Alere 10-Q 6 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	1-May-14
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ALERE INC.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001145460	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	82,592,966

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Net product sales	$495,445	$508,276
Services revenue	215,965	226,909
Net product sales and services revenue	711,410	735,185
License and royalty revenue	5,212	4,064
Net revenue	716,622	739,249
Cost of net product sales	246,112	253,078
Cost of services revenue	117,732	120,158
Cost of net product sales and services revenue	363,844	373,236
Cost of license and royalty revenue	1,539	1,756
Cost of net revenue	365,383	374,992
Gross profit	351,239	364,257
Operating expenses:	'	'
Research and development	38,699	41,454
Sales and marketing	147,064	156,456
General and administrative	139,536	135,858
Operating expenses	325,299	333,768
Operating income	25,940	30,489
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	-52,044	-57,399
Other income (expense), net	4,722	-470
Loss before benefit for income taxes	-21,382	-27,380
Benefit for income taxes	-9,917	-36,871
Income (loss) before equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-11,465	9,491
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	5,352	2,934
Net income (loss)	-6,113	12,425
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	108	-25
Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	-6,221	12,450
Preferred stock dividends	-5,250	-5,250
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	($11,471)	$7,200
Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries:	($0.14)	$0.09
Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries:	($0.14)	$0.09
Weighted-average shares-basic	82,387	81,199
Weighted-average shares-diluted	82,387	81,300

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Net income (loss)	($6,113)	$12,425
Other comprehensive loss, before tax:	'	'
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	-11,340	-75,355
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities	-17	0
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments	8	11
Minimum pension liability adjustment	74	605
Other comprehensive loss, before tax	-11,275	-74,739
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive loss	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	-11,275	-74,739
Comprehensive loss	-17,388	-62,314
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	108	-25
Comprehensive loss attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	($17,496)	($62,289)

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$433,026	$361,908
Restricted cash	4,222	6,373
Marketable securities	781	858
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $78,054 and $76,643 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	528,793	548,729
Inventories, net	371,136	364,185
Deferred tax assets	62,616	60,689
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	120,529	129,672
Total current assets	1,521,103	1,472,414
Property, plant and equipment, net	545,051	545,164
Goodwill	3,090,056	3,093,691
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives	55,916	56,702
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	1,617,254	1,684,611
Restricted cash	28,856	29,370
Deferred financing costs, net, and other non-current assets	80,056	84,073
Investments in unconsolidated entities	90,445	86,830
Deferred tax assets	7,449	7,959
Total assets	7,036,186	7,060,814
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	65,252	49,112
Current portion of capital lease obligations	6,220	6,855
Accounts payable	190,448	187,371
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	430,261	429,848
Total current liabilities	692,181	673,186
Long-term liabilities:	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	3,745,796	3,772,788
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion	15,090	14,407
Deferred tax liabilities	307,574	329,249
Other long-term liabilities	194,989	188,336
Total long-term liabilities	4,263,449	4,304,780
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Series B preferred stock, $0.001 par value (liquidation preference: $709,763 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013); Authorized: 2,300 shares; Issued: 2,065 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; Outstanding: 1,774 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	606,468	606,468
Common stock, $0.001 par value; Authorized: 200,000 shares; Issued: 90,224 shares at March 31, 2014 and 89,666 shares at December 31, 2013; Outstanding: 82,545 shares at March 31, 2014 and 81,987 shares at December 31, 2013	90	90
Additional paid-in capital	3,334,264	3,319,168
Accumulated deficit	-1,642,448	-1,636,227
Treasury stock, at cost, 7,679 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	-184,971	-184,971
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-37,837	-26,562
Total stockholders' equity	2,075,566	2,077,966
Non-controlling interests	4,990	4,882
Total equity	2,080,556	2,082,848
Total liabilities and equity	$7,036,186	$7,060,814

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable, allowances	$78,054	$76,643
Series B preferred stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Series B preferred stock, liquidation preference	$709,763	$709,763
Series B preferred stock, shares authorized	2,300	2,300
Series B preferred stock, shares issued	2,065	2,065
Series B preferred stock, shares outstanding	1,774	1,774
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000	200,000
Common stock, shares issued	90,224	89,666
Common stock, shares outstanding	82,545	81,987
Treasury stock, shares	7,679	7,679

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	($6,113)	$12,425
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	4,141	5,217
Depreciation and amortization	98,086	104,970
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition	0	461
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	5,704	4,123
Impairment of inventory	589	0
Impairment of long-lived assets	161	0
Loss on disposition of fixed assets	2,072	172
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-5,352	-2,934
Deferred income taxes	-24,636	-50,907
Other non-cash items	-3,659	1,941
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	19,898	-20,167
Inventories, net	-12,745	-17,171
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,330	-5,833
Accounts payable	5,231	-1,988
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	8,363	42,096
Other non-current liabilities	13,313	795
Cash paid for contingent consideration	-3,475	-2,139
Net cash provided by operating activities	105,908	71,061
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	2,151	-8,573
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-27,540	-36,105
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	129	1,143
Cash received from disposition	4,373	0
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	-158,421
Cash received from (paid for) investments	-507	10,771
Cash received from sales of marketable securities	60	0
Increase in other assets	-2,925	-5,569
Net cash used in investing activities	-24,259	-196,754
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Cash paid for financing costs	-7	-1,427
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration	-4,195	-19,098
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	14,698	6,135
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	939	10,053
Payments on long-term debt	-15,823	-19,638
Net proceeds under revolving credit facilities	233	162,483
Cash paid for dividends	-5,323	-5,323
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	292	104
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	-1,840	-1,721
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-11,026	131,568
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents	495	-6,988
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	71,118	-1,113
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	361,908	328,346
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$433,026	$327,233

Basis_of_Presentation_of_Finan

Basis of Presentation of Financial Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation of Financial Information	'
	(1) Basis of Presentation of Financial Information
	The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of Alere Inc. are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments considered normal and recurring and necessary for their fair statement. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows. Our audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 included information and footnotes necessary for such presentation and were included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 3, 2014. These unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or equity.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded net after-tax expense charges of $1.3 million to correct prior period items, including a net after-tax charge of $2.8 million related to the fair value of the MedApps Holding Company, Inc., or MedApps, contingent consideration obligations. We consider the adjustments to be immaterial to both the prior period and the current period financial statements.
	Certain amounts presented may not recalculate directly, due to rounding.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	(2) Cash and Cash Equivalents
	We consider all highly-liquid cash investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. At March 31, 2014, our cash equivalents consisted of money market funds.

Restricted_Cash

Restricted Cash	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Restricted Cash	'
	(3) Restricted Cash
	We had restricted cash of $33.1 million and $35.7 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. $28.9 million and $29.4 million of our restricted cash as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, was classified as non-current on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, as it secures a foreign bank loan arrangement that we entered into during the third quarter of 2013 and, under the terms of the loan agreement, is required to remain on deposit for two years.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	(4) Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first in, first out) or market and are comprised of the following (in thousands):
		March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Raw materials	$	124,020	$	118,571
	Work-in-process		73,848		79,559
	Finished goods		173,268		166,055
		$	371,136	$	364,185

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	(5) Stock-based Compensation
	We recorded stock-based compensation expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Cost of net revenue	$	287		$	232
	Research and development		1,191			747
	Sales and marketing		891			716
	General and administrative		3,335			2,428
			5,704			4,123
	Benefit for income taxes		(1,778	)		(862	)
		$	3,926		$	3,261

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share	'
	(6) Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
	Numerator:
	Net income (loss)	$	(6,113	)	$	12,425
	Preferred stock dividends		(5,250	)		(5,250	)
	Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		108			(25	)
	Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	(11,471	)	$	7,200
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic		82,387			81,199
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options		—			101
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted		82,387			81,300
	Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	(0.14	)	$	0.09
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	(0.14	)	$	0.09
	The following potential dilutive securities were not included in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share because the inclusion thereof would be antidilutive (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Denominator:
	Options to purchase shares of common stock		11,143			9,987
	Warrants		4			4
	Conversion shares related to 3% convertible senior subordinated notes		3,411			3,411
	Conversion shares related to subordinated convertible promissory notes		27			27
	Conversion shares related to Series B convertible preferred stock		10,239			10,239
	Common stock equivalents related to the settlement of a contingent consideration obligation		358			—
	Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding		25,182			23,668

Stockholders_Equity_and_NonCon

Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests	'
	(7) Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests
	(a) Preferred Stock
	For both the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, Series B preferred stock dividends amounted to $5.3 million, which reduced earnings available to common stockholders for purposes of calculating net income (loss) per common share for each of the periods. As of March 31, 2014, $5.3 million of Series B preferred stock dividends was accrued. As of April 15, 2014, payments have been made covering all dividend periods through March 31, 2014.
	The Series B preferred stock dividends for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were paid in cash.
	(b) Changes in Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests
	A summary of the changes in stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interests comprising total equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is provided below (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014								2013
		Total			Non-		Total			Total			Non-			Total
		Stockholders’			controlling		Equity			Stockholders’			controlling			Equity
		Equity			Interests					Equity			Interests
	Equity, beginning of period	$	2,077,966		$	4,882	$	2,082,848		$	2,180,422		$	2,282		$	2,182,704
	Issuance of common stock under employee compensation plans		14,698			—		14,698			6,135			—			6,135
	Preferred stock dividends		(5,323	)		—		(5,323	)		(5,323	)		—			(5,323	)
	Stock-based compensation expense		5,704			—		5,704			4,123			—			4,123
	Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options		17			—		17			(422	)		—			(422	)
	Net income (loss)		(6,221	)		108		(6,113	)		12,450			(25	)		12,425
	Total other comprehensive loss		(11,275	)		—		(11,275	)		(74,739	)		—			(74,739	)
	Equity, end of period	$	2,075,566		$	4,990	$	2,080,556		$	2,122,646		$	2,257		$	2,124,903

