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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes And Tax Related [Line Items]  
Statutory federal income tax rate 34.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Federal and State [Member]  
Income Taxes And Tax Related [Line Items]  
Net operating loss carryforwards 136.6us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= nstg_FederalAndStateMember
Tax credit carryforwards 2.3us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= nstg_FederalAndStateMember
Earliest Tax Year [Member]  
Income Taxes And Tax Related [Line Items]  
Operating loss carryforwards expiration year 2023
Open for examination 2004
Latest Tax Year [Member]  
Income Taxes And Tax Related [Line Items]  
Operating loss carryforwards expiration year 2033