2.2.0.7 false Business Combinations and Divestitures (Policies) 0403 - Disclosure - Business Combinations and Divestitures (Policies) true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Business Combinations and Divestitures (Policies) [Abstract] 0 life_BusinessCombinationsAndDivestituresPoliciesAbstract life false na duration Business Combinations and Divestitures. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Business Combinations and Divestitures. false 3 Adoption of ASC Topic 323 & its impact 1 life_EquityAndCostMethodInvestmentsPolicyTextBlock life false na duration Adoption of ASC Topic 323 & its impact. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><i>Divestiture of Equity Investment</i> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     In January 2010, the Company completed the sale of its 50% ownership stake in the Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies Instruments joint venture and selected assets and liabilities directly attributable to the joint venture to Danaher Corporation for $428.1 million in cash, excluding transactions costs, and recorded a gain of $37.3 million in other income in Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Included in the sale was the carrying value of the equity investments of $330.4 million, accounts receivable of $71.3 million, net inventory of $55.1 million, other current assets of $17.6 million, long term assets of $13.7 million, accounts payable of $9.8 million, other current liabilities of $80.8 million, and long term liabilities of $6.7 million. The transaction allows the Company to focus on its core competencies for biological solutions in life science research, genomic medicine, molecular diagnostics and applied markets. The Company acquired the joint venture as a part of the merger with AB consummated in November 2008. The Company accounted for its investment in the joint venture using the equity method which required us to show our share of earnings or losses from the investment in other income as a single amount in accordance with the guidance in <i>ASC </i>Topic 323, Investments<i>—Equity Method and Joint Ventures</i>. At December 31, 2009, the investment value in the equity was $337.4 million which was included in long-term investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. </div> </div>    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><i>Immaterial Acquisitions</i> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The Company completed several additional stock acquisitions that were not material individually or collectively to the overall consolidated financial statements and the results of operations. These acquisitions have been included in the consolidated financial statements from the respective dates of the acquisitions. The Company accounts for these acquisitions in accordance with <i>ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations </i>when such stock acquisitions meet the qualification and definition of a business under the guidance, otherwise the Company accounts for the acquisitions as asset purchases. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Describes the entity's accounting policies for business combinations and other business acquisition transactions not accounted for using the purchase method, such as an exchange of shares between entities under common control. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 false 1 3 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true