Business_Combinations

Business Combinations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business Combinations	'
	(8) Business Combinations
	Acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method and the acquired companies’ results have been included in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements from their respective dates of acquisition. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we expensed acquisition-related costs of $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively, in general and administrative expense.
	Our business acquisitions have historically been made at prices above the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, resulting in goodwill, based on our expectations of synergies and other benefits of combining the businesses. These synergies and benefits include elimination of redundant facilities, functions and staffing; use of our existing commercial infrastructure to expand sales of the products of the acquired businesses; and use of the commercial infrastructure of the acquired businesses to expand product sales in a cost-efficient manner.
	Net assets acquired are recorded at their fair value and are subject to adjustment upon finalization of the fair value analysis. We are not aware of any information that indicates the final fair value analysis will differ materially from the preliminary estimates. The estimated useful lives of the individual categories of intangible assets were based on the nature of the applicable intangible asset and the expected future cash flows to be derived from the intangible asset. Amortization of intangible assets with finite lives is recognized over the shorter of the respective lives of the agreement or the period of time the intangible assets are expected to contribute to future cash flows. We amortize our finite-lived intangible assets based on patterns on which the respective economic benefits are expected to be realized.
	Acquisitions in 2013
	(a) Epocal
	On February 1, 2013, we acquired Epocal, Inc., or Epocal, located in Ottawa, Canada, a provider of technologies that support blood gas and electrolyte testing at the point of care. The aggregate purchase price was approximately $248.5 million, which consisted of $151.4 million in cash, a $22.1 million settlement of a pre-existing arrangement and a contingent consideration obligation with an aggregate acquisition date fair value of $75.0 million. The operating results of Epocal are included in our professional diagnostics reporting unit and business segment. The amount allocated to goodwill from this acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.
	(b) Other acquisitions in 2013
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, we acquired the following businesses for a preliminary aggregate purchase price of $57.6 million, which included cash payments totaling $28.2 million, a $17.5 million settlement of a pre-existing arrangement, contingent consideration obligations with an aggregate acquisition date fair value of $1.3 million, deferred purchase price consideration with an acquisition date fair value of $0.8 million and an $8.0 million bargain purchase gain.
		•		certain assets of PT Mega Medika Mandiri, or Mega Medika, located in South Jakarta, Indonesia, a distributor of infectious disease products to the Indonesian marketplace as well as materials for vaccines to a pharmaceutical customer (Acquired January 2013)
		•		Discount Diabetic, LLC, or Discount Diabetic, located in Phoenix, Arizona, a provider of blood glucose monitoring products, including diabetes testing systems and test strips and other products (Acquired April 2013)
		•		the Medicare fee-for-service assets of Liberty Medical, or the Liberty business, located in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a leading mail order provider of diabetes testing supplies serving the needs of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients (Acquired April 2013)
		•		51% share in Cardio Selfcare B.V., subsequently renamed Alere Health Services B.V., or Alere Health Services, located in Ede, the Netherlands, a developer of innovative software for the healthcare industry that develops and licenses software and sells medical devices to enable patients to perform medical self-care, including thrombosis self-care (Acquired May 2013)
		•		74.9% interest in Pantech Proprietary Limited, or Pantech, located in Durban, South Africa, a supplier of rapid diagnostic test kits, including HIV, malaria, syphilis, drugs of abuse, 10 parameter urine sticks, glucometers and glucose sticks (Acquired July 2013)
		•		Certain assets of Simplex Healthcare, Inc. and its subsidiaries, or Simplex, located in Tennessee, a provider of home delivery of diabetes-related medical supplies and products (Acquired November 2013)
	The operating results of Mega Medika, Discount Diabetic, the Liberty business, Alere Health Services, Pantech, and Simplex are included in our professional diagnostics reporting unit and business segment.
	Our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 included revenue totaling approximately $23.8 million related to these businesses. Goodwill has been recognized in the Mega Medika, Alere Health Services, Pantech, and Simplex acquisitions and amounted to approximately $2.5 million. The goodwill related to the Mega Medika and Simplex acquisitions is deductible for tax purposes, but the goodwill related to the Pantech and Alere Health Services acquisitions is not.
	With respect to our acquisition of the Liberty business, the purchase price of the acquisition has been allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired, with the excess of the fair value of assets acquired over the purchase price recorded as a bargain purchase gain. The $8.0 million bargain purchase gain has been recorded in other income (expense), net in our consolidated statement of operations and is not recognized for tax purposes. The bargain purchase gain resulted from our operating cost structure which we believe will allow us to operate this business more cost effectively than the sellers.
	A summary of the preliminary fair values of the net assets acquired for the acquisitions consummated in 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
			Epocal		Other		Total
	Current assets (1)		$	12,536	$	13,702	$	26,238
	Property, plant and equipment			1,267		1,669		2,936
	Goodwill			98,454		2,543		100,997
	Intangible assets			164,400		51,180		215,580
	Other non-current assets			18,158		29		18,187
	Total assets acquired			294,815		69,123		363,938
	Current liabilities			2,627		5,398		8,025
	Non-current liabilities			43,727		6,175		49,902
	Total liabilities assumed			46,354		11,573		57,927
	Net assets acquired			248,461		57,550		306,011
	Less:
	Contingent consideration			75,000		1,264		76,264
	Settlement of pre-existing arrangements			22,088		17,500		39,588
	Non-controlling interest			—		1,774		1,774
	Bargain purchase gain			—		8,023		8,023
	Deferred purchase price consideration			—		768		768
	Cash paid		$	151,373	$	28,221	$	179,594
	(1)	Includes approximately $3.3 million of acquired cash.
	The following are the intangible assets acquired and their respective fair values and weighted-average useful lives (dollars in thousands):
			Epocal		Other		Total		Weighted-
									average
									Useful Life
	Core technology and patents		$	119,700	$	—	$	119,700		20.0 years
	Software			—		2,154		2,154		5.7 years
	Trademarks and trade names			20,500		80		20,580		19.1 years
	License agreements			—		620		620		1.5 years
	Customer relationships			—		42,510		42,510		11.5 years
	Other			—		5,816		5,816		3.0 years
	In-process research and development			24,200		—		24,200		N/A
	Total intangible assets		$	164,400	$	51,180	$	215,580

Restructuring

Restructuring	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring	'
	(9) Restructuring
	The following table sets forth aggregate restructuring charges recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Statement of Operations Caption	2014			2013
	Cost of net revenue	$	875		$	623
	Research and development		—			—
	Sales and marketing		1,557			1,099
	General and administrative		4,783			2,170
	Total operating expenses		7,215			3,892
	Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		125			55
	Total charges	$	7,340		$	3,947
	(a) 2014 Restructuring Plans
	In 2014, management developed cost reduction efforts within our professional diagnostics and corporate and other business segments, including our U.S. sales force, our global information technology group, and certain businesses in Europe. The following table summarizes the restructuring activities related to our 2014 restructuring plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (in thousands):
		Professional Diagnostics			Corporate and Other			Total
	Severance-related costs	$	2,364		$	87		$	2,451
	Facility and transition costs		34			8			42
	Cash charges		2,398			95			2,493
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		750			—			750
	Total charges	$	3,148		$	95		$	3,243
	We anticipate incurring approximately $3.9 million and $1.3 million in additional costs under our 2014 restructuring plans related to our professional diagnostics and corporate and other business segments, respectively, in the U.S. and Europe and may develop additional plans over the remainder of 2014. As of March 31, 2014, $0.7 million in severance costs arising under our 2014 restructuring plans remain unpaid.
	(b) 2013 Restructuring Plans
	In 2013, management developed cost reduction efforts within our professional diagnostics business segment, including businesses in our United States, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Additionally, management took steps to improve efficiencies within our health information solutions business segment, including winding down a small portion of this business, which resulted in charges associated with the impairment of related fixed and intangible assets. The following table summarizes the restructuring activities in our professional diagnostics and health information solutions business segments related to our 2013 restructuring plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and since inception (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Professional Diagnostics	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	838		$	833		$	7,964
	Facility and transition costs		174			13			2,755
	Cash charges		1,012			846			10,719
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			743
	Total charges	$	1,012		$	846		$	11,462
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Health Information Solutions	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	89		$	69		$	3,356
	Facility and transition costs		3,227			—			6,182
	Other exit costs		33			—			50
	Cash charges		3,349			69			9,588
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			1,089
	Intangible asset impairments		—			—			2,596
	Other non-cash (recoveries)		(854	)		—			(1,757	)
	Total charges	$	2,495		$	69		$	11,516
	We anticipate incurring approximately $2.4 million in additional costs under our 2013 restructuring plans related to our professional diagnostics business segment in the United States and Europe and approximately $0.7 million in additional facility costs under our 2013 restructuring plans related to our health information solutions segment. As of March 31, 2014, $7.4 million in severance and facility costs arising under our 2013 restructuring plans remain unpaid.
	(c) Restructuring Plans Prior to 2013
	In 2012, management developed cost reduction plans within our professional diagnostics business segment, including the integration of our businesses in Brazil, Europe and the United States. Additionally, management developed new plans to continue our efforts to reduce costs within our health information solutions business segment, including the termination of certain projects, which resulted in charges for the impairment of related fixed and intangible assets.
	In 2011, management executed a company-wide cost reduction plan, which impacted our corporate and other business segment, as well as the health information solutions and professional diagnostics business segments. Management also developed plans within our professional diagnostics business segment to consolidate operating activities among certain of our U.S., European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries, including transferring the manufacturing of our Panbio products from Australia to our Standard Diagnostics facility in South Korea and eliminating redundant costs among our newly acquired Axis-Shield subsidiaries. Additionally, within our health information solutions business segment, management executed plans to further reduce costs and improve efficiencies, as well as cease operations at our GeneCare Medical Genetics Center, Inc., facility in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and transfer the majority of our Quality Assured Services, Inc. operation in Orlando, Florida to our facility in Livermore, California.
	In 2010, management developed several plans to reduce costs and improve efficiencies within our health information solutions and professional diagnostics business segments. Additionally in 2008, management developed and initiated plans to transition the businesses of Cholestech Corporation to our San Diego, California facility.
	The following table summarizes the restructuring activities related to our active 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008 restructuring plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and since inception (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Professional Diagnostics	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	59		$	312		$	24,251
	Facility and transition costs		84			232			8,846
	Other exit costs		12			16			768
	Cash charges		155			560			33,865
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			6,922
	Intangible asset impairments		—			—			686
	Other non-cash charges		—			—			64
	Total charges	$	155		$	560		$	41,537
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Health Information Solutions	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	—		$	1,819		$	12,308
	Facility and transition costs (recoveries)		355			659			13,870
	Other exit costs		80			39			843
	Cash charges (recoveries)		435			2,517			27,021
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			3,878
	Intangible asset impairments		—			—			5,923
Other non-cash charges		—			(45	)		(223	)
Total charges (recoveries)	$	435		$	2,472		$	36,599
We anticipate incurring approximately $0.8 million in additional facility costs under these plans related to our professional diagnostics and health information solutions business segments. As of March 31, 2014, $4.9 million in cash charges remain unpaid, primarily related to facility lease obligations, which are anticipated to continue through 2020.
(d) Restructuring Reserves
The following table summarizes our restructuring reserves related to the plans described above, of which $7.7 million is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $5.3 million is included in other long-term liabilities on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
	Severance-			Facility and			Other Exit			Total
	related			Transition			Costs
	Costs			Costs
Balance, December 31, 2013	$	2,708		$	7,830		$	609		$	11,147
Cash charges		3,437			3,882			125			7,444
Payments		(4,063	)		(1,459	)		(73	)		(5,595	)
Currency adjustments		5			35			(9	)		31
Balance, March 31, 2014	$	2,087		$	10,288		$	652		$	13,027

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt	'
	(10) Long-term Debt
	We had the following long-term debt balances outstanding (in thousands):
			March 31,			December 31,
			2014			2013
	A term loans(1) (2)		$	820,625		$	832,188
	B term loans(1)			901,875			904,188
	Incremental B-1 term loans(1)			244,375			245,000
	Incremental B-2 term loans(1)			194,629			195,050
	Revolving line of credit(1)			170,000			170,000
	7.25% Senior notes			450,000			450,000
	6.5% Senior subordinated notes			425,000			425,000
	8.625% Senior subordinated notes			400,000			400,000
	3% Convertible senior subordinated notes			150,000			150,000
	Other lines of credit			581			355
	Other			53,963			50,119
				3,811,048			3,821,900
	Less: Current portion			(65,252	)		(49,112	)
			$	3,745,796		$	3,772,788
	(1)	Incurred under our secured credit facility.
	(2)	Includes “A” term loans and “Delayed Draw” term loans under our secured credit facility.
	In connection with our significant long-term debt issuances, we recorded interest expense, including amortization and write-offs of deferred financing costs and original issue discounts, in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as follows (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2014			2013
	Secured credit facility (1)		$	24,762		$	27,275
	7.25% Senior notes			8,525			8,356
	7.875% Senior notes			—			(27	)
	6.5% Senior subordinated notes			7,178			—
	9% Senior subordinated notes			—			10,394
	8.625% Senior subordinated notes			9,273			9,273
	3% Convertible senior subordinated notes			1,246			1,246
			$	50,984		$	56,517
	(1)	Includes “A” term loans, including the “Delayed-Draw” term loans; “B” term loans; “Incremental B-1” term loans; “Incremental B-2” term loans; and revolving line of credit loans. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the amounts include $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, related to the amortization of fees paid for certain debt modifications.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	(11) Fair Value Measurements
	We apply fair value measurement accounting to value our financial assets and liabilities. Fair value measurement accounting provides a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. GAAP and requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available, and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
	Described below are the three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
	The following tables present information about our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques we utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):
	Description		March 31,			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Unobservable Inputs
			2014			Active Markets		Observable Inputs		(Level 3)
						(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Marketable securities		$	781		$	781	$	—	$	—
	Total assets		$	781		$	781	$	—	$	—
	Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration obligations (1)		$	210,819		$	—	$	—	$	210,819
	Total liabilities		$	210,819		$	—	$	—	$	210,819
	Description		December 31,			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Unobservable Inputs
			2013			Active Markets		Observable Inputs		(Level 3)
						(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Marketable securities		$	858		$	858	$	—	$	—
	Total assets		$	858		$	858	$	—	$	—
	Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration obligations (1)		$	213,969		$	—	$	—	$	213,969
	Total liabilities		$	213,969		$	—	$	—	$	213,969
	(1)	We determine the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations based on a probability-weighted approach derived from earn-out criteria estimates and a probability assessment with respect to the likelihood of achieving the various earn-out criteria. The measurement is based upon significant inputs not observable in the market. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs could result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Changes in the fair value of these contingent consideration obligations are recorded as income or expense within operating income in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 16 for additional information on the valuation of our contingent consideration obligations.
	Changes in the fair value of our Level 3 contingent consideration obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
	Fair value of contingent consideration obligations, January 1, 2014		$	213,969
	Payments			(7,710	)
	Present value accretion and adjustments			4,550
	Foreign currency adjustments			10
	Fair value of contingent consideration obligations, March 31, 2014		$	210,819
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximated their estimated fair values.
	The carrying amount and estimated fair value of our long-term debt were $3.8 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively, at March 31, 2014. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of our long-term debt were $3.8 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2013. The estimated fair value of our long-term debt was determined using market sources that were derived from available market information (Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy) and may not be representative of actual values that could have been or will be realized in the future.

