14. Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Products And Services									8,000
Net sales	$ 571,500	$ 508,700	$ 516,800	$ 471,200	$ 570,600	$ 470,000	$ 506,100	$ 472,800	$ 2,068,172	$ 2,019,441	$ 2,175,044
Interest expense									21,942	21,692	22,131
Depreciation and amortization									142,900	131,800	149,900
Segment profit									53,194	166,708	149,984
Total assets	3,850,504				3,709,718				3,850,504	3,709,718
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									141,436	112,000	120,999
Life Science [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									730,700	695,000	728,300
Interest expense									6,400	6,100	5,500
Depreciation and amortization									31,700	30,700	33,200
Segment profit									(19,200)	(700)	(14,700)
Total assets	381,400				390,500				381,400	390,500
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									14,300	8,200
Clinical Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,323,300	1,310,400	1,432,300
Interest expense									15,500	15,400	15,900
Depreciation and amortization									80,500	77,800	95,800
Segment profit									57,000	152,400	167,100
Total assets	918,000				878,300				918,000	878,300
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									67,100	51,300
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									14,200	14,000	14,400
Interest expense									0	100	100
Depreciation and amortization									0	100	0
Segment profit									900	700	$ 1,200
Total assets	$ 4,900				$ 4,400				4,900	4,400
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									$ 0	$ 100