Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is generally recognized from sales when product is shipped and title has passed to the buyer. Revenue for the U.S. Diagnostics operating segment is reduced at the date of sale for estimated rebates that will be claimed by customers. Management estimates accruals for rebate agreements based on data provided by these customers, estimates of inventories of our products held by these customers, historical statistics, current trends, and other factors. Changes to the accruals are recorded in the period that they become known. Our rebate accruals were $4,272 at June 30, 2011 and $5,273 at September 30, 2010.

Revenue for our Diagnostics operating segments includes bundled product revenue for our illumigene^® molecular test system. The bundled product includes a reader instrument, instrument accessories, and test kits. In many instances, amounts invoiced for the illumigene^® test kits cover the reader instrument, accessories, and test kits. Revenue is recognized based on kit sales. Costs for the reader instruments are recognized in earnings over the period that we have a pricing agreement in effect with the customer, generally three years.

Life Science revenue for contract services may come from research and development services or manufacturing services, including process development work, or a combination of both. Revenue is recognized based on each of the deliverables in a given arrangement having distinct and separate customer pricing. Pricing is often subject to a competitive bidding process. Contract research and development services may be performed on a “time and materials” basis or “fixed fee” basis. For “time and materials” arrangements, revenue is recognized as services are performed and billed. For “fixed fee” arrangements, revenue is recognized upon completion and acceptance by the customer. For contract manufacturing services, revenue is generally recognized upon delivery of product and acceptance by the customer. In some cases, customers may request that we store on their behalf clinical grade biologicals that we produce under contract manufacturing agreements. These cases arise when customers do not have clinical grade storage facilities or do not want to risk contamination during transport. For such cases, revenue may be recognized on a bill-and-hold basis.

Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at invoiced amounts less provisions for rebates and doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents our estimate of probable credit losses and is based on historical write-off experience. The allowance for doubtful accounts and related metrics, such as days’ sales outstanding, are reviewed monthly. Accounts with past due balances over 90 days are reviewed individually for collectibility. Customer invoices are charged off against the allowance when we believe it is probable that the invoices will not be paid.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Our comprehensive income or loss is comprised of net earnings, foreign currency translation and the related income tax effects.

Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using period-end exchange rates with gains or losses resulting from translation included as a separate component of comprehensive income or loss. Revenues and expenses are translated using exchange rates prevailing during the period. We also recognize foreign currency transaction gains and losses on certain assets and liabilities that are denominated in the Australian dollar, British pound and Euro currencies. These gains and losses are included in other income and expense in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Comprehensive income for the interim periods was as follows:

	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended June 30,						Ended June 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Net earnings	$	6,836		$	6,424		$	20,121		$	21,325
Foreign currency translation adjustment		335			(1,287	)		1,203			(2,429	)
Income taxes		(117	)		451			(421	)		850
Comprehensive income	$	7,054		$	5,588		$	20,903		$	19,746

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income taxes currently payable and those deferred because of temporary differences between income for financial reporting and income for tax purposes. We prepare estimates of permanent and temporary differences between income for financial reporting purposes and income for tax purposes. These differences are adjusted to actual upon filing of our tax returns, typically occurring in the third and fourth quarters of the current fiscal year for the preceding fiscal year’s estimates.

We account for uncertain tax positions using a benefit recognition model with a two-step approach: (i) a more-likely-than-not recognition criterion; and (ii) a measurement attribute that measures the position as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. If it is not more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on its technical merits, no benefit is recorded. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a portion of our income tax provision in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock-based Compensation

We recognize compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees, based upon the fair value of the stock-based award on the date of the grant. Shares are expensed over their requisite service period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. FASB ASU No. 2011-04 amends and clarifies the measurement and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC 820, resulting in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, clarification of how to apply existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, and changes to certain principles and requirements for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements. The new requirements are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company plans to adopt this amended guidance on October 1, 2012 and at this time does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income, which amends the disclosure and presentation requirements of Comprehensive Income. Specifically, FASB ASU No. 2011-05 requires that all nonowner changes in shareholders’ equity be presented either in 1) a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or 2) two separate but consecutive statements, in which the first statement presents total net income and its components, and the second statement presents total other comprehensive income and its components. These new presentation requirements are effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The Company will proceed with evaluating the presentation alternatives provided within FASB ASU No. 2011-05, as well as the permitted dates of adoption, and determine the most appropriate changes to be made to the current presentation of comprehensive income within its Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity and when to make such changes.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements to conform to the current fiscal period presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on net earnings or shareholders’ equity.