2.2.0.7 false Basis of Presentation of Financial Information 0201 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation of Financial Information true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Basis of Presentation of Financial Information [Abstract] 0 alr_BasisOfPresentationOfFinancialInformationAbstract alr false na duration Basis of presentation of Financial information . 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 Basis of presentation of Financial information . false 3 Basis of Presentation of Financial Information 1 us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div align="left" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   <div align="left"> </div> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"><b></b></div> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b></b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>(1) Basis of Presentation of Financial Information</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Alere Inc., formerly known as Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc., are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments considered normal and recurring and necessary for their fair presentation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 included information and footnotes necessary for such presentation and were included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on April 16, 2010. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2009. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or equity. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Description containing the entire organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS140-4 and FIN46(R)-8 -Paragraph 8, C1, C7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 2-6 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-6 -Paragraph 10 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 4, 14, 15 false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true