Sequenom (SQNM) 10-Q 7 May 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	SEQUENOM INC
Entity Central Index Key	1076481
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		118,095,755

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$60,090	$63,309
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	30,618	30,588
Accounts receivable, net	7,663	9,131
Inventories	4,779	6,516
Other current assets and prepaid expenses	5,446	12,112
Total current assets	108,596	121,656
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net	13,750	15,348
Goodwill	10,007	10,007
Intangible assets, net	10,457	11,247
Other assets	2,640	2,813
Total assets	145,450	161,071
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
Accounts payable	5,381	6,089
Accrued expenses	15,303	22,155
Long-term debt and obligations, current portion	2,313	4,144
Other current liabilities	1,212	2,581
Deferred gain on pooled patents agreement	0	21,000
Total current liabilities	24,209	55,969
Long-term debt and obligations, less current portion	5,524	5,602
Convertible senior notes	130,000	130,000
Other long-term liabilities	812	664
Total liabilities	160,545	192,235
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' deficit:
Convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001; 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.001; 185,000 shares authorized, 118,071 and 117,434 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	118	117
Additional paid-in capital	983,647	981,929
Accumulated other comprehensive income	153	87
Accumulated deficit	-999,013	-1,013,297
Total stockholders' deficit	-15,095	-31,164
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$145,450	$161,071

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Convertible senior notes interest rate	5.00%	5.00%
Convertible preferred stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Convertible preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Convertible preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	185,000,000	185,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	118,071,000	117,434,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	118,071,000	117,434,000

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Diagnostic services, net	$35,703	$36,720
License	2,102	341
Total revenues	37,805	37,061
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues	19,306	22,770
Selling and marketing	8,486	8,559
Research and development	5,869	6,789
General and administrative	8,676	12,480
Restructuring costs	0	910
Total costs and expenses	42,337	51,508
Gain on pooled patents agreement	21,000	0
Operating income (loss)	16,468	-14,447
Interest expense, net	-1,983	-2,077
Other expense, net	-125	-21
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	14,360	-16,545
Income tax benefit (expense)	-76	246
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	14,284	-16,299
Discontinued operations:
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	625
Net earnings (loss)	14,284	-15,674
Net earnings (loss) per common share, basic
Continuing operations	$0.12	($0.14)
Discontinued operations	$0	$0.01
Net earnings (loss) per common share, basic	$0.12	($0.13)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	117,737	116,134
Net earnings (loss) per common share, diluted
Continuing operations	$0.11	($0.14)
Discontinued operations	$0	$0.01
Net earnings (loss) per common share, diluted	$0.11	($0.13)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	146,642	116,134
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net earnings (loss)	14,284	-15,674
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes	38	0
Foreign currency gain (loss) on translation adjustment	28	-10
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	66	-10
Comprehensive income (loss)	$14,350	($15,684)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating activities
Net earnings (loss)	$14,284	($15,674)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain on pooled patents agreement related to sale of license	-21,000	0
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-625
Share-based compensation	1,542	2,577
Depreciation and amortization	2,892	3,219
Non-cash restructuring costs	0	941
Other non-cash items	236	285
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,468	-1,049
Inventories	1,737	4,285
Prepaid expenses and other assets	578	-316
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-7,715	-8,907
Other liabilities	-1,220	-828
Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations	-7,198	-16,092
Investing activities
Purchases of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	-289	-405
Purchases of marketable securities	-10,007	-9,994
Maturities of marketable securities	10,052	8,679
Proceeds from pooled patents agreement	6,000	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	5,756	-1,720
Financing activities
Payments on term loan and capital lease obligations	-1,909	-1,906
Proceeds from common stock issued under employee stock plans	177	592
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations	-1,732	-1,314
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	2,919
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	0	-28
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	0	2,891
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-45	-14
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-3,219	-16,249
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	63,309	61,589
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$60,090	$45,340

