PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 02, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Plant equipment and machinery	$ 205,698,000				$ 136,057,000				$ 205,698,000	$ 136,057,000
Office equipment and information technology	103,235,000				88,185,000				103,235,000	88,185,000
Haemonetics equipment	240,889,000				226,476,000				240,889,000	226,476,000
Total	632,720,000				510,534,000				632,720,000	510,534,000
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	375,767,000				348,877,000				375,767,000	348,877,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	256,953,000				161,657,000				256,953,000	161,657,000
Depreciation expense									43,400,000	38,600,000	36,800,000
Net income	12,562,000	9,904,000	6,547,000	9,787,000	17,805,000	18,254,000	13,880,000	16,947,000	38,800,000	66,886,000	79,980,000
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.19	$ 0.13	$ 0.19	$ 0.35	$ 0.36	$ 0.27	$ 0.33	$ 0.76	$ 1.32	$ 1.59
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	4,216,000				1,136,000				4,216,000	1,136,000
Building and building improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total	78,682,000				58,680,000				78,682,000	58,680,000
Service Life [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation expense									(4,500,000)
Net income									$ 3,300,000
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)									$ 0.09