Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 Segment Customer	Mar. 31, 2018 Customer	Dec. 31, 2018 Customer
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | Segment	1
Sales Revenue, Net | Customer Concentration Risk
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of customers	2	2
Sales Revenue, Net | Customer Concentration Risk | Customers Located Outside Of United States
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	27.00%	79.00%
Sales Revenue, Net | Customer Concentration Risk | Customers Located Outside Of United States | QIAGEN Manchester Limited | Collaborative Development Services
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	62.00%	73.00%
Sales Revenue, Net | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer One
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	57.00%	59.00%
Sales Revenue, Net | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer Two
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	17.00%	9.00%
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of customers	4		4
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer One
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	53.00%		44.00%
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer Two
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	18.00%		27.00%
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer Three
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	17.00%		11.00%
Accounts Receivable | Customer Concentration Risk | Customer Four
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales revenue percentage	12.00%		11.00%