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies
	The Company
	Sequenom Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine LLC, doing business as Sequenom Laboratories (collectively "the Company"), is a life sciences company committed to enabling healthier lives through the development of innovative products and services. The Company serves physicians by providing early patient management information. The Company develops and commercializes innovative molecular diagnostics testing services that serve women's health and oncology markets.
	Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Sequenom, Inc. should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the interim statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, which include all wholly owned subsidiaries, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.
	The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year or any other period(s).
	Reclassifications
	Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassification was made to change the statements of operations and comprehensive income presentation to provide the users of the financial statements additional information related to the revenues of the Company. The reclassification included reclassifying amounts previously included in diagnostic services revenue to license revenue. The reclassification had no effect on consolidated net earnings or consolidated assets and liabilities.
	Discontinued Operations
	On May 30, 2014, the Company sold its Bioscience business segment. As a result of the sale, the Company's Bioscience segment has been excluded from continuing operations for all periods herein and reported as discontinued operations. For additional information on the divestiture of the Company's Bioscience segment, see Note 3, Discontinued Operations.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company generates revenue from diagnostic services from providing laboratory-developed tests, or LDTs, primarily for the detection of specific fetal abnormalities or other genetic conditions, as well as through the Pooled Patents Agreement (the “Pooled Patents Agreement”) with Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”) and others who have licensed the Company's technology.
	Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company assesses whether the fee is fixed or determinable based on the nature of the fee charged for the services delivered, whether there are existing contractual arrangements, and historical payment patterns. In determining when to record revenue, the Company evaluates collectability and considers whether there is sufficient history to reliably estimate a payor's individual payment patterns. Revenue is deferred for fees received before earned.
	Diagnostic services revenue is recognized upon cash collection until a reliable estimate of the amount that would be ultimately collected for the test and the above criteria have been met, at which time revenue is recognized on an accrual basis. The Company generally bills third-party payors upon generation and delivery of a test result to the ordering physician following completion of a test. As such, the Company takes assignment of benefits and risk of collection with the third-party payor. Patients have out-of-pocket costs for amounts not covered by their insurance carrier and the Company bills the patient directly for these amounts in the form of co-pays and deductibles in accordance with their insurance carrier and health plans. Some payors may not cover the test as ordered by the physician under their reimbursement policies. Consequently, the Company pursues reimbursement on a case-by-case basis.
	From time to time, the Company receives requests for refunds of payments, generally due to overpayments made by third-party payors. Upon becoming aware of a refund request, the Company establishes an accrued liability for tests covered by the refund request until such time as the Company determines whether or not a refund is due.
	License arrangements with third-party partners may involve multiple elements and the Company evaluates the agreements to determine whether each deliverable represents a separate unit of accounting. A deliverable constitutes a separate unit of accounting when it has stand-alone value to the customer. Items are considered to have stand-alone value when they are sold separately by any vendor or when the customer could resell the item on a stand-alone basis. Consideration is allocated at the inception of the contract to all deliverables based on their relative selling price. The relative selling price for each deliverable is determined using vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of selling price or third-party evidence of selling price if VSOE does not exist. If neither VSOE nor third-party evidence exists, the Company uses its best estimate of the selling price for the deliverable. Such amounts are recognized as revenue when each unit is delivered.
	If the delivered element does not have stand-alone value without one of the undelivered elements in the arrangement, the elements are combined and accounted for as a single unit of accounting. Such amounts are recognized as revenue when the last deliverable of the combined units is delivered.
	Recurring revenue generated under license or royalty arrangements, including the Pooled Patents Agreement with Illumina, is recognized in the period reported by the partner or licensee and when the above revenue recognition criteria have been met.
	Cost of Revenue
	Cost of revenue includes the cost of materials, direct labor (including laboratory and service personnel), equipment and infrastructure expenses associated with processing blood and other samples, quality control analyses, shipping charges to transport samples, license and test fees, including those owed to Illumina as specified in the Pooled Patents Agreement. Infrastructure expenses include allocated facility occupancy and information technology costs. Costs associated with performing testing services are recorded as tests are processed. Costs recorded for sample processing and shipping charges represent the cost of all the tests processed during the period regardless of whether revenue is recognized with respect to that test. Royalties for licensed technology calculated on a per test basis or as a percentage of product revenue and fixed annual payments relating to the launch and commercialization of LDTs are recorded as license fees in cost of revenue at the time product revenue is recognized or in accordance with other contractual obligations.
	Pooled Patents Agreement
	On December 2, 2014, the Company entered into a Pooled Patents Agreement with Illumina, pursuant to which the parties pooled their intellectual property directed to noninvasive prenatal testing (“NIPT”). In accordance with the Pooled Patents Agreement, Sequenom and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (“CUHK”) entered into an agreement (the “CUHK Agreement”), pursuant to which certain license agreements by and between the Company and CUHK were amended and assigned to Illumina for inclusion in the patent pool, subject to the Pooled Patents Agreement. Illumina is responsible for paying all royalties to CUHK under the CUHK license agreements, and granted the Company a sublicense under each agreement to exploit laboratory-developed NIPT tests in accordance with the Pooled Patents Agreement. In connection with entering into the Pooled Patents Agreement, the Company also entered into an Amended and Restated Sale and Supply Agreement with Illumina (the “Supply Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company and its affiliates will purchase various products from Illumina for use in NIPT as well as for other clinical and research uses. Concurrently with the execution of the Pooled Patents Agreement, the Company, Illumina, the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine, LLC (“SCMM ” a subsidiary of Sequenom Inc.), and Verinata Health, Inc., a subsidiary of Illumina (“Verinata ”) entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties settled certain claims and released the other parties from potential liability.
	The Company determined that the Pooled Patents Agreement, the Settlement Agreement, the Supply Agreement and the CUHK Agreement were all part of a single transaction with multiple elements as the various agreements were contemporaneously negotiated, contingent upon one another and negotiated with the same counterparties. As the agreements were considered to be part of one transaction with multiple elements, the Company followed the accounting guidance in ASC 605-25 to determine the separate units of account and the basis for allocating the consideration received. The Company evaluated all elements of the agreements and identified the following deliverables that had value; (1) the physical samples and applicable study protocols, (2) transfer of in vitro diagnostic, or IVD, technology (3) settlement of claims and disputes between the Company and Illumina and (4) the $6.15 million upfront payment made to CUHK. The Company allocated consideration to the physical samples and transfer of IVD technology based on its best estimate of selling price for each of the deliverables, which were derived from Company models as well as through the use of a third-party valuation expert. The Company determined the value to be allocated to the settlement of claims and disputes based on the residual value method due to the complex nature of the litigation and the inability to make a reliable estimate of value for this component. Consideration allocated to each element was $21.0 million for each of (i) the physical samples and (ii) the transfer of IVD technology and $1.85 million for the settlement of claims and disputes. The $6.15 million payment made by the Company to CUHK was reflected as a reduction of the proceeds received from Illumina as this was primarily for the amendment of certain license agreements by and between Sequenom and CUHK, and the assignment of those agreements to Illumina for inclusion in the patent pool, and resulted in net consideration to be allocated by the Company of $43.85 million.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had recorded a $21.0 million deferred gain on the Pooled Patents Agreement, which was recognized as a gain during the three months ended March 31, 2015 following delivery and acceptance of the study related documents associated with the physical samples to Illumina.
	Concentration of Risks
	Financial instruments, which potentially are a concentration of credit risk, consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and accounts receivable. The exposure to credit loss is limited by placing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities with US financial institutions. Additionally, the Company has established guidelines regarding diversification of investments and their maturities, which are designed to maintain principal and maximize liquidity. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the Company's large and diverse customer base.
	One customer represented more than 10% of total revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2015, accounting for $5.6 million, or 14.8% of total revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 one customer accounted for $5.9 million or 15.9% of total revenue.
	The Company requires raw materials and devices of appropriate quality, reliability and to meet applicable regulatory requirements that currently are available from a limited number of sources and in certain cases a single source of supply. Consequently, in the event that supplies are delayed or interrupted for any reason, it could impair the ability to develop and produce services, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations.
	Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share
	Basic net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
	Diluted earnings per share reflects the net earnings, plus interest charges during the period applicable to the Company’s convertible senior notes divided by the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares from outstanding stock options, restricted shares, employee stock purchases, warrants and convertible senior notes. Potential dilutive common shares were calculated using the treasury stock method and represent incremental shares issuable upon exercise of the Company’s outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock and warrants. Potential dilutive common shares for convertible senior notes were calculated using the if-converted method.
	For periods in which the Company incurs losses, potentially dilutive shares are not considered in the calculation of net loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive. A summary of information used to compute basic and diluted net earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share data):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Net earnings (loss) for basic earnings per share	$	14,284		$	(15,674	)
	Interest on convertible senior notes	1,884			—
	Earnings (loss) used in calculating diluted earnings per share	$	16,168		$	(15,674	)
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding	117,737			116,134
	Dilutive effect of common shares equivalents	28,905			—
	Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share	146,642			116,134
	Net earnings (loss) per basic share	$	0.12		$	(0.13	)
	Net earnings (loss) per diluted share	$	0.11		$	(0.13	)
	Common stock equivalents, that could potentially reduce net earnings per common share in the future that were not included in the determination of diluted earnings (loss) per common share as their effects were antidilutive are as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Shares underlying Convertible Senior Notes	—		28,088
	Options to purchase common stock	9,032		14,608
	Restricted stock units not yet vested and released	41		2,893
	Warrants to purchase common stock	200		250
	Total	9,273		45,839
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that creates a single source of revenue guidance for companies in all industries. The new standard provides guidance for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to their customers, unless the contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. It also provides a model for the measurement and recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets. This guidance, as amended must be adopted using either a full retrospective approach for all periods presented or a modified retrospective approach and will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, which will be the Company's fiscal year 2018. The Company has not yet evaluated the potential impact of adopting the guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Supplementary_Financial_Inform

Supplementary Financial Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Supplementary Financial Information	Marketable Securities, Available-for-sale (in thousands):
		March 31, 2015
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Estimated
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
	U.S. treasury securities	$	30,049	$	—	$	(23	)	$	30,026
	Certificates of deposit	49		—		—			49
	Mutual funds	277		266		—			543
	Total marketable securities	$	30,375	$	266	$	(23	)	$	30,618
		December 31, 2014
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Estimated
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
	U.S. treasury securities	$	30,049	$	—	$	(29	)	$	30,020
	Certificates of deposit	48		—		—			48
	Mutual funds	277		243		—			520
	Total marketable securities	$	30,374	$	243	$	(29	)	$	30,588
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, gross unrealized losses on marketable securities were insignificant. There were no impairments considered other-than-temporary for the periods presented, as the Company has the intent and ability to hold the securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery in the market value. As of March 31, 2015 all marketable securities were due within one year.
	Other Current Assets and Prepaid Expenses (in thousands):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Pooled patents agreement receivable	$	—	$	6,000
	Other	5,446		6,112
	Total	$	5,446	$	12,112
	Inventories (in thousands):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Raw materials	$	4,433	$	6,165
	Work in process	346		351
	Total	$	4,779	$	6,516
	Accrued Expenses (in thousands):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Accrued royalties, licenses, and collaboration payments	$	5,772	$	7,223
	Accrued compensation and related taxes	5,841		7,606
	Accrued professional fees and consulting	2,017		1,872
	Other	1,673		5,454
	Total	$	15,303	$	22,155

