Additional Stock Based Compensation Expense

No definition available.

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- Definition

Length of time of deferral period under condition one.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Length of time of deferral period under condition three.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Length of time of deferral period under condition two.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of cash value of cash bonus officers could elect to receive in form of restricted stock.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of employee compensation for purchase of common stock under ESPP.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of premium on amount deferred based on length of time for one year under condition one.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of premium on amount deferred based on length of time for one year under condition three

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of premium on amount deferred based on length of time for one year under condition two

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Receivable For Stock Option Exercise

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award award vesting one.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

hare-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Purchase Period

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Stock Repurchase Program Period Expiration Date

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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- Definition

Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

+ References

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- Definition

The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

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- Definition

Aggregate number of nonredeemable preferred shares reserved for future issuance.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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- Definition

Aggregate share number for all nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) held by stockholders. Does not include preferred shares that have been repurchased.

+ References

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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Discount rate from fair value on purchase date that participants pay for shares.

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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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- Definition

Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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-Paragraph 2

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- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

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- Definition

Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Number 210

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- Definition

Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

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No definition available.

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Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Apr. 23, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 20, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized		5,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	5,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding
Restricted stock granted		145,000	74,000	145,000
Additional stock-based compensation expense		$ 300,000	$ 1,900,000
Share-based compensation expense recognized		6,700,000	8,800,000	6,600,000
Exercise price of stock		$ 16.37	$ 14.74	$ 13.15		$ 12.60
Grant shares under 2010 Plan		2,162,000
Deferred period of grants (Condition 1)		1 year
Receivable for stock option exercises		0qdel_ReceivableForStockOptionExercise	500,000qdel_ReceivableForStockOptionExercise
Percentage of premium on amount deferred (Condition 1)		10.00%
Deferred period of grants (Condition 2)		2 years
Percentage of premium on amount deferred (Condition 2)		20.00%
Deferred period of grants (Condition 3)		4 years
Percentage of premium on amount deferred (Condition 3)		30.00%
Minimum percentage of common stock under payroll deductions		10.00%
Fair value of payroll deductions		85.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Purchase Period		6 years 0 months 0 days
Stock sold under the plan		1,078,816
Capital shares reserved for future issuance		171,184
Payments for repurchase of common stock	50,000,000	1,956,000	2,157,000	3,407,000
Stock repurchase program remaining available amount		50,000,000
Expiration of repurchase program		Apr. 22, 2015
Exercise of stock options		251,000	642,000	351,000
Shares reserved for purchase under ESPP		171,184
Restricted stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock granted		100,000	100,000	100,000
Performance-based vesting period		4 years	3 years
Share-based compensation expense recognized		2,100,000	4,000,000	2,200,000
Employee Deferred Bonus Compensation Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense recognized		$ 300,000	$ 800,000	$ 600,000
2010 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance-based vesting period		4 years
Common stock reserve under equity incentive plans		6,200,000
2010 Plan [Member] \| Restricted stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance-based vesting period		1 year
Non-employee director [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock granted		400,000	400,000	500,000
Member of Board of Directors [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Repurchase of available shares under share repurchase program					37,709
Exercise of stock options					76,687
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of deferred 2011 cash bonus		50.00%
Minimum [Member] \| 2010 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price of stock		$ 4.16
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding under equity incentive plans		10 years
Percentage of deferred 2011 cash bonus		100.00%
Maximum [Member] \| 2010 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price of stock		$ 27.91