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plan

Defined Benefit Pension Plan	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Defined Benefit Pension Plan	'
	(12) Defined Benefit Pension Plan
	Our subsidiary in England, Unipath Ltd., has a defined benefit pension plan established for certain of its employees. The net periodic benefit costs are as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Service cost	$	—		$	—
	Interest cost		199			182
	Expected return on plan assets		(188	)		(156	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		110			103
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	121		$	129

Financial_Information_by_Segme

Financial Information by Segment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Financial Information by Segment	'
	(13) Financial Information by Segment
	Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating decision-making group is composed of the chief executive officer and members of senior management. Our reportable operating segments are professional diagnostics, health information solutions, consumer diagnostics and corporate and other. Our operating results include license and royalty revenue which are allocated to professional diagnostics and consumer diagnostics on the basis of the original license or royalty agreement. We evaluate performance of our operating segments based on revenue and operating income (loss). Segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
		Professional		Health			Consumer		Corporate			Total
		Diagnostics		Information			Diagnostics		and
				Solutions					Other
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014:
	Net revenue	$	566,545	$	123,668		$	26,409	$	—		$	716,622
	Operating income (loss)	$	51,326	$	(6,720	)	$	2,248	$	(20,914	)	$	25,940
	Depreciation and amortization	$	77,421	$	19,111		$	920	$	634		$	98,086
	Restructuring charges	$	4,303	$	2,817		$	—	$	95		$	7,215
	Stock-based compensation	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	5,704		$	5.704
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013:
	Net revenue	$	582,492	$	134,207		$	22,550	$	—		$	739,249
	Operating income (loss)	$	59,840	$	(13,893	)	$	2,280	$	(17,738	)	$	30,489
	Depreciation and amortization	$	82,794	$	20,737		$	1,153	$	286		$	104,970
	Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	$	461	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	461
	Restructuring charges	$	1,389	$	2,503		$	—	$	—		$	3,892
	Stock-based compensation	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	4,123		$	4,123
	Assets:
	As of March 31, 2014	$	5,697,874	$	496,310		$	205,105	$	636,897		$	7,036,186
	As of December 31, 2013	$	5,744,734	$	504,645		$	197,458	$	613,977		$	7,060,814
	The following tables summarize our net revenue from the professional diagnostics and health information solutions reporting segments by groups of similar products and services for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Professional Diagnostics Segment	2014		2013
	Infectious disease	$	164,030	$	189,844
	Toxicology		151,897		149,049
	Cardiology		121,633		114,933
	Diabetes		50,721		50,083
	Other		73,052		74,719
	Professional diagnostics net product sales and services revenue		561,333		578,628
	License and royalty revenue		5,212		3,864
	Professional diagnostics net revenue	$	566,545	$	582,492
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Health Information Solutions Segment	2014		2013
	Condition and case management	$	49,319	$	54,126
	Wellness		24,950		26,300
	Women’s & children’s health		22,215		29,080
	Patient self-testing services		27,184		24,701
	Health information solutions net revenue	$	123,668	$	134,207

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	(14) Related Party Transactions
	In May 2007, we completed the formation of Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, or SPD, our 50/50 joint venture with Procter & Gamble, for the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of existing and to-be-developed consumer diagnostic products, outside the cardiology, diabetes and oral care fields. Upon completion of the arrangement to form the joint venture, we ceased to consolidate the operating results of our consumer diagnostic products business related to the joint venture and instead account for our 50% interest in the results of the joint venture under the equity method of accounting.
	We had a net receivable from SPD of $0.2 million and $2.1 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Included in the $0.2 million receivable balance as of March 31, 2014 is approximately $1.7 million of costs incurred in connection with our 2008 SPD-related restructuring plans. Included in the $2.1 million receivable balance as of December 31, 2013 is approximately $1.8 million of costs incurred in connection with our 2008 SPD-related restructuring plans. We have also recorded a long-term receivable totaling approximately $13.3 million and $13.2 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, related to the 2008 SPD-related restructuring plans. Additionally, customer receivables associated with revenue earned after the formation of the joint venture was completed have been classified as other receivables within prepaid and other current assets on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets in the amount of $9.3 million and $12.4 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. In connection with the joint venture arrangement, the joint venture bears the collection risk associated with these receivables. Sales to the joint venture under our manufacturing agreement totaled $20.6 million and $17.1 million during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Additionally, services revenue generated pursuant to the long-term services agreement with the joint venture totaled $0.4 million and $0.3 million during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Sales under our manufacturing agreement and long-term services agreement are included in net product sales and services revenue, respectively, in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Under the terms of our product supply agreement, SPD purchases products from our manufacturing facilities in China. SPD in turn sells a portion of those tests back to us for final assembly and packaging. Once packaged, a portion of the tests are sold to P&G for distribution to third-party customers in North America. As a result of these related transactions, we have recorded $5.8 million and $9.4 million of trade receivables which are included in accounts receivable on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and $22.2 million and $18.8 million of trade accounts payable which are included in accounts payable on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we received $10.8 million in cash from SPD as a return of capital.
	The following table summarizes our related party balances with SPD within our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
	Balance Sheet Caption	March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances	$	5,753	$	9,436
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	9,469	$	12,417
	Deferred financing costs, net, and other non-current assets	$	13,313	$	13,249
	Accounts payable	$	22,215	$	18,811

Other_Arrangements

Other Arrangements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Other Arrangements	'
	(15) Other Arrangements
	On February 19, 2013, we entered into an agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, or the Gates Foundation, whereby we were awarded a grant by the Gates Foundation in the amount of $21.6 million to support the development and commercialization of a validated, low-cost, nucleic-acid assay for clinical Tuberculosis, or TB, detection and drug-resistance test cartridges and adaptation of an analyzer platform capable of operation in rudimentary laboratories in low-resource settings. In connection with this agreement, we also entered into a loan agreement with the Gates Foundation, or the Gates Loan Agreement, which provides for the making of subordinated term loans by the Gates Foundation to us from time to time, subject to the achievement of certain milestones, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $20.6 million. Funding under the Gates Loan Agreement will be used in connection with the purchase of equipment for an automated high-throughput manufacturing line and other uses as necessary for the manufacture of the TB and HIV-related products. All loans under the Gates Loan Agreement are evidenced by promissory notes that we have executed and delivered to the Gates Foundation, bear interest at the rate of 3% per annum and, except to the extent earlier repaid by us, mature and are required to be repaid in full on December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2014, we had borrowed no amounts under the Gates Loan Agreement. As of March 31, 2014, we had received approximately $7.9 million in grant-related funding from the Gates Foundation, which was recorded as restricted cash and deferred grant funding. The deferred grant funding is classified within accrued expenses and other current liabilities on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. As qualified expenditures are incurred under the terms of the grant, we use the deferred funding to recognize a reduction of our related qualified research and development expenditures. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, we incurred $2.1 million of qualified expenditures, for which we reduced our deferred grant funding balance and recorded an offset to our research and development expenses.

Material_Contingencies

Material Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Material Contingencies	'
	(16) Material Contingencies
	(a) Acquisition-related Contingent Consideration Obligations
	We determine the acquisition date fair value of the contingent consideration obligations based on a probability-weighted approach derived from the overall likelihood of achieving certain performance targets, including product development milestones or financial metrics. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement, as defined in fair value measurement accounting. The resultant probability-weighted earn-out payments are discounted using a discount rate based upon the weighted-average cost of capital. At each reporting date, we revalue the contingent consideration obligations to the reporting date fair values and record increases and decreases in the fair values as income or expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Increases or decreases in the fair values of the contingent consideration obligations may result from changes in discount periods and rates, changes in the timing and amount of earn-out criteria and changes in probability assumptions with respect to the likelihood of achieving the various earn-out criteria.
	We have contractual contingent purchase price consideration obligations related to certain of our acquisitions, as follows (in thousands):
	Acquisition		Acquisition Date		Acquisition		Maximum			Remaining			Estimated			Estimated			Payments
					Date Fair		Remaining			Earn-out			Fair Value as			Fair Value as			Made
					Value		Earn-out			Period as			of			of			during
							Potential			of			March 31,			December 31,			2014
							as of			March 31,			2014			2013
							March 31,			2014
							2014
	TwistDx, Inc.			11-Mar-10	$	35,600	$	123,888			2014 – 2025	(1)	$	46,400		$	45,502		$	139
	Ionian Technologies, Inc.			12-Jul-10	$	24,500		57,500			2014 – 2015			29,400			29,000			—
	Laboratory Data Systems, Inc.			29-Aug-11	$	13,000		7,500			2013	(2)		7,500	(2)		7,400	(2)		—
	Forensics Limited (ROAR)			September 22, 2011	$	5,463		12,600			2014			3,328			2,484			—
	Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic)			December 9, 2011	$	18,900		—	(3)		2014 – 2019			25,400			26,900			150
	MedApps.			2-Jul-12	$	13,100		8,600			2014			7,600			8,200			5,000
	Amedica Biotech, Inc.			3-Jul-12	$	8,900		8,100			2013	(2)		7,935	(2)		7,500	(2)		—
	DiagnosisOne, Inc.			31-Jul-12	$	22,300		33,000			2014 – 2017			26,900			26,600			—
	Epocal.			1-Feb-13	$	75,000		65,500			2014 – 2018			45,600			47,200			—
	Other			Various	$	58,877		20,229			2014 – 2016			10,756			13,183			2,421
													$	210,819		$	213,969		$	7,710
	-1	The maximum earn-out period ends on the fifteenth anniversary of the acquisition date.
	-2	The fair value of the maximum remaining earn-out was accrued as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. We expect to pay the maximum remaining earn-out during the second quarter of 2014.
	(3)	The earn-out is comprised of three components of which two components have an aggregate maximum remaining earn-out potential of $49.9 million. There is no dollar cap on the third earn-out component, however, the earn-out potential is limited to the remaining earn-out period.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	(17) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, or other standard setting bodies that we adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income or cash flows upon adoption.
	Recently Adopted Standards
	Effective January 1, 2014, we adopted Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit when a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. ASU 2013-11 clarifies guidance and eliminates diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. The adoption of this standard had no material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Equity_Investments

Equity Investments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Equity Investments	'
	(18) Equity Investments
	We account for the results from our equity investments under the equity method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures, based on the percentage of our ownership interest in the business. Our equity investments primarily include the following:
	(a) SPD
	We recorded earnings of $5.1 million and $2.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax, in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, which represented our 50% share of SPD’s net income for the respective periods.
	(b) TechLab
	We own 49% of TechLab, Inc., or TechLab, a privately-held developer, manufacturer and distributor of rapid non-invasive intestinal diagnostics tests in the areas of intestinal inflammation, antibiotic-associated diarrhea and parasitology. We recorded earnings of $0.3 million and $0.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax, in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, which represented our minority share of TechLab’s net income for the respective periods.
	Summarized financial information for SPD and TechLab on a combined basis is as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Combined Condensed Results of Operations:	2014		2013
	Net revenue	$	48,933	$	49,155
	Gross profit	$	42,980	$	37,113
	Net income after taxes	$	10,830	$	5,577
	Combined Condensed Balance Sheet:	March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Current assets	$	72,582	$	63,985
	Non-current assets		38,376		38,541
	Total assets	$	110,958	$	102,526
	Current liabilities	$	38,524	$	38,053
	Non-current liabilities		6,430		6,175
	Total liabilities	$	44,954	$	44,228