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Discontinued Operations
	The results of operations from discontinued operations presented below include certain allocations that management believes fairly reflect the utilization of services provided to the Bioscience business segment. The allocations do not include amounts related to general corporate administrative expenses or interest expense. Therefore, the results of operations from the Bioscience business segment do not necessarily reflect what the results of operations would have been had the business operated as a stand-alone entity.
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	Discontinued Operations (in thousands)	2014
	Revenues:
	Bioscience product sales and services	$	9,212
	Cost of revenues:
	Cost of bioscience product sales and services	3,340
	Gross margin	5,872
	Operating expenses:
	Selling and marketing	3,210
	Research and development	1,372
	General and administrative	287
	Restructuring costs	19
	Total operating expenses	4,888
	Earnings from discontinued operations	984
	Other income, net	71
	Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes	1,055
	Income tax expense	(430		)
	Earnings from discontinued operations	$	625
	In connection with the sale of the Bioscience segment, the Company also entered into other agreements designed to facilitate the orderly transfer of business operations to the purchaser of the BioScience business. One agreement is a three year Supply Agreement with the purchaser of the BioScience business where the Company may purchase consumables and systems for the laboratory business and for the first twelve months of the agreement has preferred pricing. Purchases made by the Company of consumables and systems for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively; and these sales have been eliminated from discontinued operations reported revenue in 2014 because the transaction was intra-entity.

