Organization and Nature of Business; Basis of Presentation; Principles of Consolidation; Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, (“U.S. GAAP”), and applicable rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Therefore, these condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2016. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date, but does not include all disclosures such as notes required by U.S. GAAP. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods presented, but are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be anticipated for the entire year ending December 31, 2016 or any future period. All amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances. During the three months ended June 30, 2016 new entities were formed based in Europe.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at time of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include overnight repurchase agreement accounts and other investments. As part of our cash management process, excess operating cash is invested in overnight repurchase agreements with our bank. Repurchase agreements and other investments classified as cash and cash equivalents are not deposits and are not insured by the U.S. Government, the FDIC or any other government agency and involve investment risk including possible loss of principal. We believe however, that the market risk arising from holding these financial instruments is minimal.
Investments	Investments The Company invests excess funds in various investments which are primarily held in the custody of major financial institutions. Investments consist of debt securities in U.S. government and agency securities, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, and commercial paper. Management classifies its investments as available-for-sale investments and records these investments in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The Company considers all available-for-sale securities, including those with maturity dates beyond 12 months, as available to support current operational liquidity needs. Unrealized gains or losses for available-for-sale securities are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, a component of stockholders’ equity. The Company classifies its investments as current based on the nature of the investments and their availability for use in current operations. The Company assesses whether an other-than-temporary impairment loss has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market conditions when an investment’s fair value remains less than its cost for more than twelve months. This assessment includes a determination of whether the investment is expected to recover in value and whether the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment until the anticipated recovery in value occurs. When an investment is identified as having an other-than-temporary impairment loss, we adjust the cost basis of the investment down to fair value resulting in a realized loss. The new cost basis is not changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value and temporary future increases or decreases in fair value are included in other comprehensive income.
Reclassification	Reclassification Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation.
Inventory	Inventory The Company currently purchases and produces inventory prior to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory agency approval. We do not believe probable future economic benefit can be asserted prior to the de novo request being granted by the U.S. FDA. Accordingly, the Company does not capitalize pre-launch inventory prior to receipt of marketing authorization, unless the regulatory review process has progressed to a point that objective and persuasive evidence of regulatory approval is sufficiently probable, and future economic benefit can be asserted. Costs associated with the Company’s purchase of inventory are either reported as research and development costs, or if the inventory is used in marketing evaluations, as sales, general and administrative costs on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Revenue	Revenue The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 605, “Revenue Recognition,” when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, collection is reasonably assured and delivery of products has occurred or services have been rendered. Additional considerations include whether the applicable fee arrangement contains future delivery or performance obligations that should be divided into separate accounting units, whether the arrangement requires the Company to retain risks consistent with a collaborative arrangement, and/or whether any of the fees are contingent on the achievement of future milestones. Deferred revenue represents amounts received but not yet earned under existing agreements. Revenue from operations includes product sales, principally of ACCELERATE PHENO™ systems (formerly referred to as Accelerate ID/AST systems). When an instrument is sold, revenue is generally recognized upon installation of the unit consistent with contract terms, which do not include a right of return.
Warranty	Warranty A limited warranty of less than a year is covered under selected contracts. Accordingly, a provision for the estimated cost of the limited warranty repair is recorded at the time revenue is recognized. Our estimated warranty provision is based on our estimate of future repair events and the related estimated cost of repairs. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of the warranty reserve and adjusts the amount as necessary. The expense incurred for these provisions is included in sales, general and administrative on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Foreign Currency Translation and Foreign Currency Transactions	Foreign Currency Translation and Foreign Currency Transactions The Company follows ASC 830 "Foreign Currency Matters," which provides guidance on foreign currency transactions and translation of financial statements. Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment, within the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company has assets and liabilities, primarily receivables and payables, which are denominated in currencies other than their functional currency. These balance sheet items are subject to re-measurement, the impact of which is recorded in foreign currency exchange gain or loss, within the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which amends the guidance on measuring credit losses on financial assets (including trade accounts receivable and available for sale debt securities) held at amortized cost. Currently, an "incurred loss" methodology is used for recognizing credit losses which delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. The amendment requires assets valued at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected using an allowance for credit losses. Reversal of credit losses on available for sale debt securities will be recorded in the current period net income. The amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. We do not anticipate this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements and plan to adopt on the effective date. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This guidance requires the recognition of the income tax effects of awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, thus eliminating additional paid in capital pools. The guidance also allows for the employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting. In addition, the guidance allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than on an estimated basis. The guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2017 with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements and plan to adopt on the effective date. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This replaces the existing standards relating to leases for both lessees and lessors. For lessees, the new standard requires most leases to be recorded on the balance sheet with expenses recognized much like the existing standard. For lessors, the new standard modifies the classification criteria and accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases and eliminates leveraged leases. For both lessees and lessors, the standard eliminates real estate-specific provisions, changes some of the presentation and disclosure requirements, and changes sale and leaseback criteria. The ASU is required for us on January 1, 2019 with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact this will have on our consolidated financial statements and the timing of adoption. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We are carefully evaluating our existing revenue recognition practices to determine whether any contracts in the scope of the guidance will be affected by the new requirements. The effects may include identifying performance obligations in existing arrangements, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. We will also establish practices to determine when a performance obligation has been satisfied, and recognize revenue in accordance with the new requirements. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date resulting in a new effective date of January 1, 2018 for us. We are permitted to adopt early but not before the original effective date of January 1, 2017. FASB has issued several other ASU's which provide further guidance on Topic 606 and have the same effective date. The standard allows for either “full retrospective” adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all of the periods presented, or “modified retrospective” adoption, meaning the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements. We are currently evaluating the transition method and the adoption date that will be elected. We will implement ASU 2014-09 and all relevant subsequently issued ASU's on Topic 606 concurrently.