4. Goodwill and other Purchased Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 06, 2016
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 443,200	$ 417,500
Future Amortization Expense, Year One		27,200
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two		24,200
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three		21,400
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four		19,400
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five		18,400
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five		51,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(281,600)	(249,900)
Net Carrying Amount		161,600	167,600
Amortization [Abstract]
Amortization expense		35,200	36,500	$ 47,800
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		0	46,400
Impairment losses on goodwill and long-lived assets		62,305	0	$ 0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		46,400
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)		443,200	463,900
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)		161,609	214,026
Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		84,400	84,700
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(52,800)	(46,800)
Net Carrying Amount		31,600	37,900
Know how [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		182,600	184,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(136,900)	(121,600)
Net Carrying Amount		45,700	62,400
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		125,900	101,300
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(56,300)	(48,900)
Net Carrying Amount		69,600	52,400
Licensing Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		39,000	39,200
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(30,600)	(28,500)
Net Carrying Amount		8,400	10,700
Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		3,500	3,500
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(2,500)	(2,400)
Net Carrying Amount		1,000	1,100
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		7,800	4,800
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Accumulated Amortization		(2,500)	(1,700)
Net Carrying Amount		$ 5,300	$ 3,100
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		1 year	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Know how [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		1 year	1 year
Minimum [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		3 years	4 years
Minimum [Member] | Licensing Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		1 year	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		4 years	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		2 years	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		0 years	0 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		8 years	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Know how [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		9 years	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		12 years	12 years
Maximum [Member] | Licensing Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		9 years	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		8 years	9 years
Maximum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		9 years	7 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period		0 years	0 years
Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles					$ 32,700
Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	$ 29,700
Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	$ 3,000