LongTerm_Obligations

Long-Term Obligations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Obligations	Long-Term Obligations (in thousands, except percentages):
		As of March 31, 2015			As of December 31, 2014
	5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due October 2017, interest payable semi-annually in April and October	$	130,000		$	130,000
	Bank Loans due May 2015, principal and interest payable monthly, weighted-average effective interest rates of 5.5% and 5.5%, net of unamortized discounts of $2 and $8 at March 31, 2105 and December 31, 2014, respectively	1,912			3,722
	Obligation for building and improvements, effective interest rate of 4.9%, expiring October 2026	5,801			5,868
	Capital lease liabilities, expiring January 2016, net of unamortized discounts of $10 and $17 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	124			156
	Total long-term obligations	137,837			139,746
	Less current portion	(2,313		)	(4,144		)
	Non-current portion	$	135,524		$	135,602
	Convertible Senior Notes
	On September 17, 2012, the Company issued $130 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes (the "Notes") in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.00% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. The Notes mature on October 1, 2017, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The Notes are convertible at any time prior to the third trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, at the option of the holders, into shares of common stock.
	The net proceeds received were $124.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering costs of $5.3 million. The debt issuance costs are recorded in other assets and are amortized to interest expense, using the effective interest method, over the five-year term of the Notes. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, unamortized deferred debt issuance costs totaled $2.8 million and $3.1 million, respectively.
	The Notes are initially convertible into a total of 28.1 million shares of common stock, which is equal to an initial conversion rate of 216.0644 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $4.63 per share of common stock), and will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. The maximum conversion rate is 275.4821 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which would result in a maximum issuance of 35.8 million shares of common stock if all holders converted at the maximum conversion rate. In addition, under certain circumstances the Company, in connection with a make-whole fundamental change (as defined in the indenture governing the Notes), may be required to increase the conversion rate for holders of the Notes. As of March 31, 2015, no change to the conversion rate has occurred on the Notes.
	The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to October 1, 2015. On or after October 1, 2015, the Company may redeem for cash all, but not less than all, of the Notes if the last reported sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the applicable conversion price for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the notice of the redemption is delivered. The redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, if the Notes are called for redemption, a make-whole fundamental change will be deemed to occur. As a result, in certain circumstances, this would increase the conversion rate for holders who convert their Notes after a notice of redemption is delivered and on or prior to the close of business on the third business day immediately preceding the relevant redemption date. Upon a fundamental change, subject to certain exceptions, the holders may require that the Company repurchase some or all of their Notes for cash at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
	On September 17, 2012, the Company entered into an indenture with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to the Notes. The Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and rank equal in right of payment with existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness, and will be senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes. The Notes will be effectively subordinated to existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness and will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments of subsidiaries, including trade payables and any guarantees that they may provide with respect to any existing or future indebtedness.
	Bank Loans
	In May 2011, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, or the Loan Agreement, with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, that allowed for term loans of up to $20.0 million to be borrowed through August 31, 2012, revolving cash borrowings of up to $10.0 million, as well as letters of credit all under a secured credit facility. All borrowings under the Loan Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company's assets, except for intellectual property, and are subject to certain other exceptions. The Loan Agreement includes limitations on the ability, among other things, to incur debt, to grant liens, to make certain investments, to make certain restricted payments such as dividend payments, and to dispose of assets, as well as requirements to meet a number of affirmative and negative covenants.
	The Company borrowed under the term loans $5.0 million and $15.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Under the Loan Agreement, the term loans bear interest at the rate fixed on the date of funding equal to the U.S. treasury rate plus 3.25% per annum. The term loan borrowings are being repaid in 33 equal installments of principal, plus accrued interest which commenced on September 1, 2012. The term loans requires a final payment of 3.5% of all advances made under the term loans, in addition to principal repayments and was made on the loan maturity date, which was May 1, 2015, this was being amortized as interest expense over the term of the loan.
	At March 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Loan Agreement. These include a minimum liquidity covenant requiring the Company to maintain with SVB unrestricted cash and marketable securities plus available amounts equal to or greater than the sum of all indebtedness owed to SVB plus operating liquidity.
	Obligation for Building and Improvements
	In November 2011, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a building in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, that is accounted for as a financing lease. The term of the lease and the obligation was initially 15 years through October 2026, including two 2-year extensions of the lease. Rent payments under the lease are allocated primarily between interest expense and a reduction to the long-term obligation. In the event the lease is terminated prior to the end of the 15-year period, any gain representing the amount by which the balance of the obligation exceeds the net book value of the related building and improvements would be recognized.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	Ariosa Litigation
	In December 2011, the Company was named as a defendant in a complaint filed by plaintiff Aria Diagnostics, Inc., in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Since the complaint was filed, Aria changed its name to Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc., or Ariosa. In the complaint, the plaintiff seeks a judicial declaration that no activities related to the plaintiff's noninvasive, prenatal test using cell-free DNA circulating in the blood of a pregnant woman do or will infringe any claim of U.S Patent No. 6,258,540 entitled Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis, or the '540 Patent, which was exclusively in-licensed from Isis prior to September 30, 2014 when the Company purchased the patent from Isis. In March 2012, the Company filed an answer to the complaint and asserted counterclaims that Ariosa is infringing the '540 Patent and seeking unspecified damages and injunctive relief. In March 2012, Ariosa responded to the Company's answer and counterclaims and asserted affirmative defenses including invalidity of the '540 Patent under U.S. patent laws. In March 2012, the Company filed a motion against Ariosa for preliminary injunctive relief. On July 5, 2012, the Court denied the Company's motion for preliminary injunctive relief and on July 16, 2012 the Company filed a Notice of Appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) from the order denying the preliminary injunction motion. On August 9, 2013, the CAFC vacated and remanded the District Court’s decision, ruling that the District Court incorrectly interpreted the claims of the ‘540 patent and improperly balanced factors regarding issuance of a preliminary injunction. On August 16, 2013, Ariosa filed a motion for summary judgment in favor of Ariosa on the Company's counterclaim for patent infringement on the ground that the claims of the ‘540 Patent are invalid because they are not drawn to patent-eligible subject matter under the patent code. On October 16, 2013, the District Court issued its order on the interpretation of the claims of the patent. On October 30, 2013, the District Court issued its order granting Ariosa’s motion for summary judgment, finding that the’540 Patent is invalid. The Company disagrees with the Order and has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the judicial declarations sought by Ariosa in its complaint and intends to vigorously pursue the Company's claims against Ariosa for damages and injunctive relief. However, the Company cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
	Ariosa Inter Partes Review
	In addition, Ariosa has sought to invalidate the ‘540 Patent through a petition for inter parties review ("IPR") before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).  Trial of the IPR was held before the PTAB on January 24, 2014. The PTAB issued a Decision in the IPR on September 2, 2014 invalidating some claims but upholding the validity of other claims. Both the Company and Ariosa requested reconsideration of the PTAB decision. On March 24, 2015, the PTAB denied both parties’ requests for reconsideration. Ariosa has filed a notice of intention to appeal the PTAB decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and we will file a notice to appeal as well.
	Natera Litigation
	In January 2012, the Company was named as a defendant in a complaint filed by plaintiff Natera, a Delaware corporation, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In the complaint, the plaintiff seeks a judicial declaration that (i) activities related to the plaintiff's noninvasive, prenatal paternity test do not directly or indirectly infringe any claim of the '540 Patent, and (ii) one or more claims of the '540 Patent are invalid for failure to comply with the requirements of the patent laws of the U.S. In April 2012, the Company filed an answer to the complaint and asserted counterclaims that Natera and DNA Diagnostics Center, Inc., or DDC, are infringing the '540 Patent based on their activities relating to noninvasive prenatal paternity testing and noninvasive prenatal aneuploidy testing and seeking unspecified damages and injunctive relief. On October 16, 2013, the District Court issued its order on the interpretation of the patent claims. Many of the ‘540 Patent claims asserted against Natera are the same claims that were invalidated by the same District Court on October 30, 2013 in the litigation involving Ariosa, set forth above, and the Company and Natera stipulated to final judgment on the '540 patent claims in this case and have appealed the patent invalidity determination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has consolidated the Ariosa, Natera, and Verinata case appeals. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the judicial declarations sought by Natera in its complaint and intends to vigorously pursue the Company’s claims against Natera for damages and injunctive relief. However, the Company cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
	Verinata and Stanford Litigation
	In February 2012, the Company was named as defendants in a complaint filed by plaintiffs Verinata Health, Inc., or Verinata, and The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, or Stanford, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Verinata was acquired by Illumina, Inc. in 2013. In the complaint (i) Verinata seeks a judicial declaration that activities related to its noninvasive prenatal test using cell-free DNA circulating in the blood of a pregnant woman do not directly or indirectly infringe any claim of the '540 Patent, which at the time was exclusively in-licensed from Isis but has since been purchased from Isis, (ii) Verinata seeks a judicial declaration that each claim of the '540 Patent is invalid for failure to comply with the requirements of the patent laws of the U.S., and (iii) Verinata and Stanford allege that the Company, by performing its noninvasive prenatal MaterniT21 test, has and continues to directly infringe U.S. Patents which have been exclusively licensed to Verinata by Stanford and seek unspecified damages. In March 2012, the Company filed an answer to the complaint and asserted counterclaims that Verinata is infringing the '540 Patent and seeking unspecified damages and injunctive relief. In June 2012, plaintiffs Verinata and Stanford amended their complaint and allege that the Company, by performing its noninvasive prenatal MaterniT21 PLUS test, has and continues to directly infringe on a patent which has been exclusively licensed to Verinata by Stanford and seek unspecified damages. In July 2012, the Company filed an answer to the complaint.
	On October 16, 2013, the District Court issued its order on the interpretation. Many of the ‘540 Patent claims asserted against Verinata are the same claims that were invalidated by the same District Court on October 30, 2013 in the litigation involving Ariosa, set forth above, and the Company and Verinata stipulated to final judgment on the ‘540 patent claims in this case and have appealed the patent invalidity determination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The District Court set trial beginning February 23, 2015. On December 2, 2014, the Company and Verinata reached a settlement that resolved litigation between them, and all litigation between the Company and Verinata related to these patents is now dismissed. As part of that settlement the patents and pending applications, are now pooled under a Pooled Patents Agreement between the Company and Illumina (who acquired Verinata). The Company and Verinata are now licensees to the patent rights that are pooled under the Pooled Patents Agreement.
	Verinata Patent Interference I
	On March 12, 2013, the USPTO declared a patent interference between Verinata's patent, which Verinata had asserted against us in the litigation, and the Company's then in-licensed (from CUHK) pending patent application. Two related patent interferences were declared by the USPTO between patent applications related to the patent and application. On April 7, 2014, the USPTO concluded the interferences, ruling that Verinata’s patent lacked sufficient disclosure to meet the written description requirement for the patent claims, and entered judgment canceling all four of the patent claims in the interference and the involved claims of the related patent application. Verinata has appealed the USPTO’s decision to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The District Court had set trial beginning February 23, 2015 on the appeal but has stayed the trial indefinitely. On December 2, 2014, the involved patents and applications were added to the patent pool. The Company is not a party to the District Court proceedings.
	Verinata Patent Interference II
	On May 3, 2013, the USPTO declared a patent interference between Verinata's patent, which Verinata has asserted against us in the litigation, and the Company's then in-licensed (from CUHK) pending patent application. On April 7, 2014, the USPTO ruled that the pending patent application has sufficient disclosure to meet the written description requirement for the patent claims and ordered the interference to proceed to the priority phase to determine which inventors were the first to invent the subject matter of the interference and entitled to a patent on that subject matter. The Company also separately challenged the validity of Verinata’s Patent in an inter partes review proceeding before the USPTO. The USPTO recently issued a decision in the Interference and the patent IPR upholding the validity of the patent. Pursuant to the terms of its settlement with Verinata, the Company will not appeal these decisions.
	EU Opposition Proceedings
	On September 29, 2014, and October 1, 2014, two unknown third parties initiated Opposition Proceedings against a European Patent. This patent was previously in-licensed by the Company from CUHK but has since been added to the patent pool under the Pooled Patents Agreement. The Company has rights to this patent under the patent pool but no longer controls efforts to defend this patent in the Opposition Proceedings.
	Premaitha Litigation
	On March 13, 2015, Illumina and its wholly-owned subsidiary Verinata filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Premaitha Health (UK). The lawsuit was filed in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court in the United Kingdom. The lawsuit alleges that Premaitha’s Iona test for fetal aneuploidy infringes two pooled patents: European Patent No. EP 0 994 963 B2 (the “ ‘963 B2 Patent”) and European Patent No. EP 1 981 995 B1. The ‘963 B2 Patent is owned by the Company. The Company is named as a plaintiff and is participating in the lawsuit as the owner of the ‘963 B2 Patent. In its Defense and Counterclaim filed on April 29, 2015, Premaitha Health denies infringement and alleges that both asserted patents are invalid.
	Other
	In addition, from time to time, the Company may be involved in litigation relating to employment, intellectual property and contractual matters as well as claims arising out of the Company's operations in the normal course of business, including claims related to the Company's products, tests, and services, including LDT services. These other matters are, in the opinion of management, immaterial with respect to the Company's consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.
	Claim estimates that are probable and can be reasonably estimated are reflected as liabilities. Because of the uncertainties related to the Company's pending litigation, investigations, inquiries or claims, management is currently unable to predict the ultimate outcome of any litigation, investigation, inquiry or claim, determine whether a liability has been incurred, or make an estimate regarding the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome. It is reasonably possible that some of the matters, which are pending or may be asserted, could be decided unfavorably to us. An adverse ruling or outcome in any lawsuit involving us could materially affect the Company's business, liquidity, consolidated financial position or results of operations, the ability to sell one or more of the Company's products or could result in additional competition. In view of the unpredictable nature of such matters, the Company cannot provide any assurances regarding the outcome of any litigation, investigation, inquiry or claim to which the Company is a party or the impact on us of an adverse ruling of such matters.

