Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials - Additional Information (Detail) (GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED [Member], USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Aug. 01, 2012	Aug. 01, 2012
Acquisition date of Gen-Probe	Aug. 01, 2012	Aug. 01, 2012
6.25% Senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Private placement	1.0	1.0
Interest rate	6.25%	6.25%
Maturity Year	2020	2020

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from entity's raising of capital via private rather than public placement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 18

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3255-108585

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