Major Customers and Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment information for the interim periods
Net sales - Third-party	$ 40,052	$ 33,857	$ 118,374	$ 107,461
Operating income	10,131	9,776	30,183	32,657
Goodwill	23,443		23,443		23,302
Other intangible assets, net	11,632		11,632		13,327
Total assets	157,951		157,951		154,641
U.S. Diagnostics [Member]
Segment information for the interim periods
Net sales - Third-party	23,829	21,121	72,007	70,018
Net sales - Inter-segment	2,875	2,723	7,938	8,200
Operating income	8,399	8,104	26,780	26,805
Goodwill	1,381		1,381		1,381
Other intangible assets, net	1,741		1,741		2,283
Total assets	71,831		71,831		72,030
European Diagnostics [Member]
Segment information for the interim periods
Net sales - Third-party	6,612	6,218	18,926	19,103
Net sales - Inter-segment	9	8	16	12
Operating income	978	726	1,781	2,789
Goodwill	0		0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0		9
Total assets	20,680		20,680		18,044
Life Science [Member]
Segment information for the interim periods
Net sales - Third-party	9,611	6,518	27,441	18,340
Net sales - Inter-segment	141	177	459	438
Operating income	797	752	1,499	2,976
Goodwill	22,062		22,062		21,921
Other intangible assets, net	9,891		9,891		11,035
Total assets	94,164		94,164		90,388
Eliminations [Member]
Segment information for the interim periods
Net sales - Inter-segment	(3,025)	(2,908)	(8,413)	(8,650)
Operating income	(43)	194	123	87
Goodwill	0		0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Total assets	$ (28,724)		$ (28,724)		$ (25,821)