Stock_Compensation_Plans

Stock Compensation Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock Compensation Plans	Stock Compensation Plans
	Equity Incentive Plans
	The following table summarizes stock option activity of the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2015 (shares in thousands):
		Shares Subject to Options (in thousands)		Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Share
	As of December 31, 2014	11,116		$4.96
	Granted	1,349		$3.49
	Exercised	-76		$2.81
	Forfeitures and cancellations	-559		$4.14
	Outstanding at March 31, 2015	11,830		$4.85
	Options exercisable at March 31, 2015	7,821		$5.57
	The following table summarizes activity related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units of the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2015:
		Number of Shares (in thousands)		Weighted-Average
				Grant Date
				Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014	1,674		$2.99
	Grants and awards	1,005		$3.49
	Vested and released	-494		$3.56
	Forfeitures and cancellations	-134		$3.27
	Outstanding at March 31, 2015	2,051		$3.08
	Issuances of Common Stock
	In the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company issued a total of 158 thousand shares of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) and 76 thousand shares from the exercise of stock options, resulting in proceeds of $0.7 million.
	Stock-Based Compensation Expense
	Following are the weighted-average underlying assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock option award grants and for stock purchase rights under the ESPP for the periods indicated:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	Stock Option Grants	2015			2014
	Risk-free interest rate	1.7		%	2		%
	Volatility	92.1		%	94		%
	Dividend yield	—		%	—		%
	Expected life (years)	7.2			7.1
	Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	2.78		$	1.93
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	ESPP Stock Purchase Rights	2015			2014
	Risk-free interest rate	0.14		%	0.09		%
	Volatility	55.7		%	74.2		%
	Dividend yield	—		%	—		%
	Expected life (years)	0.5			0.5
	Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	1.07		$	0.77

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements
	Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
	The following tables summarize the fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
	As of March 31, 2015	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	50,369	$	50,369	$	—
	Total cash equivalents	50,369		50,369		—
	Marketable securities:
	U.S. treasury securities	30,026		30,026		—
	Certificates of deposit	49		—		49
	Mutual funds	543		543		—
	Total marketable securities	30,618		30,569		49
	Total	$	80,987	$	80,938	$	49
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
	As of December 31, 2014	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	50,359	$	50,359	$	—
	Total cash equivalents	50,359		50,359		—
	Marketable securities:
	U.S. treasury securities	30,020		30,020		—
	Certificates of deposit	48		—		48
	Mutual funds	520		520		—
	Total marketable securities	30,588		30,540		48
	Total	$	80,947	$	80,899	$	48
	There were no transfers in or out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 investments during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
	For fair values determined by Level 1 inputs, which utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, the level of judgment required to estimate fair value is relatively low. The value of investments in money market funds, U.S. treasury securities and mutual funds was determined using Level 1 inputs. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs, which utilize data points that are observable such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Investments in certificates of deposit are valued using Level 2 inputs.
	Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
	The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. Based on current borrowing rates currently available in the market for bank loans with similar terms, management believes that the fair values of its bank loans approximates their respective carrying values (Level 1).
	The carrying amounts and fair values the Notes are as follows (in thousands):
		31-Mar-15				31-Dec-14
		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	Convertible Senior Notes	$	130,000	$	137,556	$	130,000	$	134,227
	At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair values of the Notes were based on quoted market prices of similar instruments (Level 1).

Restructuring_Costs_Restructur

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring Charges	Restructuring Costs
	As part of an overall cost reduction effort, in August 2013, the Company exited a leased facility in San Diego, California, which is available for sublease until the lease expires in July 2015.
	In connection with the restructuring, the Company recorded $2.4 million in facility exit costs, and $1.7 million of impairment expense for tenant improvements associated with the vacated facility, in addition to other restructuring charges during the year ended December 31, 2013.
	In 2014, based on the shortened period where the facility could be subleased and in consideration of other new information, management reassessed the remaining liabilities in connection with the restructuring and recorded an additional $1.9 million of restructuring expense related to the vacated facility. The restructuring cost is for the lease obligation and costs to operate the facility through the lease expiration.
	The following table summarizes our restructuring activity during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and related liabilities as of March 31, 2015 (in thousands):
		Facility Exit Costs
	Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	1,195
	Cash payments	(561		)
	Balance as of March 31, 2015	$	634
	The restructuring liability of $0.6 million is included in other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2015 and are payable through the remainder of the vacated facility lease, which expires in July 2015.

