Note 22 - Subsequent Events (Details Textual)	Mar. 07, 2019 shares
Complaint By Dr. Goldberg Against Navidea and MT [Member] \| MT [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Litigation Case, Number of Shares of Super Voting Common Stock Failed to Issue	23,500,000

Represents the number of shares of super voting common stock that the plaintiff claims should have been issued but have not been issued.

No definition available.

Name:	navb_LitigationCaseNumberOfSharesOfSuperVotingCommonStockFailedToIssue
Namespace Prefix:	navb_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration