Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Goodwill Roll Forward
Ending balance	$ 8,995.7	$ 8,707.0
Continuing Operations
Goodwill Roll Forward
Beginning balance	8,707.0	8,402.0
Acquisitions	313.8	269.7
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions		2.8
Tax benefit from Fisher equity awards	(21.9)	(2.3)
Currency translation	(4.5)	40.2
Other	1.3	(5.4)
Ending balance	8,995.7	8,707.0
Continuing Operations \| Analytical Technologies [Member]
Goodwill Roll Forward
Beginning balance	3,194.6	2,981.2
Acquisitions	308.8	202.7
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions		(0.6)
Tax benefit from Fisher equity awards	(7.2)	(0.7)
Currency translation	(11.9)	19.4
Other	(7.4)	(7.4)
Ending balance	3,476.9	3,194.6
Continuing Operations \| Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Goodwill Roll Forward
Beginning balance	5,512.4	5,420.8
Acquisitions	5.0	67.0
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions		3.4
Tax benefit from Fisher equity awards	(14.7)	(1.6)
Currency translation	7.4	20.8
Other	8.7	2.0
Ending balance	5,518.8	5,512.4
Discontinued Operations
Goodwill Roll Forward
Ending balance	$ 274.9	$ 275.9

Other increases or decreases during the reporting period in the carrying value of goodwill that are not separately disclosed.

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- Definition

Purchase accounting adjustments needed to revise the carrying amount of goodwill to fair value.

+ Details

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- Definition

Adjustments to goodwill related to equity awards assumed at acquisition.

+ Details

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) to the recorded value of goodwill for foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to adoption of FAS 142 and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 43

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired in the period and allocated to the reportable segment. The value is stated at fair value based on the purchase price allocation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph e(1)

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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