2.2.0.7 true Lines of Credit (Details) (USD $) 0605 - Disclosure - Lines of Credit (Details) true false In Millions false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Lines of Credit (Textuals) [Abstract] 2 life_LinesOfCreditTextualsAbstract life false na duration Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false 3 Bank of America Line of Credit 2 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 250000000 250.0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 false 5 Line of credit remaining borrowing capacity 2 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 483900000 483.9 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 false 7 Weighted average interest rate on line of credit 2 life_WeightedAverageInterestRateOnLineOfCredit life false na instant Weighted Average Interest Rate on Line Of Credit. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.0279 0.0279 false false false us-types:percentItemType pure Weighted Average Interest Rate on Line Of Credit. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Letter of Credit Issued [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://lifetechnologies.com/role/linesofcreditdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 3 USD true false false false us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Lines of Credit (Textuals) [Abstract] 2 life_LinesOfCreditTextualsAbstract life false na duration Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false 11 Letter of credit issued under revolving credit facility 2 us-gaap_LineOfCredit us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 16100000 16.1 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 false 15 Foreign Subsidiaries [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://lifetechnologies.com/role/linesofcreditdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 4 USD true false false false life_SubsidiariesOneMember dei_LegalEntityAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi life_SubsidiariesOneMember dei_LegalEntityAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Lines of Credit (Textuals) [Abstract] 2 life_LinesOfCreditTextualsAbstract life false na duration Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false 19 Line of credit remaining borrowing capacity 2 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 11200000 11.2 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 false 22 Foreign Subsidiaries [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://lifetechnologies.com/role/linesofcreditdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 5 USD true false false false life_SubsidiariesOneMember dei_LegalEntityAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi life_SubsidiariesOneMember dei_LegalEntityAxis explicitMember false false us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Lines of Credit (Textuals) [Abstract] 2 life_LinesOfCreditTextualsAbstract life false na duration Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Lines of credit Textuals Abstract. false 27 Line of credit, amount outstanding 2 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 false 1 13 false HundredThousands UnKnown UnKnown false true