Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Product revenue	$ 196,900	$ 191,334	$ 613,288	$ 583,221
Service revenue	118,575	109,620	360,512	328,267
Total revenue	315,475	300,954	973,800	911,488
Cost of Revenue:
Cost of product revenue	72,738	76,831	226,420	227,993
Cost of service revenue	72,102	65,456	217,282	195,870
Total cost of revenue	144,840	142,287	443,702	423,863
Gross profit	170,635	158,667	530,098	487,625
Expenses:
Sales and marketing	52,067	50,682	164,238	152,641
General and administrative	35,307	32,483	105,760	98,219
Research and development	20,349	19,406	60,964	55,839
Income from operations	62,912	56,096	199,136	180,926
Interest expense	(873)	(928)	(2,992)	(2,438)
Interest income	473	450	1,389	1,238
Income before provision for income taxes	62,512	55,618	197,533	179,726
Provision for income taxes	19,639	17,122	62,606	55,970
Net income	42,873	38,496	134,927	123,756
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	20	(11)	14	(20)
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	$ 42,853	$ 38,507	$ 134,913	$ 123,776
Earnings per Share:
Basic	$ 0.78	$ 0.68	$ 2.45	$ 2.17
Diluted	$ 0.76	$ 0.66	$ 2.40	$ 2.11
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic	54,938	56,699	55,074	57,141
Diluted	56,088	58,007	56,270	58,636