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio

Guarantor Financial Information (Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member])	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'
Guarantor Financial Information	'
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information
	Our 7.25% senior notes due 2018, our 8.625% senior subordinated notes due 2018, and our 6.5% senior subordinated notes due 2020 are guaranteed by certain of our consolidated wholly owned subsidiaries, or the Guarantor Subsidiaries. The guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several. The following supplemental financial information sets forth, on a consolidating basis, balance sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the related statements of operations, statements of comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, for Alere Inc., the Guarantor Subsidiaries and our other subsidiaries, or the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries. The supplemental financial information reflects the investments of Alere Inc. and the Guarantor Subsidiaries in the Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting.
	We have extensive transactions and relationships between various members of the consolidated group. These transactions and relationships include intercompany pricing agreements, intellectual property royalty agreements and general and administrative and research and development cost-sharing agreements. Because of these relationships, it is possible that the terms of these transactions are not the same as those that would result from transactions among wholly unrelated parties.
	For comparative purposes, certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period classification.
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
								Non -
					Guarantor			Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Net product sales	$	—		$	213,409		$	336,037		$	(54,001	)	$	495,445
	Services revenue		—			197,908			18,057			—			215,965
	Net product sales and services revenue		—			411,317			354,094			(54,001	)		711,410
	License and royalty revenue		—			3,485			5,018			(3,291	)		5,212
	Net revenue		—			414,802			359,112			(57,292	)		716,622
	Cost of net product sales		688			114,135			183,774			(52,485	)		246,112
	Cost of services revenue		73			115,325			8,054			(5,720	)		117,732
	Cost of net product sales and services revenue		761			229,460			191,828			(58,205	)		363,844
	Cost of license and royalty revenue		—			92			4,738			(3,291	)		1,539
	Cost of net revenue		761			229,552			196,566			(61,496	)		365,383
	Gross profit (loss)		(761	)		185,250			162,546			4,204			351,239
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		5,615			14,845			18,239			—			38,699
	Sales and marketing		1,868			74,959			70,237			—			147,064
	General and administrative		18,488			68,782			52,266			—			139,536
	Operating expenses		25,971			158,586			140,742			—			325,299
	Operating income (loss)		(26,732	)		26,664			21,804			4,204			25,940
	Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		(51,258	)		(5,628	)		(4,544	)		9,386			(52,044	)
	Other income (expense), net		4,694			3,648			5,825			(9,445	)		4,722
	Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		(73,296	)		24,684			23,085			4,145			(21,382	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(38,423	)		17,367			9,681			1,458			(9,917	)
	Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(34,873	)		7,317			13,404			2,687			(11,465	)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax		28,355			68			—			(28,423	)		—
	Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		405			—			5,064			(117	)		5,352
	Net income (loss)		(6,113	)		7,385			18,468			(25,853	)		(6,113	)
	Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			108			—			108
	Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries		(6,113	)		7,385			18,360			(25,853	)		(6,221	)
	Preferred stock dividends		(5,250	)		—			—			—			(5,250	)
	Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	(11,363	)	$	7,385		$	18,360		$	(25,853	)	$	(11,471	)
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
								Non -
					Guarantor			Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Net product sales	$	—		$	233,551		$	320,839		$	(46,114	)	$	508,276
	Services revenue		—			207,749			19,160			—			226,909
	Net product sales and services revenue		—			441,300			339,999			(46,114	)		735,185
	License and royalty revenue		—			3,035			3,533			(2,504	)		4,064
	Net revenue		—			444,335			343,532			(48,618	)		739,249
	Cost of net product sales		948			121,236			172,574			(41,680	)		253,078
	Cost of services revenue		—			115,971			8,142			(3,955	)		120,158
	Cost of net product sales and services revenue		948			237,207			180,716			(45,635	)		373,236
	Cost of license and royalty revenue		—			17			4,243			(2,504	)		1,756
	Cost of net revenue		948			237,224			184,959			(48,139	)		374,992
	Gross profit (loss)		(948	)		207,111			158,573			(479	)		364,257
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		4,423			18,100			18,931			—			41,454
	Sales and marketing		1,392			83,431			71,633			—			156,456
	General and administrative		14,027			67,146			54,685			—			135,858
	Operating expenses		19,842			168,677			145,249			—			333,768
Operating income (loss)		(20,790	)		38,434			13,324			(479	)		30,489
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		(56,858	)		(7,021	)		(3,417	)		9,897			(57,399	)
Other income (expense), net		4,770			6,259			(1,603	)		(9,896	)		(470	)
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		(72,878	)		37,672			8,304			(478	)		(27,380	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(62,811	)		17,082			8,971			(113	)		(36,871	)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(10,067	)		20,590			(667	)		(365	)		9,491
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax		22,244			(614	)		—			(21,630	)		—
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		248			—			2,688			(2	)		2,934
Net income		12,425			19,976			2,021			(21,997	)		12,425
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			(25	)		—			(25	)
Net income attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries		12,425			19,976			2,046			(21,997	)		12,450
Preferred stock dividends		(5,250	)		—			—			—			(5,250	)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	7,175		$	19,976		$	2,046		$	(21,997	)	$	7,200
(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
(in thousands)
							Non-
				Guarantor			Guarantor
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net income (loss)	$	(6,113	)	$	7,386		$	18,466		$	(25,852	)	$	(6,113	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment		157			(129	)		(11,368	)		—			(11,340	)
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities		—			(17	)		—			—			(17	)
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments		—			—			8			—			8
Minimum pension liability adjustment		—			—			74			—			74
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		157			(146	)		(11,286	)		—			(11,275	)
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			—			—			—
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		157			(146	)		(11,286	)		—			(11,275	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(5,956	)		7,240			7,180			(25,852	)		(17,388	)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			108			—			108
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	(5,956	)	$	7,240		$	7,072		$	(25,852	)	$	(17,496	)
(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
(in thousands)
							Non -
				Guarantor			Guarantor
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net income	$	12,425		$	19,976		$	2,021		$	(21,997	)	$	12,425
Other comprehensive loss, before tax:
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment		(201	)		—			(75,154	)		—			(75,355	)
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments		—			—			11			—			11
Minimum pension liability adjustment		—			—			605			—			605
Other comprehensive loss, before tax		(201	)		—			(74,538	)		—			(74,739	)
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive loss		—			—			—			—			—
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(201	)		—			(74,538	)		—			(74,739	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		12,224			19,976			(72,517	)		(21,997	)		(62,314	)
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			(25	)		—			(25	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	12,224		$	19,976		$	(72,492	)	$	(21,997	)	$	(62,289	)
(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
March 31, 2014
(in thousands)
				Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,020		$	82,048		$	337,958		$	—		$	433,026
Restricted cash		84			2,915			1,223			—			4,222
Marketable securities		—			776			5			—			781
Accounts receivable, net of allowances		—			250,603			278,190			—			528,793
Inventories, net		—			170,165			218,246			(17,275	)		371,136
Deferred tax assets		4,984			27,375			32,120			(1,863	)		62,616
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		538,410			(432,500	)		10,713			3,906			120,529
Intercompany receivables		304,817			715,596			69,903			(1,090,316	)		—
Total current assets		861,315			816,978			948,358			(1,105,548	)		1,521,103
Property, plant and equipment, net		19,312			286,490			239,523			(274	)		545,051
Goodwill		—			1,842,309			1,247,747			—			3,090,056
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives		—			14,300			41,675			(59	)		55,916
Finite-lived intangible assets, net		10,245			959,002			648,007			—			1,617,254
Restricted cash		—			—			28,856			—			28,856
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets		51,746			7,586			20,764			(40	)		80,056
Investments in subsidiaries		3,821,577			270,857			191,920			(4,284,354	)		—
Investments in unconsolidated entities		30,174			—			49,510			10,761			90,445
Deferred tax assets		—			—			7,449			—			7,449
Intercompany notes receivables		1,099,817			720,017			48,779			(1,868,613	)		—
Total assets	$	5,894,186		$	4,917,539		$	3,472,588		$	(7,248,127	)	$	7,036,186
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	60,000		$	962		$	4,290		$	—		$	65,252
Current portion of capital lease obligations		—			3,165			3,055			—			6,220
Accounts payable		8,280			79,319			102,849			—			190,448
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		85,170			161,351			183,775			(35	)		430,261
Intercompany payables		660,712			148,533			281,071			(1,090,316	)		—
Total current liabilities		814,162			393,330			575,040			(1,090,351	)		692,181
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net of current portion		3,705,215			100			40,481			—			3,745,796
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion		—			5,563			9,527			—			15,090
Deferred tax liabilities		(65,370	)		290,283			82,616			45			307,574
Other long-term liabilities		25,384			61,026			108,619			(40	)		194,989
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)		(660,771	)		1,419,782			1,109,602			(1,868,613	)		—
Total long-term liabilities		3,004,458			1,776,754			1,350,845			(1,868,608	)		4,263,449
Stockholders’ equity		2,075,566			2,747,455			1,541,713			(4,289,168	)		2,075,566
Non-controlling interests		—			—			4,990			—			4,990
Total equity		2,075,566			2,747,455			1,546,703			(4,289,168	)		2,080,556
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,894,186		$	4,917,539		$	3,472,588		$	(7,248,127	)	$	7,036,186
(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2013
(in thousands)
				Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	14,801		$	85,453		$	261,654		$	—		$	361,908
Restricted cash		2,221			2,915			1,237			—			6,373
Marketable securities		—			853			5			—			858
Accounts receivable, net of allowances		—			238,782			309,947			—			548,729
Inventories, net		—			168,058			219,892			(23,765	)		364,185
Deferred tax assets		5,191			20,541			31,451			3,506			60,689
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		512,123			(405,954	)		23,547			(44	)		129,672
Intercompany receivables		317,357			759,497			75,424			(1,152,278	)		—
Total current assets		851,693			870,145			923,157			(1,172,581	)		1,472,414
Property, plant and equipment, net		15,086			288,637			241,737			(296	)		545,164
Goodwill		—			1,841,377			1,252,314			—			3,093,691
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives		—			14,300			42,402			—			56,702
Finite-lived intangible assets, net		11,006			995,868			677,737			—			1,684,611
Restricted cash		—			—			29,370			—			29,370
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets		55,207			8,353			20,559			(46	)		84,073
Investments in subsidiaries		3,802,475			267,824			191,947			(4,262,246	)		—
Investments in unconsolidated entities		29,005			—			44,637			13,188			86,830
Deferred tax assets		—			—			7,959			—			7,959
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)		1,100,746			630,628			(741,016	)		(990,358	)		—
Total assets	$	5,865,218		$	4,917,132		$	2,690,803		$	(6,412,339	)	$	7,060,814
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	45,000		$	323		$	3,789		$	—		$	49,112
Current portion of capital lease obligations		—			3,751			3,104			—			6,855
Accounts payable		12,584			69,076			105,711			—			187,371
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		63,990			164,762			201,132			(36	)		429,848
Intercompany payables		728,541			149,031			274,707			(1,152,279	)		—
Total current liabilities		850,115			386,943			588,443			(1,152,315	)		673,186
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net of current portion		3,735,137			100			37,551			—			3,772,788
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion		—			5,938			8,469			—			14,407
Deferred tax liabilities		(43,246	)		284,448			88,039			8			329,249
Other long-term liabilities		19,753			58,823			109,806			(46	)		188,336
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)		(774,507	)		1,444,741			320,125			(990,359	)		—
Total long-term liabilities		2,937,137			1,794,050			563,990			(990,397	)		4,304,780
Stockholders’ equity		2,077,966			2,736,139			1,533,488			(4,269,627	)		2,077,966
Non-controlling interests		—			—			4,882			—			4,882
Total equity		2,077,966			2,736,139			1,538,370			(4,269,627	)		2,082,848
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,865,218		$	4,917,132		$	2,690,803		$	(6,412,339	)	$	7,060,814
(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
(in thousands)
				Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(6,113	)	$	7,385		$	18,468		$	(25,853	)	$	(6,113	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax		(28,355	)		(68	)		—			28,423			—
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		3,857			125			159			—			4,141
Depreciation and amortization		1,399			58,445			38,166			76			98,086
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		2,407			1,093			2,204			—			5,704
Impairment of inventory		—			—			589			—			589
Impairment of long-lived assets		—			—			161			—			161
Loss on sale of fixed assets		—			2,010			62			—			2,072
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(405	)		—			(5,064	)		117			(5,352	)
Deferred income taxes		(21,658	)		(1,399	)		(3,037	)		1,458			(24,636	)
Other non-cash items		—			1,197			(4,856	)		—			(3,659	)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net		—			(11,821	)		31,719			—			19,898
Inventories, net		—			(8,576	)		(105	)		(4,064	)		(12,745	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(26,287	)		23,130			11,790			(4,303	)		4,330
Accounts payable		(4,305	)		11,975			(2,439	)		—			5,231
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		18,625			(3,339	)		(7,278	)		355			8,363
Other non-current liabilities		9,106			2,148			(1,895	)		3,954			13,313
Cash paid for contingent consideration		(3,417	)		—			(58	)		—			(3,475	)
Intercompany payable (receivable)		67,749			(70,945	)		3,196			—			—
Net cash provided by operating activities		12,603			11,360			81,782			163			105,908
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Decrease in restricted cash		2,125			—			26			—			2,151
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(6,323	)		(12,941	)		(9,093	)		817			(27,540	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		269			664			112			(916	)		129
Cash received from disposition		—			—			4,373			—			4,373
Cash paid for investments		(504	)		—			(3	)		—			(507	)
Cash received from sales of marketable securities		—			60			—			—			60
Increase in other assets		(311	)		(2,185	)		(482	)		53			(2,925	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,744	)		(14,402	)		(5,067	)		(46	)		(24,259	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash paid for financing costs		(7	)		—			—			—			(7	)
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration		(4,072	)		—			(123	)		—			(4,195	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		14,698			—			—			—			14,698
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—			939			—			—			939
Payments on long-term debt		(15,000	)		(301	)		(522	)		—			(15,823	)
Net proceeds under revolving credit facilities		—			—			233			—			233
Cash paid for dividends		(5,323	)		—			—			—			(5,323	)
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options		53			207			32			—			292
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		—			(1,080	)		(760	)		—			(1,840	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(9,651	)		(235	)		(1,140	)		—			(11,026	)
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents		11			(128	)		729			(117	)		495
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(1,781	)		(3,405	)		76,304			—			71,118
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		14,801			85,453			261,654			—			361,908
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	13,020		$	82,048		$	337,958		$	—		$	433,026
(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
(in thousands)
				Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	12,425		$	19,976		$	2,021		$	(21,997	)	$	12,425
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax		(22,244	)		614			—			21,630			—
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		5,153			55			9			—			5,217
Depreciation and amortization		1,287			62,711			41,001			(29	)		104,970
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition		—			—			461			—			461
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		1,660			1,096			1,367			—			4,123
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets		—			227			(55	)		—			172
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(248	)		—			(2,688	)		2			(2,934	)
Deferred income taxes		(30,889	)		(10,300	)		(9,605	)		(113	)		(50,907	)
Other non-cash items		(762	)		275			2,428			—			1,941
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net		—			(1,968	)		(18,199	)		—			(20,167	)
Inventories, net		—			(10,617	)		(7,129	)		575			(17,171	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(473,927	)		413,274			35,633			19,187			(5,833	)
Accounts payable		(604	)		(7,823	)		6,439			—			(1,988	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		478,784			(387,671	)		(29,830	)		(19,187	)		42,096
Other non-current liabilities		(126	)		(2,959	)		3,880			—			795
Cash paid for contingent consideration		(2,139	)		—			—			—			(2,139	)
Intercompany payable (receivable)		64,910			(77,486	)		12,576			—			—
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		33,280			(596	)		38,309			68			71,061
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase in restricted cash		(7,933	)		(630	)		(10	)		—			(8,573	)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(37	)		(14,732	)		(26,358	)		5,022			(36,105	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		—			2,106			4,085			(5,048	)		1,143
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(151,372	)		—			(7,049	)		—			(158,421	)
Cash received from investments		—			—			10,771			—			10,771
Increase in other assets		(3,210	)		(881	)		(1,478	)		—			(5,569	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(162,552	)		(14,137	)		(20,039	)		(26	)		(196,754	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash paid for financing costs		(1,427	)		—			—			—			(1,427	)
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration		(19,098	)		—			—			—			(19,098	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		6,135			—			—			—			6,135
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—			1,007			9,046			—			10,053
Payments on long-term debt		(16,845	)		(445	)		(2,348	)		—			(19,638	)
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities		170,000			—			(7,517	)		—			162,483
Cash paid for dividends		(5,323	)		—			—			—			(5,323	)
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options		71			17			16			—			104
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		—			(817	)		(904	)		—			(1,721	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		133,513			(238	)		(1,707	)		—			131,568
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents		762			16			(7,724	)		(42	)		(6,988	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		5,003			(14,955	)		8,839			—			(1,113	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		3,623			67,941			256,782			—			328,346
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	8,626		$	52,986		$	265,621		$	—		$	327,233

Basis_of_Presentation_of_Finan1

Basis of Presentation of Financial Information (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation of Financial Information	'
	The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of Alere Inc. are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments considered normal and recurring and necessary for their fair statement. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows. Our audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 included information and footnotes necessary for such presentation and were included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 3, 2014. These unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or equity.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded net after-tax expense charges of $1.3 million to correct prior period items, including a net after-tax charge of $2.8 million related to the fair value of the MedApps Holding Company, Inc., or MedApps, contingent consideration obligations. We consider the adjustments to be immaterial to both the prior period and the current period financial statements.
	Certain amounts presented may not recalculate directly, due to rounding.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	We consider all highly-liquid cash investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. At March 31, 2014, our cash equivalents consisted of money market funds.
Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit	'
	Recently Adopted Standards
	Effective January 1, 2014, we adopted Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit when a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. ASU 2013-11 clarifies guidance and eliminates diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. The adoption of this standard had no material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories are Stated at Lower of Cost (First In, First Out) or Market	'
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first in, first out) or market and are comprised of the following (in thousands):
		March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Raw materials	$	124,020	$	118,571
	Work-in-process		73,848		79,559
	Finished goods		173,268		166,055
		$	371,136	$	364,185

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	'
	We recorded stock-based compensation expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Cost of net revenue	$	287		$	232
	Research and development		1,191			747
	Sales and marketing		891			716
	General and administrative		3,335			2,428
			5,704			4,123
	Benefit for income taxes		(1,778	)		(862	)
		$	3,926		$	3,261

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha1

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
	Numerator:
	Net income (loss)	$	(6,113	)	$	12,425
	Preferred stock dividends		(5,250	)		(5,250	)
	Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		108			(25	)
	Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	(11,471	)	$	7,200
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic		82,387			81,199
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options		—			101
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding—diluted		82,387			81,300
	Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	(0.14	)	$	0.09
	Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	(0.14	)	$	0.09
Potential Dilutive Securities Not Included in Calculation of Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share	'
	The following potential dilutive securities were not included in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share because the inclusion thereof would be antidilutive (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Denominator:
	Options to purchase shares of common stock		11,143			9,987
	Warrants		4			4
	Conversion shares related to 3% convertible senior subordinated notes		3,411			3,411
	Conversion shares related to subordinated convertible promissory notes		27			27
	Conversion shares related to Series B convertible preferred stock		10,239			10,239
	Common stock equivalents related to the settlement of a contingent consideration obligation		358			—
	Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding		25,182			23,668

Stockholders_Equity_and_NonCon1

Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Summary of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests Comprising Total Equity	'
	A summary of the changes in stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interests comprising total equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is provided below (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014								2013
		Total			Non-		Total			Total			Non-			Total
		Stockholders’			controlling		Equity			Stockholders’			controlling			Equity
		Equity			Interests					Equity			Interests
	Equity, beginning of period	$	2,077,966		$	4,882	$	2,082,848		$	2,180,422		$	2,282		$	2,182,704
	Issuance of common stock under employee compensation plans		14,698			—		14,698			6,135			—			6,135
	Preferred stock dividends		(5,323	)		—		(5,323	)		(5,323	)		—			(5,323	)
	Stock-based compensation expense		5,704			—		5,704			4,123			—			4,123
	Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options		17			—		17			(422	)		—			(422	)
	Net income (loss)		(6,221	)		108		(6,113	)		12,450			(25	)		12,425
	Total other comprehensive loss		(11,275	)		—		(11,275	)		(74,739	)		—			(74,739	)
	Equity, end of period	$	2,075,566		$	4,990	$	2,080,556		$	2,122,646		$	2,257		$	2,124,903

Business_Combinations_Tables

Business Combinations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Summary of Aggregate Purchase Price Allocation	'
	A summary of the preliminary fair values of the net assets acquired for the acquisitions consummated in 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
			Epocal		Other		Total
	Current assets(1)		$	12,536	$	13,702	$	26,238
	Property, plant and equipment			1,267		1,669		2,936
	Goodwill			98,454		2,543		100,997
	Intangible assets			164,400		51,180		215,580
	Other non-current assets			18,158		29		18,187
	Total assets acquired			294,815		69,123		363,938
	Current liabilities			2,627		5,398		8,025
	Non-current liabilities			43,727		6,175		49,902
	Total liabilities assumed			46,354		11,573		57,927
	Net assets acquired			248,461		57,550		306,011
	Less:
	Contingent consideration			75,000		1,264		76,264
	Settlement of pre-existing arrangements			22,088		17,500		39,588
	Non-controlling interest			—		1,774		1,774
	Bargain purchase gain			—		8,023		8,023
	Deferred purchase price consideration			—		768		768
	Cash paid		$	151,373	$	28,221	$	179,594
	-1	Includes approximately $3.3 million of acquired cash.
Intangible Assets Acquired and Their Respective Fair Values and Weighted-Average Useful Lives	'
	The following are the intangible assets acquired and their respective fair values and weighted-average useful lives (dollars in thousands):
			Epocal		Other		Total		Weighted-
									average
									Useful Life
	Core technology and patents		$	119,700	$	—	$	119,700		20.0 years
	Software			—		2,154		2,154		5.7 years
	Trademarks and trade names			20,500		80		20,580		19.1 years
	License agreements			—		620		620		1.5 years
	Customer relationships			—		42,510		42,510		11.5 years
	Other			—		5,816		5,816		3.0 years
	In-process research and development			24,200		—		24,200		N/A
	Total intangible assets		$	164,400	$	51,180	$	215,580

Restructuring_Tables

Restructuring (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Aggregate Charges Associated with Restructuring Plans Recorded in Operating Income	'
	The following table sets forth aggregate restructuring charges recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Statement of Operations Caption	2014			2013
	Cost of net revenue	$	875		$	623
	Research and development		—			—
	Sales and marketing		1,557			1,099
	General and administrative		4,783			2,170
	Total operating expenses		7,215			3,892
	Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		125			55
	Total charges	$	7,340		$	3,947
Restructuring Activities Related to Restructuring Plans	'
	The following table summarizes the restructuring activities related to our 2014 restructuring plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (in thousands):
		Professional Diagnostics			Corporate and Other			Total
	Severance-related costs	$	2,364		$	87		$	2,451
	Facility and transition costs		34			8			42
	Cash charges		2,398			95			2,493
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		750			—			750
	Total charges	$	3,148		$	95		$	3,243
	The following tables summarizes the restructuring activities in our professional diagnostics and health information solutions business segments related to our 2013 restructuring plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and since inception (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Professional Diagnostics	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	838		$	833		$	7,964
	Facility and transition costs		174			13			2,755
	Cash charges		1,012			846			10,719
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			743
	Total charges	$	1,012		$	846		$	11,462
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Health Information Solutions	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	89		$	69		$	3,356
	Facility and transition costs		3,227			—			6,182
	Other exit costs		33			—			50
	Cash charges		3,349			69			9,588
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			1,089
	Intangible asset impairments		—			—			2,596
	Other non-cash (recoveries)		(854	)		—			(1,757	)
	Total charges	$	2,495		$	69		$	11,516
	The following table summarizes the restructuring activities related to our active 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008 restructuring plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and since inception (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Professional Diagnostics	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	59		$	312		$	24,251
	Facility and transition costs		84			232			8,846
	Other exit costs		12			16			768
	Cash charges		155			560			33,865
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			6,922
	Intangible asset impairments		—			—			686
	Other non-cash charges		—			—			64
	Total charges	$	155		$	560		$	41,537
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Since
	Health Information Solutions	2014			2013			Inception
	Severance-related costs	$	—		$	1,819		$	12,308
	Facility and transition costs (recoveries)		355			659			13,870
	Other exit costs		80			39			843
	Cash charges (recoveries)		435			2,517			27,021
	Fixed asset and inventory impairments		—			—			3,878
	Intangible asset impairments		—			—			5,923
	Other non-cash charges		—			(45	)		(223	)
	Total charges (recoveries)	$	435		$	2,472		$	36,599
Cash Activity for Restructuring Reserves	'
	The following table summarizes our restructuring reserves related to the plans described above, of which $7.7 million is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $5.3 million is included in other long-term liabilities on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
		Severance-			Facility and			Other Exit			Total
		related			Transition			Costs
		Costs			Costs
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	2,708		$	7,830		$	609		$	11,147
	Cash charges		3,437			3,882			125			7,444
	Payments		(4,063	)		(1,459	)		(73	)		(5,595	)
	Currency adjustments		5			35			(9	)		31
	Balance, March 31, 2014	$	2,087		$	10,288		$	652		$	13,027

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt Balances Outstanding	'
	We had the following long-term debt balances outstanding (in thousands):
			March 31,			December 31,
			2014			2013
	A term loans(1) (2)		$	820,625		$	832,188
	B term loans(1)			901,875			904,188
	Incremental B-1 term loans(1)			244,375			245,000
	Incremental B-2 term loans(1)			194,629			195,050
	Revolving line of credit(1)			170,000			170,000
	7.25% Senior notes			450,000			450,000
	6.5% Senior subordinated notes			425,000			425,000
	8.625% Senior subordinated notes			400,000			400,000
	3% Convertible senior subordinated notes			150,000			150,000
	Other lines of credit			581			355
	Other			53,963			50,119
				3,811,048			3,821,900
	Less: Current portion			(65,252	)		(49,112	)
			$	3,745,796		$	3,772,788
	(1)	Incurred under our secured credit facility.
	(2)	Includes “A” term loans and “Delayed Draw” term loans under our secured credit facility.
Long-Term Debt Interest Expense	'
	In connection with our significant long-term debt issuances, we recorded interest expense, including amortization and write-offs of deferred financing costs and original issue discounts, in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as follows (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2014			2013
	Secured credit facility (1)		$	24,762		$	27,275
	7.25% Senior notes			8,525			8,356
	7.875% Senior notes			—			(27	)
	6.5% Senior subordinated notes			7,178			—
	9% Senior subordinated notes			—			10,394
	8.625% Senior subordinated notes			9,273			9,273
	3% Convertible senior subordinated notes			1,246			1,246
			$	50,984		$	56,517
	-1	Includes “A” term loans, including the “Delayed-Draw” term loans; “B” term loans; “Incremental B-1” term loans; “Incremental B-2” term loans; and revolving line of credit loans. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the amounts include $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, related to the amortization of fees paid for certain debt modifications.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Valuation Techniques	'
	The following tables present information about our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques we utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):
	Description		March 31,			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Unobservable Inputs
			2014			Active Markets		Observable Inputs		(Level 3)
						(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Marketable securities		$	781		$	781	$	—	$	—
	Total assets		$	781		$	781	$	—	$	—
	Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration obligations (1)		$	210,819		$	—	$	—	$	210,819
	Total liabilities		$	210,819		$	—	$	—	$	210,819
	Description		December 31,			Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Unobservable Inputs
			2013			Active Markets		Observable Inputs		(Level 3)
						(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Marketable securities		$	858		$	858	$	—	$	—
	Total assets		$	858		$	858	$	—	$	—
	Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration obligations (1)		$	213,969		$	—	$	—	$	213,969
	Total liabilities		$	213,969		$	—	$	—	$	213,969
	(1)	We determine the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations based on a probability-weighted approach derived from earn-out criteria estimates and a probability assessment with respect to the likelihood of achieving the various earn-out criteria. The measurement is based upon significant inputs not observable in the market. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs could result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Changes in the fair value of these contingent consideration obligations are recorded as income or expense within operating income in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 16 for additional information on the valuation of our contingent consideration obligations.
Changes in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Obligations	'
	Changes in the fair value of our Level 3 contingent consideration obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
	Fair value of contingent consideration obligations, January 1, 2014		$	213,969
	Payments			(7,710	)
	Present value accretion and adjustments			4,550
	Foreign currency adjustments			10
	Fair value of contingent consideration obligations, March 31, 2014		$	210,819

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plan_T

Defined Benefit Pension Plan (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Net Periodic Benefit Costs	'
	The net periodic benefit costs are as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Service cost	$	—		$	—
	Interest cost		199			182
	Expected return on plan assets		(188	)		(156	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		110			103
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	121		$	129

Financial_Information_by_Segme1

Financial Information by Segment (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Performance of Our Operating Segments Based on Revenue and Operating Income (Loss)	'
	Segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
		Professional		Health			Consumer		Corporate			Total
		Diagnostics		Information			Diagnostics		and
				Solutions					Other
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014:
	Net revenue	$	566,545	$	123,668		$	26,409	$	—		$	716,622
	Operating income (loss)	$	51,326	$	(6,720	)	$	2,248	$	(20,914	)	$	25,940
	Depreciation and amortization	$	77,421	$	19,111		$	920	$	634		$	98,086
	Restructuring charges	$	4,303	$	2,817		$	—	$	95		$	7,215
	Stock-based compensation	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	5,704		$	5.704
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013:
	Net revenue	$	582,492	$	134,207		$	22,550	$	—		$	739,249
	Operating income (loss)	$	59,840	$	(13,893	)	$	2,280	$	(17,738	)	$	30,489
	Depreciation and amortization	$	82,794	$	20,737		$	1,153	$	286		$	104,970
	Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	$	461	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	461
	Restructuring charges	$	1,389	$	2,503		$	—	$	—		$	3,892
	Stock-based compensation	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	4,123		$	4,123
	Assets:
	As of March 31, 2014	$	5,697,874	$	496,310		$	205,105	$	636,897		$	7,036,186
	As of December 31, 2013	$	5,744,734	$	504,645		$	197,458	$	613,977		$	7,060,814
Summary of Company's Net Revenue from Professional Diagnostics and Health Information Solutions Reporting Segments by Groups of Similar Products and Services	'
	The following tables summarize our net revenue from the professional diagnostics and health information solutions reporting segments by groups of similar products and services for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Professional Diagnostics Segment	2014		2013
	Infectious disease	$	164,030	$	189,844
	Toxicology		151,897		149,049
	Cardiology		121,633		114,933
	Diabetes		50,721		50,083
	Other		73,052		74,719
	Professional diagnostics net product sales and services revenue		561,333		578,628
	License and royalty revenue		5,212		3,864
	Professional diagnostics net revenue	$	566,545	$	582,492
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Health Information Solutions Segment	2014		2013
	Condition and case management	$	49,319	$	54,126
	Wellness		24,950		26,300
	Women’s & children’s health		22,215		29,080
	Patient self-testing services		27,184		24,701
	Health information solutions net revenue	$	123,668	$	134,207

Related_Party_Transactions_Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Balances with SPD within Consolidated Balance Sheets	'
	The following table summarizes our related party balances with SPD within our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
	Balance Sheet Caption	March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances	$	5,753	$	9,436
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	9,469	$	12,417
	Deferred financing costs, net, and other non-current assets	$	13,313	$	13,249
	Accounts payable	$	22,215	$	18,811

Material_Contingencies_Tables

Material Contingencies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Contractual Contingent Purchase Price Consideration Obligations Related to Certain Acquisitions	'
	We have contractual contingent purchase price consideration obligations related to certain of our acquisitions, as follows (in thousands):
	Acquisition		Acquisition Date		Acquisition		Maximum			Remaining			Estimated			Estimated			Payments
					Date Fair		Remaining			Earn-out			Fair Value as			Fair Value as			Made
					Value		Earn-out			Period as			of			of			during
							Potential			of			March 31,			December 31,			2014
							as of			March 31,			2014			2013
							March 31,			2014
							2014
	TwistDx, Inc.			11-Mar-10	$	35,600	$	123,888			2014 – 2025	(1)	$	46,400		$	45,502		$	139
	Ionian Technologies, Inc.			12-Jul-10	$	24,500		57,500			2014 – 2015			29,400			29,000			—
	Laboratory Data Systems, Inc.			29-Aug-11	$	13,000		7,500			2013	(2)		7,500	(2)		7,400	(2)		—
	Forensics Limited (ROAR)			September 22, 2011	$	5,463		12,600			2014			3,328			2,484			—
	Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic)			December 9, 2011	$	18,900		—	(3)		2014 – 2019			25,400			26,900			150
	MedApps.			2-Jul-12	$	13,100		8,600			2014			7,600			8,200			5,000
	Amedica Biotech, Inc.			3-Jul-12	$	8,900		8,100			2013	(2)		7,935	(2)		7,500	(2)		—
	DiagnosisOne, Inc.			31-Jul-12	$	22,300		33,000			2014 – 2017			26,900			26,600			—
	Epocal.			1-Feb-13	$	75,000		65,500			2014 – 2018			45,600			47,200			—
	Other			Various	$	58,877		20,229			2014 – 2016			10,756			13,183			2,421
													$	210,819		$	213,969		$	7,710
	-1	The maximum earn-out period ends on the fifteenth anniversary of the acquisition date.
	-2	The fair value of the maximum remaining earn-out was accrued as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. We expect to pay the maximum remaining earn-out during the second quarter of 2014.
	(3)	The earn-out is comprised of three components of which two components have an aggregate maximum remaining earn-out potential of $49.9 million. There is no dollar cap on the third earn-out component, however, the earn-out potential is limited to the remaining earn-out period.

Equity_Investments_Tables

Equity Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Financial Information for SPD and TechLab on Combined Condensed Results of Operations	'
	Summarized financial information for SPD and TechLab on a combined basis is as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Combined Condensed Results of Operations:	2014		2013
	Net revenue	$	48,933	$	49,155
	Gross profit	$	42,980	$	37,113
	Net income after taxes	$	10,830	$	5,577
Financial Information for SPD and TechLab on Combined Condensed Balance Sheet	'
	Combined Condensed Balance Sheet:	March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Current assets	$	72,582	$	63,985
	Non-current assets		38,376		38,541
	Total assets	$	110,958	$	102,526
	Current liabilities	$	38,524	$	38,053
	Non-current liabilities		6,430		6,175
	Total liabilities	$	44,954	$	44,228

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio1

Guarantor Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Operations	'
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
								Non -
					Guarantor			Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Net product sales	$	—		$	213,409		$	336,037		$	(54,001	)	$	495,445
	Services revenue		—			197,908			18,057			—			215,965
	Net product sales and services revenue		—			411,317			354,094			(54,001	)		711,410
	License and royalty revenue		—			3,485			5,018			(3,291	)		5,212
	Net revenue		—			414,802			359,112			(57,292	)		716,622
	Cost of net product sales		688			114,135			183,774			(52,485	)		246,112
	Cost of services revenue		73			115,325			8,054			(5,720	)		117,732
	Cost of net product sales and services revenue		761			229,460			191,828			(58,205	)		363,844
	Cost of license and royalty revenue		—			92			4,738			(3,291	)		1,539
	Cost of net revenue		761			229,552			196,566			(61,496	)		365,383
	Gross profit (loss)		(761	)		185,250			162,546			4,204			351,239
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		5,615			14,845			18,239			—			38,699
	Sales and marketing		1,868			74,959			70,237			—			147,064
	General and administrative		18,488			68,782			52,266			—			139,536
	Operating expenses		25,971			158,586			140,742			—			325,299
	Operating income (loss)		(26,732	)		26,664			21,804			4,204			25,940
	Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		(51,258	)		(5,628	)		(4,544	)		9,386			(52,044	)
	Other income (expense), net		4,694			3,648			5,825			(9,445	)		4,722
	Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		(73,296	)		24,684			23,085			4,145			(21,382	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(38,423	)		17,367			9,681			1,458			(9,917	)
	Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(34,873	)		7,317			13,404			2,687			(11,465	)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax		28,355			68			—			(28,423	)		—
	Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		405			—			5,064			(117	)		5,352
	Net income (loss)		(6,113	)		7,385			18,468			(25,853	)		(6,113	)
	Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			108			—			108
	Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries		(6,113	)		7,385			18,360			(25,853	)		(6,221	)
	Preferred stock dividends		(5,250	)		—			—			—			(5,250	)
	Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	(11,363	)	$	7,385		$	18,360		$	(25,853	)	$	(11,471	)
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
								Non -
					Guarantor			Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Net product sales	$	—		$	233,551		$	320,839		$	(46,114	)	$	508,276
	Services revenue		—			207,749			19,160			—			226,909
	Net product sales and services revenue		—			441,300			339,999			(46,114	)		735,185
	License and royalty revenue		—			3,035			3,533			(2,504	)		4,064
	Net revenue		—			444,335			343,532			(48,618	)		739,249
	Cost of net product sales		948			121,236			172,574			(41,680	)		253,078
	Cost of services revenue		—			115,971			8,142			(3,955	)		120,158
	Cost of net product sales and services revenue		948			237,207			180,716			(45,635	)		373,236
	Cost of license and royalty revenue		—			17			4,243			(2,504	)		1,756
	Cost of net revenue		948			237,224			184,959			(48,139	)		374,992
	Gross profit (loss)		(948	)		207,111			158,573			(479	)		364,257
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		4,423			18,100			18,931			—			41,454
	Sales and marketing		1,392			83,431			71,633			—			156,456
	General and administrative		14,027			67,146			54,685			—			135,858
	Operating expenses		19,842			168,677			145,249			—			333,768
	Operating income (loss)		(20,790	)		38,434			13,324			(479	)		30,489
	Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		(56,858	)		(7,021	)		(3,417	)		9,897			(57,399	)
	Other income (expense), net		4,770			6,259			(1,603	)		(9,896	)		(470	)
	Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		(72,878	)		37,672			8,304			(478	)		(27,380	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(62,811	)		17,082			8,971			(113	)		(36,871	)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(10,067	)		20,590			(667	)		(365	)		9,491
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax		22,244			(614	)		—			(21,630	)		—
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		248			—			2,688			(2	)		2,934
Net income		12,425			19,976			2,021			(21,997	)		12,425
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			(25	)		—			(25	)
Net income attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries		12,425			19,976			2,046			(21,997	)		12,450
Preferred stock dividends		(5,250	)		—			—			—			(5,250	)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	7,175		$	19,976		$	2,046		$	(21,997	)	$	7,200
Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
								Non-
					Guarantor			Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Net income (loss)	$	(6,113	)	$	7,386		$	18,466		$	(25,852	)	$	(6,113	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
	Changes in cumulative translation adjustment		157			(129	)		(11,368	)		—			(11,340	)
	Unrealized losses on available for sale securities		—			(17	)		—			—			(17	)
	Unrealized gains on hedging instruments		—			—			8			—			8
	Minimum pension liability adjustment		—			—			74			—			74
	Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		157			(146	)		(11,286	)		—			(11,275	)
	Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			—			—			—
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		157			(146	)		(11,286	)		—			(11,275	)
	Comprehensive income (loss)		(5,956	)		7,240			7,180			(25,852	)		(17,388	)
	Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			108			—			108
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	(5,956	)	$	7,240		$	7,072		$	(25,852	)	$	(17,496	)
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
								Non -
					Guarantor			Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Net income	$	12,425		$	19,976		$	2,021		$	(21,997	)	$	12,425
	Other comprehensive loss, before tax:
	Changes in cumulative translation adjustment		(201	)		—			(75,154	)		—			(75,355	)
	Unrealized gains on hedging instruments		—			—			11			—			11
	Minimum pension liability adjustment		—			—			605			—			605
	Other comprehensive loss, before tax		(201	)		—			(74,538	)		—			(74,739	)
	Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive loss		—			—			—			—			—
	Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(201	)		—			(74,538	)		—			(74,739	)
	Comprehensive income (loss)		12,224			19,976			(72,517	)		(21,997	)		(62,314	)
	Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests		—			—			(25	)		—			(25	)
	Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	$	12,224		$	19,976		$	(72,492	)	$	(21,997	)	$	(62,289	)
Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Balance Sheet	'
	CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
					Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,020		$	82,048		$	337,958		$	—		$	433,026
	Restricted cash		84			2,915			1,223			—			4,222
	Marketable securities		—			776			5			—			781
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances		—			250,603			278,190			—			528,793
	Inventories, net		—			170,165			218,246			(17,275	)		371,136
	Deferred tax assets		4,984			27,375			32,120			(1,863	)		62,616
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		538,410			(432,500	)		10,713			3,906			120,529
	Intercompany receivables		304,817			715,596			69,903			(1,090,316	)		—
	Total current assets		861,315			816,978			948,358			(1,105,548	)		1,521,103
	Property, plant and equipment, net		19,312			286,490			239,523			(274	)		545,051
	Goodwill		—			1,842,309			1,247,747			—			3,090,056
	Other intangible assets with indefinite lives		—			14,300			41,675			(59	)		55,916
	Finite-lived intangible assets, net		10,245			959,002			648,007			—			1,617,254
	Restricted cash		—			—			28,856			—			28,856
	Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets		51,746			7,586			20,764			(40	)		80,056
	Investments in subsidiaries		3,821,577			270,857			191,920			(4,284,354	)		—
	Investments in unconsolidated entities		30,174			—			49,510			10,761			90,445
	Deferred tax assets		—			—			7,449			—			7,449
	Intercompany notes receivables		1,099,817			720,017			48,779			(1,868,613	)		—
	Total assets	$	5,894,186		$	4,917,539		$	3,472,588		$	(7,248,127	)	$	7,036,186
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	60,000		$	962		$	4,290		$	—		$	65,252
	Current portion of capital lease obligations		—			3,165			3,055			—			6,220
	Accounts payable		8,280			79,319			102,849			—			190,448
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		85,170			161,351			183,775			(35	)		430,261
	Intercompany payables		660,712			148,533			281,071			(1,090,316	)		—
	Total current liabilities		814,162			393,330			575,040			(1,090,351	)		692,181
	Long-term liabilities:
	Long-term debt, net of current portion		3,705,215			100			40,481			—			3,745,796
	Capital lease obligations, net of current portion		—			5,563			9,527			—			15,090
	Deferred tax liabilities		(65,370	)		290,283			82,616			45			307,574
	Other long-term liabilities		25,384			61,026			108,619			(40	)		194,989
	Intercompany notes payables (receivables)		(660,771	)		1,419,782			1,109,602			(1,868,613	)		—
	Total long-term liabilities		3,004,458			1,776,754			1,350,845			(1,868,608	)		4,263,449
	Stockholders’ equity		2,075,566			2,747,455			1,541,713			(4,289,168	)		2,075,566
	Non-controlling interests		—			—			4,990			—			4,990
	Total equity		2,075,566			2,747,455			1,546,703			(4,289,168	)		2,080,556
	Total liabilities and equity	$	5,894,186		$	4,917,539		$	3,472,588		$	(7,248,127	)	$	7,036,186
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
	CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	December 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
					Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	14,801		$	85,453		$	261,654		$	—		$	361,908
	Restricted cash		2,221			2,915			1,237			—			6,373
	Marketable securities		—			853			5			—			858
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances		—			238,782			309,947			—			548,729
	Inventories, net		—			168,058			219,892			(23,765	)		364,185
	Deferred tax assets		5,191			20,541			31,451			3,506			60,689
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		512,123			(405,954	)		23,547			(44	)		129,672
	Intercompany receivables		317,357			759,497			75,424			(1,152,278	)		—
	Total current assets		851,693			870,145			923,157			(1,172,581	)		1,472,414
Property, plant and equipment, net		15,086			288,637			241,737			(296	)		545,164
Goodwill		—			1,841,377			1,252,314			—			3,093,691
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives		—			14,300			42,402			—			56,702
Finite-lived intangible assets, net		11,006			995,868			677,737			—			1,684,611
Restricted cash		—			—			29,370			—			29,370
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets		55,207			8,353			20,559			(46	)		84,073
Investments in subsidiaries		3,802,475			267,824			191,947			(4,262,246	)		—
Investments in unconsolidated entities		29,005			—			44,637			13,188			86,830
Deferred tax assets		—			—			7,959			—			7,959
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)		1,100,746			630,628			(741,016	)		(990,358	)		—
Total assets	$	5,865,218		$	4,917,132		$	2,690,803		$	(6,412,339	)	$	7,060,814
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	45,000		$	323		$	3,789		$	—		$	49,112
Current portion of capital lease obligations		—			3,751			3,104			—			6,855
Accounts payable		12,584			69,076			105,711			—			187,371
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		63,990			164,762			201,132			(36	)		429,848
Intercompany payables		728,541			149,031			274,707			(1,152,279	)		—
Total current liabilities		850,115			386,943			588,443			(1,152,315	)		673,186
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net of current portion		3,735,137			100			37,551			—			3,772,788
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion		—			5,938			8,469			—			14,407
Deferred tax liabilities		(43,246	)		284,448			88,039			8			329,249
Other long-term liabilities		19,753			58,823			109,806			(46	)		188,336
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)		(774,507	)		1,444,741			320,125			(990,359	)		—
Total long-term liabilities		2,937,137			1,794,050			563,990			(990,397	)		4,304,780
Stockholders’ equity		2,077,966			2,736,139			1,533,488			(4,269,627	)		2,077,966
Non-controlling interests		—			—			4,882			—			4,882
Total equity		2,077,966			2,736,139			1,538,370			(4,269,627	)		2,082,848
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,865,218		$	4,917,132		$	2,690,803		$	(6,412,339	)	$	7,060,814
Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows	'
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
					Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
	Net income (loss)	$	(6,113	)	$	7,385		$	18,468		$	(25,853	)	$	(6,113	)
	Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax		(28,355	)		(68	)		—			28,423			—
	Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		3,857			125			159			—			4,141
	Depreciation and amortization		1,399			58,445			38,166			76			98,086
	Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		2,407			1,093			2,204			—			5,704
	Impairment of inventory		—			—			589			—			589
	Impairment of long-lived assets		—			—			161			—			161
	Loss on sale of fixed assets		—			2,010			62			—			2,072
	Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(405	)		—			(5,064	)		117			(5,352	)
	Deferred income taxes		(21,658	)		(1,399	)		(3,037	)		1,458			(24,636	)
	Other non-cash items		—			1,197			(4,856	)		—			(3,659	)
	Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
	Accounts receivable, net		—			(11,821	)		31,719			—			19,898
	Inventories, net		—			(8,576	)		(105	)		(4,064	)		(12,745	)
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(26,287	)		23,130			11,790			(4,303	)		4,330
	Accounts payable		(4,305	)		11,975			(2,439	)		—			5,231
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		18,625			(3,339	)		(7,278	)		355			8,363
	Other non-current liabilities		9,106			2,148			(1,895	)		3,954			13,313
	Cash paid for contingent consideration		(3,417	)		—			(58	)		—			(3,475	)
	Intercompany payable (receivable)		67,749			(70,945	)		3,196			—			—
	Net cash provided by operating activities		12,603			11,360			81,782			163			105,908
	Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
	Decrease in restricted cash		2,125			—			26			—			2,151
	Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(6,323	)		(12,941	)		(9,093	)		817			(27,540	)
	Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		269			664			112			(916	)		129
	Cash received from disposition		—			—			4,373			—			4,373
	Cash paid for investments		(504	)		—			(3	)		—			(507	)
	Cash received from sales of marketable securities		—			60			—			—			60
	Increase in other assets		(311	)		(2,185	)		(482	)		53			(2,925	)
	Net cash used in investing activities		(4,744	)		(14,402	)		(5,067	)		(46	)		(24,259	)
	Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
	Cash paid for financing costs		(7	)		—			—			—			(7	)
	Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration		(4,072	)		—			(123	)		—			(4,195	)
	Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		14,698			—			—			—			14,698
	Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—			939			—			—			939
	Payments on long-term debt		(15,000	)		(301	)		(522	)		—			(15,823	)
	Net proceeds under revolving credit facilities		—			—			233			—			233
	Cash paid for dividends		(5,323	)		—			—			—			(5,323	)
	Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options		53			207			32			—			292
	Principal payments on capital lease obligations		—			(1,080	)		(760	)		—			(1,840	)
	Net cash used in financing activities		(9,651	)		(235	)		(1,140	)		—			(11,026	)
	Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents		11			(128	)		729			(117	)		495
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(1,781	)		(3,405	)		76,304			—			71,118
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		14,801			85,453			261,654			—			361,908
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	13,020		$	82,048		$	337,958		$	—		$	433,026
	(19) Guarantor Financial Information (Continued)
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
					Guarantor			Non-Guarantor
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
	Net income	$	12,425		$	19,976		$	2,021		$	(21,997	)	$	12,425
	Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
	Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax		(22,244	)		614			—			21,630			—
	Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs		5,153			55			9			—			5,217
Depreciation and amortization		1,287			62,711			41,001			(29	)		104,970
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition		—			—			461			—			461
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		1,660			1,096			1,367			—			4,123
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets		—			227			(55	)		—			172
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax		(248	)		—			(2,688	)		2			(2,934	)
Deferred income taxes		(30,889	)		(10,300	)		(9,605	)		(113	)		(50,907	)
Other non-cash items		(762	)		275			2,428			—			1,941
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net		—			(1,968	)		(18,199	)		—			(20,167	)
Inventories, net		—			(10,617	)		(7,129	)		575			(17,171	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(473,927	)		413,274			35,633			19,187			(5,833	)
Accounts payable		(604	)		(7,823	)		6,439			—			(1,988	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		478,784			(387,671	)		(29,830	)		(19,187	)		42,096
Other non-current liabilities		(126	)		(2,959	)		3,880			—			795
Cash paid for contingent consideration		(2,139	)		—			—			—			(2,139	)
Intercompany payable (receivable)		64,910			(77,486	)		12,576			—			—
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		33,280			(596	)		38,309			68			71,061
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase in restricted cash		(7,933	)		(630	)		(10	)		—			(8,573	)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(37	)		(14,732	)		(26,358	)		5,022			(36,105	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		—			2,106			4,085			(5,048	)		1,143
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(151,372	)		—			(7,049	)		—			(158,421	)
Cash received from investments		—			—			10,771			—			10,771
Increase in other assets		(3,210	)		(881	)		(1,478	)		—			(5,569	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(162,552	)		(14,137	)		(20,039	)		(26	)		(196,754	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash paid for financing costs		(1,427	)		—			—			—			(1,427	)
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration		(19,098	)		—			—			—			(19,098	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		6,135			—			—			—			6,135
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—			1,007			9,046			—			10,053
Payments on long-term debt		(16,845	)		(445	)		(2,348	)		—			(19,638	)
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities		170,000			—			(7,517	)		—			162,483
Cash paid for dividends		(5,323	)		—			—			—			(5,323	)
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options		71			17			16			—			104
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		—			(817	)		(904	)		—			(1,721	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		133,513			(238	)		(1,707	)		—			131,568
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents		762			16			(7,724	)		(42	)		(6,988	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		5,003			(14,955	)		8,839			—			(1,113	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		3,623			67,941			256,782			—			328,346
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	8,626		$	52,986		$	265,621		$	—		$	327,233