Income_Tax_Notes

Income Tax (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	Income Taxes
	The Company’s income tax expense is primarily due to statutory tax liabilities resulting from state and foreign operations and deferred income tax expense related to amortization of indefinite lived intangibles.
	The Company’s income tax expense is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined using the enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected to be realized. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not the future realization of all or some of the deferred tax assets will not be achieved. The evaluation of the need for a valuation allowance is performed on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis, and includes a review of all available positive and negative evidence. When the Company establishes or reduces the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, the provision for income taxes will increase or decrease, respectively, in the period such determination is made. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company maintained valuation allowances against U.S. and foreign deferred tax assets the Company concluded had not met the “more likely than not” threshold. Changes in the valuation allowance when they are recognized in the provision for income taxes may result in a change in the estimated annual effective tax rate.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation	Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Sequenom, Inc. should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the interim statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, which include all wholly owned subsidiaries, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.
	The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year or any other period(s).
	Reclassifications
	Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassification was made to change the statements of operations and comprehensive income presentation to provide the users of the financial statements additional information related to the revenues of the Company. The reclassification included reclassifying amounts previously included in diagnostic services revenue to license revenue. The reclassification had no effect on consolidated net earnings or consolidated assets and liabilities.
	Discontinued Operations
	On May 30, 2014, the Company sold its Bioscience business segment. As a result of the sale, the Company's Bioscience segment has been excluded from continuing operations for all periods herein and reported as discontinued operations. For additional information on the divestiture of the Company's Bioscience segment, see Note 3, Discontinued Operations.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company generates revenue from diagnostic services from providing laboratory-developed tests, or LDTs, primarily for the detection of specific fetal abnormalities or other genetic conditions, as well as through the Pooled Patents Agreement (the “Pooled Patents Agreement”) with Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”) and others who have licensed the Company's technology.
	Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company assesses whether the fee is fixed or determinable based on the nature of the fee charged for the services delivered, whether there are existing contractual arrangements, and historical payment patterns. In determining when to record revenue, the Company evaluates collectability and considers whether there is sufficient history to reliably estimate a payor's individual payment patterns. Revenue is deferred for fees received before earned.
	Diagnostic services revenue is recognized upon cash collection until a reliable estimate of the amount that would be ultimately collected for the test and the above criteria have been met, at which time revenue is recognized on an accrual basis. The Company generally bills third-party payors upon generation and delivery of a test result to the ordering physician following completion of a test. As such, the Company takes assignment of benefits and risk of collection with the third-party payor. Patients have out-of-pocket costs for amounts not covered by their insurance carrier and the Company bills the patient directly for these amounts in the form of co-pays and deductibles in accordance with their insurance carrier and health plans. Some payors may not cover the test as ordered by the physician under their reimbursement policies. Consequently, the Company pursues reimbursement on a case-by-case basis.
	From time to time, the Company receives requests for refunds of payments, generally due to overpayments made by third-party payors. Upon becoming aware of a refund request, the Company establishes an accrued liability for tests covered by the refund request until such time as the Company determines whether or not a refund is due.
	License arrangements with third-party partners may involve multiple elements and the Company evaluates the agreements to determine whether each deliverable represents a separate unit of accounting. A deliverable constitutes a separate unit of accounting when it has stand-alone value to the customer. Items are considered to have stand-alone value when they are sold separately by any vendor or when the customer could resell the item on a stand-alone basis. Consideration is allocated at the inception of the contract to all deliverables based on their relative selling price. The relative selling price for each deliverable is determined using vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of selling price or third-party evidence of selling price if VSOE does not exist. If neither VSOE nor third-party evidence exists, the Company uses its best estimate of the selling price for the deliverable. Such amounts are recognized as revenue when each unit is delivered.
	If the delivered element does not have stand-alone value without one of the undelivered elements in the arrangement, the elements are combined and accounted for as a single unit of accounting. Such amounts are recognized as revenue when the last deliverable of the combined units is delivered.
	Recurring revenue generated under license or royalty arrangements, including the Pooled Patents Agreement with Illumina, is recognized in the period reported by the partner or licensee and when the above revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Cost of Revenue	Cost of Revenue
	Cost of revenue includes the cost of materials, direct labor (including laboratory and service personnel), equipment and infrastructure expenses associated with processing blood and other samples, quality control analyses, shipping charges to transport samples, license and test fees, including those owed to Illumina as specified in the Pooled Patents Agreement. Infrastructure expenses include allocated facility occupancy and information technology costs. Costs associated with performing testing services are recorded as tests are processed. Costs recorded for sample processing and shipping charges represent the cost of all the tests processed during the period regardless of whether revenue is recognized with respect to that test. Royalties for licensed technology calculated on a per test basis or as a percentage of product revenue and fixed annual payments relating to the launch and commercialization of LDTs are recorded as license fees in cost of revenue at the time product revenue is recognized or in accordance with other contractual obligations.
Pooled Patents Agreement	Pooled Patents Agreement
	On December 2, 2014, the Company entered into a Pooled Patents Agreement with Illumina, pursuant to which the parties pooled their intellectual property directed to noninvasive prenatal testing (“NIPT”). In accordance with the Pooled Patents Agreement, Sequenom and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (“CUHK”) entered into an agreement (the “CUHK Agreement”), pursuant to which certain license agreements by and between the Company and CUHK were amended and assigned to Illumina for inclusion in the patent pool, subject to the Pooled Patents Agreement. Illumina is responsible for paying all royalties to CUHK under the CUHK license agreements, and granted the Company a sublicense under each agreement to exploit laboratory-developed NIPT tests in accordance with the Pooled Patents Agreement. In connection with entering into the Pooled Patents Agreement, the Company also entered into an Amended and Restated Sale and Supply Agreement with Illumina (the “Supply Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company and its affiliates will purchase various products from Illumina for use in NIPT as well as for other clinical and research uses. Concurrently with the execution of the Pooled Patents Agreement, the Company, Illumina, the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine, LLC (“SCMM ” a subsidiary of Sequenom Inc.), and Verinata Health, Inc., a subsidiary of Illumina (“Verinata ”) entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties settled certain claims and released the other parties from potential liability.
	The Company determined that the Pooled Patents Agreement, the Settlement Agreement, the Supply Agreement and the CUHK Agreement were all part of a single transaction with multiple elements as the various agreements were contemporaneously negotiated, contingent upon one another and negotiated with the same counterparties. As the agreements were considered to be part of one transaction with multiple elements, the Company followed the accounting guidance in ASC 605-25 to determine the separate units of account and the basis for allocating the consideration received. The Company evaluated all elements of the agreements and identified the following deliverables that had value; (1) the physical samples and applicable study protocols, (2) transfer of in vitro diagnostic, or IVD, technology (3) settlement of claims and disputes between the Company and Illumina and (4) the $6.15 million upfront payment made to CUHK. The Company allocated consideration to the physical samples and transfer of IVD technology based on its best estimate of selling price for each of the deliverables, which were derived from Company models as well as through the use of a third-party valuation expert. The Company determined the value to be allocated to the settlement of claims and disputes based on the residual value method due to the complex nature of the litigation and the inability to make a reliable estimate of value for this component. Consideration allocated to each element was $21.0 million for each of (i) the physical samples and (ii) the transfer of IVD technology and $1.85 million for the settlement of claims and disputes. The $6.15 million payment made by the Company to CUHK was reflected as a reduction of the proceeds received from Illumina as this was primarily for the amendment of certain license agreements by and between Sequenom and CUHK, and the assignment of those agreements to Illumina for inclusion in the patent pool, and resulted in net consideration to be allocated by the Company of $43.85 million.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had recorded a $21.0 million deferred gain on the Pooled Patents Agreement, which was recognized as a gain during the three months ended March 31, 2015 following delivery and acceptance of the study related documents associated with the physical samples to Illumina.
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share	Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share
	Basic net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
	Diluted earnings per share reflects the net earnings, plus interest charges during the period applicable to the Company’s convertible senior notes divided by the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares from outstanding stock options, restricted shares, employee stock purchases, warrants and convertible senior notes. Potential dilutive common shares were calculated using the treasury stock method and represent incremental shares issuable upon exercise of the Company’s outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock and warrants. Potential dilutive common shares for convertible senior notes were calculated using the if-converted method.
	For periods in which the Company incurs losses, potentially dilutive shares are not considered in the calculation of net loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive. A summary of information used to compute basic and diluted net earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share data):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Net earnings (loss) for basic earnings per share	$	14,284		$	(15,674	)
	Interest on convertible senior notes	1,884			—
	Earnings (loss) used in calculating diluted earnings per share	$	16,168		$	(15,674	)
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding	117,737			116,134
	Dilutive effect of common shares equivalents	28,905			—
	Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share	146,642			116,134
	Net earnings (loss) per basic share	$	0.12		$	(0.13	)
	Net earnings (loss) per diluted share	$	0.11		$	(0.13	)
	Common stock equivalents, that could potentially reduce net earnings per common share in the future that were not included in the determination of diluted earnings (loss) per common share as their effects were antidilutive are as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Shares underlying Convertible Senior Notes	—		28,088
	Options to purchase common stock	9,032		14,608
	Restricted stock units not yet vested and released	41		2,893
	Warrants to purchase common stock	200		250
	Total	9,273		45,839
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that creates a single source of revenue guidance for companies in all industries. The new standard provides guidance for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to their customers, unless the contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. It also provides a model for the measurement and recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets. This guidance, as amended must be adopted using either a full retrospective approach for all periods presented or a modified retrospective approach and will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, which will be the Company's fiscal year 2018. The Company has not yet evaluated the potential impact of adopting the guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	A summary of information used to compute basic and diluted net earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share data):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Net earnings (loss) for basic earnings per share	$	14,284		$	(15,674	)
	Interest on convertible senior notes	1,884			—
	Earnings (loss) used in calculating diluted earnings per share	$	16,168		$	(15,674	)
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding	117,737			116,134
	Dilutive effect of common shares equivalents	28,905			—
	Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share	146,642			116,134
	Net earnings (loss) per basic share	$	0.12		$	(0.13	)
	Net earnings (loss) per diluted share	$	0.11		$	(0.13	)
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	Common stock equivalents, that could potentially reduce net earnings per common share in the future that were not included in the determination of diluted earnings (loss) per common share as their effects were antidilutive are as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Shares underlying Convertible Senior Notes	—		28,088
	Options to purchase common stock	9,032		14,608
	Restricted stock units not yet vested and released	41		2,893
	Warrants to purchase common stock	200		250
	Total	9,273		45,839

