splits that occur after the balance sheet date of the latest reporting period but before the issuance of the financial statements.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2144384 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -Subparagraph a -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3630-109257 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 6, 8-16, 60 -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. false0Earnings Per Share ("EPS")15false 2us-gaap_SubsequentEventsPolicyPolicyTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> Subsequent Events   Subsequent events are defined as those events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date, but before the financial statements are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See Note 10. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of accounting policy for reporting subsequent events.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 false0Subsequent EventsfalseSummary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.covance.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies115