Debt, Deferred Interest Payment

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Deferral Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Payment Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Number of Installments During Eighth Year of Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Annual Percentage Decrease

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payment-in-kind percentage as agreed upon in the financing agreement to defer interest payments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Increased Annual Revenues

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line Credit Facility Additional Borrowing Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nstg_LineCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nstg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Minimum Liquidity Covenant Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361426&loc=d3e1314-112600

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361426&loc=d3e1336-112600

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Line-of-Credit Arrangement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517033

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of consideration recognized during the period for the milestone or milestones.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 605
-SubTopic 28
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51671726&loc=SL6892177-166501

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Long-term Debt and Lease Financing Obligations - Additional Information (Detail) - Term Loan Agreement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) installment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					$ 60,000,000.0		$ 45,000,000.0
Credit facility, additional borrowing capacity			$ 5,000,000.0	$ 10,000,000.0		$ 10,000,000.0
Percentage of accrue interest	12.00%				12.50%
Percentage of deferred payment	3.00%
Interest deferral period	6 years
Deferred interest payment	$ 2,500,000
Term loans payable	$ 47,480,000			$ 41,487,000
Interest payment period	7 years
Number of installments \| installment	4
Percentage payment up on repayment of principal amount	2.00%
Long term liability	$ 1,100,000
Minimum liquidity	2,000,000.0
Annual revenue requirements	70,000,000.0
Increase in annual revenue in fiscal years	$ 15,000,000.0
Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, additional borrowing capacity							$ 20,000,000.0
Percentage of redemption fee	4.00%
Annual percentage decrease	1.00%
Maximum \| Forecast
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, additional borrowing capacity		$ 15,000,000.0