Name:	exas_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTermAbstract
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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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Period Type:	instant

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Per share or unit weighted-average fair value of nonvested award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes share and unit options.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward
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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
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The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsAndMethodologyAbstract
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The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated measure of the maximum percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMaximum
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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The estimated measure of the minimum percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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The maximum risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The minimum risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMinimum
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The weighted-average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance on vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable under the stock option plan.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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- References

No definition available.

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Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Weighted average price at which grantees could have acquired the underlying shares with respect to stock options that were terminated.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Expected term of award under share-based payment arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Amount of difference between fair value of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise price of vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Weighted average remaining contractual term for vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable or convertible, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644