Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

No definition available.

Name:	qdel_ConsolidatedFixedChargeCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Period One

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	qdel_ConsolidatedLeverageRatioPeriodOne
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Period Three

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	qdel_ConsolidatedLeverageRatioPeriodThree
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Period Two

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	qdel_ConsolidatedLeverageRatioPeriodTwo
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	qdel_ConsolidatedSeniorSecuredLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Credit Agreement, Loan Prepayments, Percentage Of Excess Cash Flow

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	qdel_DebtInstrumentCreditAgreementLoanPrepaymentsPercentageOfExcessCashFlow
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	qdel_LineofCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	qdel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt 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(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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

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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ 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 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ 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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

+ 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 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 3: 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(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

+ 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 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=qdel_TriageBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_FederalFundsEffectiveSwapRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt Senior Credit Agreement (Details)		12 Months Ended
Debt Senior Credit Agreement (Details)	Oct. 06, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt		$ 245,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 25,000,000.0
Proceeds from issuance of Revolving Credit Facility	10,000,000	10,000,000	$ 0	$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity	50,000,000
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense		(7,422,000)
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount		237,578,000
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		(10,184,000)	0
Long-term debt		$ 227,394,000	$ 0
Debt Instrument, Credit Agreement, Loan Prepayments, Percentage Of Excess Cash Flow		50.00%
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio		1.25
Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Period One		5.00
Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Period Two		4.25
Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Period Three		3.50
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio		1.25
Triage Business
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt	$ 245,000,000
Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.005%
Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Credit Facility, applicable margin		2.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Credit Facility, applicable margin		3.50%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.00%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.10%
Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Credit Facility, applicable margin		1.50%
Minimum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Credit Facility, applicable margin		2.50%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.50%
Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Credit Facility, applicable margin		2.50%
Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Credit Facility, applicable margin		3.50%