Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012		Oct. 01, 2011		Sep. 29, 2012 Segment		Oct. 01, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Business Segments
Number of Reportable Segments					3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,085.7		$ 2,932.9		$ 9,250.6		$ 8,469.5
Cost of revenues charges	(3.1)				(42.5)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	(19.0)				(13.1)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(15.2)		(11.6)		(51.7)		(66.6)
Operating Income	352.2		316.0		1,081.5		903.3
Other expense, net	(55.8)		(49.6)		(155.6)		(82.6)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	296.4		266.4		925.9		820.7
Depreciation	59.0		54.2		175.8		152.8
Total Assets	27,578.0				27,578.0				26,833.7
Capital Expenditures					210.7		180.2
Excluded from Reportable Segment Operating Income [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges	(3.1)		(24.3)		(42.5)		(42.6)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	(19.0)		(20.6)		(13.1)		(61.7)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(15.2)		(11.6)		(51.7)		(66.6)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets	(186.2)		(174.6)		(553.5)		(461.2)
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	575.7	[1]	547.1	[1]	1,742.3	[1]	1,535.4	[1]
Analytical Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,012.2		1,006.5		3,017.9		2,765.9
Cost of revenues charges	(0.3)				(1.3)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	0				0.1
Restructuring and other costs, net	(8.5)				(26.7)
Operating Income	191.7	[1]	195.9	[1]	551.9	[1]	491.9	[1]
Depreciation	15.5		15.9		48.3		44.5
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	706.7		615.8		2,170.5		1,763.7
Cost of revenues charges	(2.7)				(40.5)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	(11.6)				(13.1)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(1.7)				(11.4)
Operating Income	170.0	[1]	150.3	[1]	556.2	[1]	429.0	[1]
Depreciation	18.2		13.0		53.8		32.7
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,510.1		1,441.1		4,490.2		4,327.6
Cost of revenues charges	(0.1)				(0.7)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	0				(0.3)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(4.9)				(13.2)
Operating Income	214.0	[1]	200.9	[1]	634.2	[1]	614.5	[1]
Depreciation	25.3		25.3		73.7		75.6
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (143.3)		$ (130.5)		$ (428.0)		$ (387.7)

[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.