4. Goodwill and other Purchased Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Goodwill and Other (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Life Science [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Life Science [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Clinical Diagnostics [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Clinical Diagnostics [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 QuantaLife [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 QuantaLife [Member] Life Science [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount								$ 106,100,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets							94,700,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill period start	391,200,000	354,800,000	70,700,000	70,700,000	320,500,000	284,100,000
Accumulated impairment loss period start	(27,200,000)	(27,200,000)	(27,200,000)	(27,200,000)	0	0
Goodwill, net period start	363,981,000	327,600,000	43,500,000	43,500,000	320,500,000	284,100,000
Currency fluctuations	(1,200,000)	23,600,000	0	0	(1,200,000)	23,600,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	106,100,000	12,800,000	106,100,000	0	0	12,800,000
Goodwill period end	496,100,000	391,200,000	176,800,000	70,700,000	319,300,000	320,500,000
Accumulated impairment loss period end	(27,200,000)	(27,200,000)	(27,200,000)	(27,200,000)	0	0
Goodwill, net period end	$ 468,933,000	$ 363,981,000	$ 149,600,000	$ 43,500,000	$ 319,300,000	$ 320,500,000