Non-cash interest expense, deferred consideration

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount of liabilities incurred by the acquirer as part of consideration transferred in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the value of a contingent consideration liability, including, but not limited to, differences arising upon settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
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-Publisher FASB
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+ Details

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

- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements and indemnification assets recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the low-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueLow
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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

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

- Definition

Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

+ References

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=qdel_BioHelixCorpandAnDiaTecGmbHCo.KGMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis=qdel_ConsiderationAMember
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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 06, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Guaranteed deferred consideration		$ 256,000	$ 256,000
Accretion of interest on deferred consideration			7,686	$ 0
Fair value of contingent consideration			745	$ 0
General and administrative expense		700	700
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		203,597	203,597		$ 247,459
Contingent consideration
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		18,752	18,752		24,301
Triage Business
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Range of cash payment (up to)		280,000	280,000
Contingent consideration	$ 19,700
Deferred consideration	220,550
Fair value of contingent consideration	19,700
BioHelix Corp and AnDiaTec GmbH & Co. KG \| Contingent consideration
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure		300	300		$ 4,600
Consideration A \| Triage Business
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Guaranteed deferred consideration	16,000
Contingent consideration	$ 24,000	$ 24,000	$ 24,000