Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jul. 02, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012 Segment		Jul. 02, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Business Segments
Number of Reportable Segments					3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,108.1		$ 2,854.0		$ 6,164.9		$ 5,536.6
Cost of revenues charges	(12.8)				(39.4)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	(1.8)				5.9
Restructuring and other costs, net	(24.3)		(39.8)		(36.5)		(55.0)
Operating Income	367.8		265.1		729.3		587.3
Other expense, net	(49.4)		(10.3)		(99.8)		(33.0)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes	318.4		254.8		629.5		554.3
Depreciation	58.2		50.5		116.8		98.6
Total Assets	26,361.3				26,361.3				26,833.7
Capital Expenditures					134.7		117.4
Excluded from Reportable Segment Operating Income [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges	(12.8)		(15.4)		(39.4)		(18.3)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	(1.8)		(38.0)		5.9		(41.1)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(24.3)		(39.8)		(36.5)		(55.0)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets	(183.4)		(151.2)		(367.3)		(286.6)
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	590.1	[1]	509.5	[1]	1,166.6	[1]	988.3	[1]
Analytical Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	999.5		929.2		2,005.7		1,759.4
Cost of revenues charges	(0.4)				(1.0)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	0				0.1
Restructuring and other costs, net	(14.1)				(18.2)
Operating Income	174.9	[1]	159.0	[1]	360.2	[1]	296.0	[1]
Depreciation	16.1		15.1		32.8		28.6
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	731.9		570.6		1,463.8		1,147.9
Cost of revenues charges	(11.5)				(37.8)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	(1.5)				(1.5)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(7.0)				(9.7)
Operating Income	199.3	[1]	135.9	[1]	386.2	[1]	278.7	[1]
Depreciation	17.9		10.0		35.6		19.7
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,519.7		1,483.9		2,980.1		2,886.5
Cost of revenues charges	(0.9)				(0.6)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	(0.3)				(0.3)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(3.0)				(8.3)
Operating Income	215.9	[1]	214.6	[1]	420.2	[1]	413.6	[1]
Depreciation	24.2		25.4		48.4		50.3
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (143.0)		$ (129.7)		$ (284.7)		$ (257.2)

[1] Represents operating income before certain charges to cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses; restructuring and other costs, net; and amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.