4. Goodwill and other Purchased Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Goodwill and Other (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill period start	$ 524,100	$ 524,100	$ 528,600
Accumulated impairment loss period start	(28,200)	(28,200)	(28,200)
Goodwill, net period start	495,948	495,948	500,400
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		100	0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		13,500	0
Currency fluctuations		(5,400)	(4,500)
Goodwill period end		518,800	524,100
Accumulated impairment loss period end		(41,700)	(28,200)
Goodwill, net period end		477,115	495,948
Life Science [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill period start	207,200	207,200	207,700
Accumulated impairment loss period start	(27,200)	(27,200)	(27,200)
Goodwill, net period start	180,000	180,000	180,500
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		100	0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		0	0
Currency fluctuations		(200)	(500)
Goodwill period end		207,100	207,200
Accumulated impairment loss period end		(27,200)	(27,200)
Goodwill, net period end		179,900	180,000
Clinical Diagnostics [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill period start	316,900	316,900	320,900
Accumulated impairment loss period start	(1,000)	(1,000)	(1,000)
Goodwill, net period start	315,900	315,900	319,900
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		0	0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		13,500	0
Currency fluctuations		(5,200)	(4,000)
Goodwill period end		311,700	316,900
Accumulated impairment loss period end		(14,500)	(1,000)
Goodwill, net period end		$ 297,200	$ 315,900
Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$ 100