<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.10.0.1</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>138</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>248</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>42</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>11</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveLossIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Accounts</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetAccounts</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Balance Sheet Accounts</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/StockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Industry and Geographic Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IndustryAndGeographicInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Industry and Geographic Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Acquisition</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/Acquisition</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201201 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2302301 - Disclosure - Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2303301 - Disclosure - Inventories (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/InventoriesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/Inventories</ParentRole>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2304301 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Accounts (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetAccountsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Balance Sheet Accounts (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetAccounts</ParentRole>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/DebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/Debt</ParentRole>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2307301 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/StockholdersEquityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/StockholdersEquity</ParentRole>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2308301 - Disclosure - Industry and Geographic Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IndustryAndGeographicInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Industry and Geographic Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/IndustryAndGeographicInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2310301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2311301 - Disclosure - Acquisition (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/AcquisitionTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/Acquisition</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401402 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402402 - Disclosure - Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShareAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShareTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402403 - Disclosure - Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShareCalculationOfBasicAndDilutedEarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Computation of (Loss) Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/ComputationOfLossEarningsPerShareTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403402 - Disclosure - Inventories (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/InventoriesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/InventoriesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Other Current Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/OtherCurrentLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Current Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404403 - Disclosure - Other Balance Sheet Accounts Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/OtherBalanceSheetAccountsPrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Balance Sheet Accounts Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405401 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/IncomeTaxes</ParentRole>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Debt - Convertible Senior Notes, Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/DebtConvertibleSeniorNotesAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Convertible Senior Notes, Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Debt - Settlement of Convertible Senior Notes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/DebtSettlementOfConvertibleSeniorNotesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Settlement of Convertible Senior Notes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406404 - Disclosure - Debt - Components of Convertible Senior Notes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/DebtComponentsOfConvertibleSeniorNotesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Components of Convertible Senior Notes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406405 - Disclosure - Debt - Senior Credit Agreement, Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/DebtSeniorCreditAgreementAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Senior Credit Agreement, Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407402 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/StockholdersEquityAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407403 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Compensation Expense Related to Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/StockholdersEquityCompensationExpenseRelatedToStockBasedCompensationPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Compensation Expense Related to Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407404 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Estimated Fair Value of Each Stock Option Award (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/StockholdersEquityEstimatedFairValueOfEachStockOptionAwardDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Estimated Fair Value of Each Stock Option Award (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408402 - Disclosure - Industry and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IndustryAndGeographicInformationAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Industry and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408403 - Disclosure - Industry and Geographic Information - Sales to Individual Customers in Excess of 10% of Total Revenues (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IndustryAndGeographicInformationSalesToIndividualCustomersInExcessOf10OfTotalRevenuesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Industry and Geographic Information - Sales to Individual Customers in Excess of 10% of Total Revenues (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408404 - Disclosure - Industry and Geographic Information Industry and Geographic Information - Revenue by Category (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/IndustryAndGeographicInformationIndustryAndGeographicInformationRevenueByCategoryDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Industry and Geographic Information Industry and Geographic Information - Revenue by Category (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409401 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.quidel.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</ParentRole>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410402 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredAtFairValueOnRecurringBasisDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410403 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410404 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Changes in Estimated Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsChangesInEstimatedFairValueOfContingentConsiderationLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements - Changes in Estimated Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411402 - Disclosure - Acquisition - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/AcquisitionAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411403 - Disclosure - Acquisition - Consideration (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/AcquisitionConsiderationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition - Consideration (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411404 - Disclosure - Acquisition - Purchase Price Allocation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/AcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition - Purchase Price Allocation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>50</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="qdel-20180930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411405 - Disclosure - Acquisition - Intangible Assets Acquired (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.quidel.com/role/AcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquiredDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition - Intangible Assets Acquired (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>51</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>qdel-20180930.xml</File>
    <File>qdel-20180930.xsd</File>
    <File>qdel-20180930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>qdel-20180930_def.xml</File>
    <File>qdel-20180930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>qdel-20180930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles/>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/srt/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
