XML 17 R37.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis (details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Marketable securities:    
Total $ 80,987us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure $ 80,947us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Marketable securities:    
Total 80,938us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
80,899us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Marketable securities:    
Total 49us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
48us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Marketable Securities    
Marketable securities:    
U.S. treasury securities 30,026sqnm_UsTreasurySecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
30,020sqnm_UsTreasurySecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Certificates of deposit 49sqnm_CertificatesOfDepositFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
48sqnm_CertificatesOfDepositFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Mutual funds 543sqnm_MutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
520sqnm_MutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Total marketable securities 30,618sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
30,588sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Marketable Securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Marketable securities:    
U.S. treasury securities 30,026sqnm_UsTreasurySecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
30,020sqnm_UsTreasurySecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Certificates of deposit 0sqnm_CertificatesOfDepositFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0sqnm_CertificatesOfDepositFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Mutual funds 543sqnm_MutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
520sqnm_MutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Total marketable securities 30,569sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
30,540sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Marketable Securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Marketable securities:    
U.S. treasury securities 0sqnm_UsTreasurySecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0sqnm_UsTreasurySecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Certificates of deposit 49sqnm_CertificatesOfDepositFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
48sqnm_CertificatesOfDepositFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Mutual funds 0sqnm_MutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0sqnm_MutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Total marketable securities 49sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
48sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= sqnm_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Cash Equivalents    
Cash equivalents:    
Money market funds 50,369sqnm_MoneyMarketFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
50,359sqnm_MoneyMarketFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
Total cash equivalents 50,369sqnm_CashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
50,359sqnm_CashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
Cash Equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)    
Cash equivalents:    
Money market funds 50,369sqnm_MoneyMarketFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
50,359sqnm_MoneyMarketFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Total cash equivalents 50,369sqnm_CashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
50,359sqnm_CashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Cash Equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)    
Cash equivalents:    
Money market funds 0sqnm_MoneyMarketFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0sqnm_MoneyMarketFundsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Total cash equivalents $ 0sqnm_CashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
$ 0sqnm_CashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member