Supplementary_Financial_Inform1

Supplementary Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	Marketable Securities, Available-for-sale (in thousands):
		March 31, 2015
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Estimated
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
	U.S. treasury securities	$	30,049	$	—	$	(23	)	$	30,026
	Certificates of deposit	49		—		—			49
	Mutual funds	277		266		—			543
	Total marketable securities	$	30,375	$	266	$	(23	)	$	30,618
		December 31, 2014
		Amortized		Gross		Gross			Estimated
		Cost		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
	U.S. treasury securities	$	30,049	$	—	$	(29	)	$	30,020
	Certificates of deposit	48		—		—			48
	Mutual funds	277		243		—			520
	Total marketable securities	$	30,374	$	243	$	(29	)	$	30,588
Other Assets	Other Current Assets and Prepaid Expenses (in thousands):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Pooled patents agreement receivable	$	—	$	6,000
	Other	5,446		6,112
	Total	$	5,446	$	12,112
Inventories	Inventories (in thousands):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Raw materials	$	4,433	$	6,165
	Work in process	346		351
	Total	$	4,779	$	6,516
Accrued Expenses	Accrued Expenses (in thousands):
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Accrued royalties, licenses, and collaboration payments	$	5,772	$	7,223
	Accrued compensation and related taxes	5,841		7,606
	Accrued professional fees and consulting	2,017		1,872
	Other	1,673		5,454
	Total	$	15,303	$	22,155

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures	Therefore, the results of operations from the Bioscience business segment do not necessarily reflect what the results of operations would have been had the business operated as a stand-alone entity.
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	Discontinued Operations (in thousands)	2014
	Revenues:
	Bioscience product sales and services	$	9,212
	Cost of revenues:
	Cost of bioscience product sales and services	3,340
	Gross margin	5,872
	Operating expenses:
	Selling and marketing	3,210
	Research and development	1,372
	General and administrative	287
	Restructuring costs	19
	Total operating expenses	4,888
	Earnings from discontinued operations	984
	Other income, net	71
	Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes	1,055
	Income tax expense	(430		)
	Earnings from discontinued operations	$	625

LongTerm_Obligations_Tables

Long-Term Obligations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments	Long-Term Obligations (in thousands, except percentages):
		As of March 31, 2015			As of December 31, 2014
	5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due October 2017, interest payable semi-annually in April and October	$	130,000		$	130,000
	Bank Loans due May 2015, principal and interest payable monthly, weighted-average effective interest rates of 5.5% and 5.5%, net of unamortized discounts of $2 and $8 at March 31, 2105 and December 31, 2014, respectively	1,912			3,722
	Obligation for building and improvements, effective interest rate of 4.9%, expiring October 2026	5,801			5,868
	Capital lease liabilities, expiring January 2016, net of unamortized discounts of $10 and $17 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	124			156
	Total long-term obligations	137,837			139,746
	Less current portion	(2,313		)	(4,144		)
	Non-current portion	$	135,524		$	135,602

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Table

Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity	The following table summarizes stock option activity of the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2015 (shares in thousands):
		Shares Subject to Options (in thousands)		Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Share
	As of December 31, 2014	11,116		$4.96
	Granted	1,349		$3.49
	Exercised	-76		$2.81
	Forfeitures and cancellations	-559		$4.14
	Outstanding at March 31, 2015	11,830		$4.85
	Options exercisable at March 31, 2015	7,821		$5.57
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity	The following table summarizes activity related to restricted stock awards and restricted stock units of the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2015:
		Number of Shares (in thousands)		Weighted-Average
				Grant Date
				Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014	1,674		$2.99
	Grants and awards	1,005		$3.49
	Vested and released	-494		$3.56
	Forfeitures and cancellations	-134		$3.27
	Outstanding at March 31, 2015	2,051		$3.08
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs
Equity Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions	Following are the weighted-average underlying assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock option award grants and for stock purchase rights under the ESPP for the periods indicated:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	Stock Option Grants	2015			2014
	Risk-free interest rate	1.7		%	2		%
	Volatility	92.1		%	94		%
	Dividend yield	—		%	—		%
	Expected life (years)	7.2			7.1
	Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	2.78		$	1.93
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Valuation Assumptions
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	ESPP Stock Purchase Rights	2015			2014
	Risk-free interest rate	0.14		%	0.09		%
	Volatility	55.7		%	74.2		%
	Dividend yield	—		%	—		%
	Expected life (years)	0.5			0.5
	Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	1.07		$	0.77

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Summary of fair value for assets measured on recurring basis
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
	As of March 31, 2015	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	50,369	$	50,369	$	—
	Total cash equivalents	50,369		50,369		—
	Marketable securities:
	U.S. treasury securities	30,026		30,026		—
	Certificates of deposit	49		—		49
	Mutual funds	543		543		—
	Total marketable securities	30,618		30,569		49
	Total	$	80,987	$	80,938	$	49
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
	As of December 31, 2014	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	50,359	$	50,359	$	—
	Total cash equivalents	50,359		50,359		—
	Marketable securities:
	U.S. treasury securities	30,020		30,020		—
	Certificates of deposit	48		—		48
	Mutual funds	520		520		—
	Total marketable securities	30,588		30,540		48
	Total	$	80,947	$	80,899	$	48
Carrying amounts and fair value of long-term obligations
		31-Mar-15				31-Dec-14
		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	Convertible Senior Notes	$	130,000	$	137,556	$	130,000	$	134,227

Restructuring_Costs_Tables

Restructuring Costs (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost	The following table summarizes our restructuring activity during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and related liabilities as of March 31, 2015 (in thousands):
		Facility Exit Costs
	Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	1,195
	Cash payments	(561		)
	Balance as of March 31, 2015	$	634

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 02, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on pooled patents agreement	$21,000,000	$0
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements, Determination of Selling Price, Amount	21,000,000	0
Collaborative Arrangement | Chinese University of Hong Kong
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Collaborative Arrangement, Aggregate Consideration, Up-front Payment			6,150,000
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements, Determination of Selling Price, Amount			43,850,000
Physical Samples | Collaborative Arrangement | Chinese University of Hong Kong
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements, Determination of Selling Price, Amount			21,000,000
Settlements Of Claims And Disputes | Collaborative Arrangement | Chinese University of Hong Kong
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements, Determination of Selling Price, Amount			$1,850,000

