The calculated weighted-average amortization period of a major class of finite-lived intangible assets acquired during the current period either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 44
-Subparagraph a(3)

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- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to an identifiable intangible asset that will be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to current assets.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
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- Definition

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52
-Subparagraph c

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
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The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 37
-Subparagraph g

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 98-1

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to noncurrent assets of the acquired entity, except for property plant and equipment, intangible assets, and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph e

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 98-1

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 37
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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to property, plant and equipment to be used in ongoing operations.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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Completed Acquisitions Purchase Purchase Price Allocation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended																																											12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008	Feb. 28, 2010 Customer relationships Ahura Scientific [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Product technology Ahura Scientific [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Ahura Scientific [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Ahura Scientific [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Customer relationships Finnzymes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Product technology Finnzymes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Finnzymes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Finnzymes [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Customer relationships Fermentas International Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Product technology Fermentas International Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Fermentas International Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Fermentas International Inc [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Customer relationships Biolab [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Product technology Biolab [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Biolab [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Biolab [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Customer relationships BRAHMS [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Product technology BRAHMS [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 BRAHMS [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 BRAHMS [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Customer relationships Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Product technology Other	Dec. 31, 2010 In-process research and development Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Other	Dec. 31, 2009 Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Other Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Customer relationships Other Analytical Technologies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Customer relationships Other Analytical Technologies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Product technology Other Analytical Technologies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Product technology Other Analytical Technologies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Other Analytical Technologies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Other Analytical Technologies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Other Analytical Technologies [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Other Analytical Technologies [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Customer relationships Other Laboratory Products and Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Customer relationships Other Laboratory Products and Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Product technology Other Laboratory Products and Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Other Laboratory Products and Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Other Laboratory Products and Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Other Laboratory Products and Services [Member] Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Customer relationships	Dec. 31, 2009 Customer relationships	Dec. 31, 2008 Customer relationships	Dec. 31, 2010 Product technology	Dec. 31, 2009 Product technology	Dec. 31, 2008 Product technology	Dec. 31, 2010 In-process research and development	Dec. 31, 2010 Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Tradenames and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Tradenames and other [Member]
Allocation
Current assets	$ 77.5	$ 92.1	$ 45.5			$ 22.3				$ 6.1				$ 19.9				$ 38.2				$ 47.4					$ 29.2							$ 3.7	$ 12.7						$ 2.8	$ 32.8
Property, plant and equipment	20.4	37.0	18.7			3.3				3.4				9.6				3.3				32.9					4.1							0.7	3.4						0.1	15.3
Intangible assets:				46.1	30.4		0.4	16.1	18.6		0.1	67.9	73.5		5.3	51.4	0.9		1.3	203.8	135.2		9.4	40.1	24.7	4.4			4.4	4.2	23.2	6.9	25.7			0.2	5.1	2.5	25.3	6.3			2.9	170.2	261.9	48.5	147.2	143.0	32.0	4.4	10.2	10.9	8.0
Goodwill	313.8	269.7	100.0			109.9				24.8				119.9				62.3				183.4					59.2							19.3	54.0						4.7	46.0
Other assets	12.5	3.5	0.5			0.1				2.0				3.0								3.5					7.4								0.4							0.1
Liabilities assumed	(125.9)	(166.8)	(44.4)			(46.1)				(12.8)				(38.7)				(25.8)				(134.0)					(28.3)							(4.8)	(16.9)						(2.2)	(27.5)
Total Purchase Price	$ 630.3	$ 651.3	$ 208.8			$ 166.4				$ 58.3				$ 260.4				$ 131.6				$ 481.6					$ 145.2	$ 38.0						$ 30.2	$ 107.6						$ 7.9	$ 101.2
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Asset Weighted Average Useful Life (Years)	9	11	8																																									10	11	8	9	9	7		10	8	8