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$14,284	($15,674)
Interest on convertible senior notes	$1,884	$0
Earnings (loss) used in calculating diluted earnings per share	16168	-15674
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	117,737	116,134
Dilutive effect of common shares equivalents	28,905	0
Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share	146,642	116,134
Net earnings (loss) per common share, basic	$0.12	($0.13)
Net earnings (loss) per common share, diluted	$0.11	($0.13)
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	9,273	45,839
Shares underlying Senior Convertible Notes
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	0	28,088
Options to purchase common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	9,032	14,608
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	41	2,893
Warrants to purchase common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	200	250

Supplementary_Financial_Inform2

Supplementary Financial Information (Marketable Securities) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$30,375	$30,374
Gross Unrealized Gains	266	243
Gross Unrealized Losses	-23	-29
Estimated Fair Value	30,618	30,588
U.S. treasury securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	30,049	30,049
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	-23	-29
Estimated Fair Value	30,026	30,020
Certificates of deposit
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	49	48
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	49	48
Mutual funds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	277	277
Gross Unrealized Gains	266	243
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	$543	$520

Supplementary_Financial_Inform3

Supplementary Financial Information (Other Assets) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Pooled patents agreement receivable	$0	$6,000
Other	5,446	6,112
Total	$5,446	$12,112

Supplementary_Financial_Inform4

Supplementary Financial Information (Schedule of Inventory Table) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$4,433	$6,165
Work in process	346	351
Total	$4,779	$6,516

Supplementary_Financial_Inform5

Supplementary Financial Information (Accrued Expenses) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Expenses [Abstract]
Accrued royalties, licenses, and collaboration payments	$5,772	$7,223
Accrued compensation and related taxes	5,841	7,606
Accrued professional fees and consulting	2,017	1,872
Other	1,673	5,454
Total	$15,303	$22,155

Discontinued_Operations_Narrat

Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operation, Intra-Entity Amounts, Discontinued Operation after Disposal, Expense	$0.10	$0.10

Discontinued_Operations_Discon

Discontinued Operations (Discontinued Operations: Revenue, Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating expenses:
Earnings from discontinued operations	$0	$625
BioSciences
Revenues:
Bioscience product sales and services		9,212
Cost of revenues:
Cost of bioscience product sales and services		3,340
Gross margin		5,872
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing		3,210
Research and development		1,372
General and administrative		287
Restructuring costs		19
Total operating expenses		4,888
Earnings from discontinued operations		984
Other income, net		71
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes		1,055
Income tax expense		430
Earnings from discontinued operations		$625

LongTerm_Obligations_LongTerm_

Long-Term Obligations (Long-Term Obligations Schedule) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible senior notes	$130,000	$130,000
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	137,837	139,746
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current	-2,313	-4,144
Long-term Debt and Captial Lease Obligations Excluding Current Portion	135,524	135,602
Convertible Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible senior notes	130,000	130,000
Loan Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans Payable to Bank	1,912	3,722
Financing Lease Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Financing Lease Obligations	5,801	5,868
Capital Lease Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital Lease Obligations	$124	$156

LongTerm_Obligations_Narrative

Long-Term Obligations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 17, 2012	31-May-11
	option
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible senior notes interest rate		5.00%			5.00%
Unamortized debt issuance expense		$2,800,000			$3,100,000
Redemption price percentage		100.00%
Capital lease obligation term	15 years
Capital lease obligation, number of extension options	2
Convertible Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt						130,000,000
Convertible senior notes interest rate						5.00%
Latest convertible date		1-Oct-17
Proceeds from convertible debt		124,700,000
Payments of debt issuance costs		5,300,000
Conversion price		$4.63
Earliest call date		1-Oct-15
Stock price trigger, percent of sales must exceed conversion price		140.00%
Stock price trigger, trading days		20
Stock price trigger, consecutive trading day period prior to notice of redemption		30
Loan Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan maximum borrowing capacity							20,000,000
Expiration date		31-Aug-12
Proceeds from issuance of debt			5,000,000	15,000,000
Number of repayment installments		33
Maturity date		1-May-15
Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of equity instruments		28,088,372
Minimum | Convertible Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion ratio		216.0644
Maximum | Convertible Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of equity instruments		35,812,673
Conversion ratio		275.4821
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity							$10,000,000
Minimum Final Payment | Loan Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage fee on advances		3.50%
U.S. Treasury Rate | Loan Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		3.25%

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Narra

Stock Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued	118,071,000	117,434,000
Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued	76,234
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued	158,404
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	$0.70

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Combi

Stock Compensation Plans (Combined Activity) (Details) (Equity Incentive Plan, Stock Options, Common Stock, USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity Incentive Plan | Stock Options | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of period (shares)	11,116,000
Granted (shares)	1,349,000
Exercised (shares)	-76,000
Forfeitures and cancelled (shares)	-559,000
Outstanding at end of period (shares)	11,830,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of period (usd per share)	$4.96
Granted (usd per share)	$3.49
Exercised (usd per share)	$2.81
Forfeited and cancelled (usd per share)	$4.14
Outstanding at end of period (usd per share)	$4.85
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Number	7,821,000
Options vested and exercisable at end of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$5.57

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Restr

Stock Compensation Plans (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) (Details) (Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Restricted Stock | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Oustanding at Beginning of Period (shares)	1,674
Grants and awards (shares)	1,005
Vested and released (shares)	-494
Forfeitures and cancellations (shares)	-134
Oustanding at End of Period (shares)	2,051
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	$2.99
Grants and awards	$3.49
Vested and released	$3.56
Forfeitures and cancellations	$3.27
Outstanding at March 31, 2015	$3.08

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Weigh

Stock Compensation Plans (Weighted-Average Underlying Assumptions Used) (Details) (Common Stock, USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity Incentive Plan | Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.70%	2.00%
Volatility	92.10%	94.00%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Expected life (years)	7 years 2 months 21 days	7 years 1 month 21 days
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$2.78	$1.93
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | Employee stock purchase rights
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	0.14%	0.09%
Volatility	55.70%	74.20%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Expected life (years)	6 months	6 months
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$1.07	$0.77

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis (details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Marketable securities:
Total	$80,987	$80,947
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Marketable securities:
Total	80,938	80,899
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Marketable securities:
Total	49	48
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities:
U.S. treasury securities	30,026	30,020
Certificates of deposit	49	48
Mutual funds	543	520
Total marketable securities	30,618	30,588
Marketable Securities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Marketable securities:
U.S. treasury securities	30,026	30,020
Certificates of deposit	0	0
Mutual funds	543	520
Total marketable securities	30,569	30,540
Marketable Securities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Marketable securities:
U.S. treasury securities	0	0
Certificates of deposit	49	48
Mutual funds	0	0
Total marketable securities	49	48
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	50,369	50,359
Total cash equivalents	50,369	50,359
Cash Equivalents | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	50,369	50,359
Total cash equivalents	50,369	50,359
Cash Equivalents | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	0	0
Total cash equivalents	$0	$0

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V1

Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value of Long-term Commitments) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Convertible Senior Notes	$130,000	$130,000
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Convertible Senior Notes	$137,556	$134,227

Restructuring_Costs_Narrative_

Restructuring Costs (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Initiation date	19-Aug-13
Lease expiration date	31-Jul-15
Restructuring costs	$0	$910,000
Restructuring Reserve, Current	600,000
Facility Closing
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs			2,400,000
Change in previous estimates		1,900,000
Impairment of Tenant Improvements
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs			$1,700,000

Restructuring_Costs_Details

Restructuring Costs (Details) (Facility Closing, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Facility Closing
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$1,195
Cash payments	-561
Balance as of March 31, 2015	$634