Basis_of_Presentation_of_Finan2

Basis of Presentation of Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Description Of Business [Line Items]	'
Net after-tax expense charges corrected amount	$1.30
MedApps [Member]	'
Schedule Of Description Of Business [Line Items]	'
Net after-tax expense charges corrected amount	$2.80

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_Addi

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Cash investments maturity period	'Three months or less

Restricted_Cash_Additional_Inf

Restricted Cash - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Restricted cash	$33,100,000	$35,700,000
Restricted cash, non-current	$28,856,000	$29,370,000
Deposit period of restricted cash	'2 years	'

Inventories_Inventories_are_St

Inventories - Inventories are Stated at Lower of Cost (First In, First Out) or Market (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials	$124,020	$118,571
Work-in-process	73,848	79,559
Finished goods	173,268	166,055
Inventories, net	$371,136	$364,185

StockBased_Compensation_StockB

Stock-Based Compensation - Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Stock-based compensation	$5,704	$4,123
Benefit for income taxes	-1,778	-862
Stock-based compensation, net of tax	3,926	3,261
Cost of Net Revenue [Member]	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Stock-based compensation	287	232
Research and Development [Member]	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Stock-based compensation	1,191	747
Sales and Marketing [Member]	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Stock-based compensation	891	716
General and Administrative [Member]	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'
Stock-based compensation	$3,335	$2,428

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha2

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator:	'	'
Net income (loss)	($6,113)	$12,425
Preferred stock dividends	-5,250	-5,250
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	108	-25
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	($11,471)	$7,200
Denominator:	'	'
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic	82,387	81,199
Effect of dilutive securities:	'	'
Stock options	0	101
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted	82,387	81,300
Basic net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	($0.14)	$0.09
Diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	($0.14)	$0.09

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha3

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Potential Dilutive Securities Not Included in Calculation of Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Detail)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	25,182	23,668
Options to Purchase Shares of Common Stock [Member]	'	'
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	11,143	9,987
Warrants [Member]	'	'
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	4	4
Conversion Shares Related to 3% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]	'	'
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	3,411	3,411
Conversion Shares Related to Subordinated Convertible Promissory Notes [Member]	'	'
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	27	27
Conversion Shares Related to Series B Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	10,239	10,239
Common Stock Equivalents Related to the Settlement of a Contingent Consideration Obligation [Member]	'	'
Denominator:	'	'
Total number of antidilutive potentially issuable shares of common stock excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	358	0

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Common_Sha4

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Potential Dilutive Securities Not Included in Calculation of Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Conversion Shares Related to 3% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes [Member])	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Conversion Shares Related to 3% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]	'	'
Dilutive Securities Included And Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate of debt instrument	3.00%	3.00%

Stockholders_Equity_and_NonCon2

Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Class of Stock [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred stock dividends	$5,250	$5,250
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'
Class of Stock [Line Items]	'	'
Preferred stock dividends	5,250	5,250
Preferred stock dividends accrued	$5,323	'

Stockholders_Equity_and_NonCon3

Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests - Summary of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Non-Controlling Interests Comprising Total Equity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Equity And Noncontrolling Interests [Line Items]	'	'
Equity, beginning of period	$2,082,848	$2,182,704
Issuance of common stock under employee compensation plans	14,698	6,135
Preferred stock dividends	-5,323	-5,323
Stock-based compensation expense	5,704	4,123
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	17	-422
Net income (loss)	-6,113	12,425
Total other comprehensive loss	-11,275	-74,739
Equity, end of period	2,080,556	2,124,903
Issuer [Member]	'	'
Equity And Noncontrolling Interests [Line Items]	'	'
Equity, beginning of period	2,077,966	2,180,422
Issuance of common stock under employee compensation plans	14,698	6,135
Preferred stock dividends	-5,323	-5,323
Stock-based compensation expense	5,704	4,123
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	17	-422
Net income (loss)	-6,221	12,450
Total other comprehensive loss	-11,275	-74,739
Equity, end of period	2,075,566	2,122,646
Non-controlling Interests [Member]	'	'
Equity And Noncontrolling Interests [Line Items]	'	'
Equity, beginning of period	4,882	2,282
Issuance of common stock under employee compensation plans	0	0
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	0	0
Net income (loss)	108	-25
Total other comprehensive loss	0	0
Equity, end of period	$4,990	$2,257

Business_Combinations_Addition

Business Combinations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	31-May-13	Jul. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				Liberty Business [Member]	Cardio Selfcare [Member]	Pantech Proprietary [Member]	Mega Medika, Alere Health Services and Pantech [Member]	Epocal. [Member]	Epocal. [Member]	Other [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
General and administrative expense related to acquisition	$300,000	$900,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Preliminary aggregate purchase price	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	248,500,000	'	57,600,000
Total cash payments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	151,400,000	'	28,221,000
Acquisition date fair value investment	'	'	76,264,000	'	'	'	'	75,000,000	75,000,000	1,264,000
Settlement of pre-existing arrangements	'	'	39,588,000	'	'	'	'	22,100,000	22,088,000	17,500,000
Deferred purchase price consideration	'	'	768,000	'	'	'	'	'	0	768,000
Bargain purchase gain	'	'	8,023,000	8,000,000	'	'	'	'	0	8,023,000
Percentage of incremental ownership interest	'	'	'	'	51.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Interest in Pantech Proprietary Limited	'	'	'	'	'	74.90%	'	'	'	'
Total revenue related to acquisition	23,800,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	$3,090,056,000	'	$3,093,691,000	'	'	'	$2,500,000	'	'	'

Business_Combinations_Summary_

Business Combinations - Summary of Aggregate Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 01, 2013
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	$26,238	'
Property, plant and equipment	2,936	'
Goodwill	100,997	'
Intangible assets	215,580	'
Other non-current assets	18,187	'
Total assets acquired	363,938	'
Current liabilities	8,025	'
Non-current liabilities	49,902	'
Total liabilities assumed	57,927	'
Net assets acquired	306,011	'
Contingent consideration	76,264	'
Settlement of pre-existing arrangements	39,588	'
Non-controlling interest	1,774	'
Bargain purchase gain	8,023	'
Deferred purchase price consideration	768	'
Cash paid	179,594	'
Epocal. [Member]	'	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	12,536	'
Property, plant and equipment	1,267	'
Goodwill	98,454	'
Intangible assets	164,400	'
Other non-current assets	18,158	'
Total assets acquired	294,815	'
Current liabilities	2,627	'
Non-current liabilities	43,727	'
Total liabilities assumed	46,354	'
Net assets acquired	248,461	'
Contingent consideration	75,000	75,000
Settlement of pre-existing arrangements	22,088	22,100
Non-controlling interest	0	'
Bargain purchase gain	0	'
Deferred purchase price consideration	0	'
Cash paid	151,373	'
Other [Member]	'	'
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'
Current assets	13,702	'
Property, plant and equipment	1,669	'
Goodwill	2,543	'
Intangible assets	51,180	'
Other non-current assets	29	'
Total assets acquired	69,123	'
Current liabilities	5,398	'
Non-current liabilities	6,175	'
Total liabilities assumed	11,573	'
Net assets acquired	57,550	'
Contingent consideration	1,264	'
Settlement of pre-existing arrangements	17,500	'
Non-controlling interest	1,774	'
Bargain purchase gain	8,023	'
Deferred purchase price consideration	768	'
Cash paid	$28,221	'

Business_Combinations_Summary_1

Business Combinations - Summary of Aggregate Purchase Price Allocation (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Cash acquired	$3.30

Business_Combinations_Intangib

Business Combinations - Intangible Assets Acquired and Their Respective Fair Values and Weighted-Average Useful Lives (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets	$215,580
In-Process Research and Development [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired indefinite-lived intangible asset, amount	24,200
Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets	164,400
Epocal. [Member] | In-Process Research and Development [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired indefinite-lived intangible asset, amount	24,200
Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets	51,180
Other [Member] | In-Process Research and Development [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired indefinite-lived intangible asset, amount	0
Core Technology and Patents [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	119,700
Weighted-average Useful Life	'20 years
Core Technology and Patents [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	119,700
Core Technology and Patents [Member] | Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	0
Software [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	2,154
Weighted-average Useful Life	'5 years 8 months 12 days
Software [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	0
Software [Member] | Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	2,154
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	20,580
Weighted-average Useful Life	'19 years 1 month 6 days
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	20,500
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member] | Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	80
License Agreements [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	620
Weighted-average Useful Life	'1 year 6 months
License Agreements [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	0
License Agreements [Member] | Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	620
Customer Relationships [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	42,510
Weighted-average Useful Life	'11 years 6 months
Customer Relationships [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	0
Customer Relationships [Member] | Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	42,510
Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	5,816
Weighted-average Useful Life	'3 years
Other [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	0
Other [Member] | Other [Member]	'
Finite And Infinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	$5,816

Restructuring_Aggregate_Charge

Restructuring - Aggregate Charges Associated with Restructuring Plans Recorded in Operating Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	$7,215	$3,892
Total Operating Expenses [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	7,215	3,892
Interest Expense, Including Amortization of Original Issue Discounts and Deferred Financing Costs [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	125	55
Cost of Net Revenue [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	875	623
Research and Development [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	0	0
Sales and Marketing [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	1,557	1,099
General and Administrative [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	4,783	2,170
Total Charges [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	$7,340	$3,947

Restructuring_Restructuring_Ac

Restructuring - Restructuring Activities Related to Restructuring Plans (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		75 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	$7,215	$3,892	'
Professional Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	4,303	1,389	'
Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	95	0	'
Health Information Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	2,817	2,503	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	3,243	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	2,451	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	42	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	2,493	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	750	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	3,148	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	2,364	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	34	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	2,398	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	750	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	95	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	87	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	8	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	95	'	'
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	'	'
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	155	560	41,537
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	59	312	24,251
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	84	232	8,846
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	155	560	33,865
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	6,922
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Other Exit Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	12	16	768
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Intangible Asset Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	686
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Other Non-Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	64
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	435	2,472	36,599
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	1,819	12,308
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	355	659	13,870
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	435	2,517	27,021
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	3,878
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Other Exit Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	80	39	843
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Intangible Asset Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	5,923
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Other Non-Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	-45	-223
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	1,012	846	11,462
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	838	833	7,964
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	174	13	2,755
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	1,012	846	10,719
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	743
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	2,495	69	11,516
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	89	69	3,356
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	3,227	0	6,182
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	3,349	69	9,588
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Fixed Asset and Inventory Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	1,089
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Other Exit Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	33	0	50
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Intangible Asset Impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	0	0	2,596
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member] | Health Information Solutions [Member] | Other Non-Cash Charges [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash charges	($854)	$0	($1,757)

Restructuring_Additional_Infor

Restructuring - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Restructuring reserves included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$7.70
Restructuring reserves included in other long-term liabilities	5.3
2014 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Cash charges remain unpaid	0.7
2013 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Cash charges remain unpaid	7.4
2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Cash charges remain unpaid	4.9
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Additional costs	3.9
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | 2013 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Additional costs	2.4
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | 2011, 2010 and 2008 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Additional costs	0.8
Corporate and Other [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Additional costs	1.43
Health Information Solutions [Member] | 2013 Restructuring Plans [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Additional costs	$0.70

Restructuring_Cash_Activity_fo

Restructuring - Cash Activity for Restructuring Reserves (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance	$11,147
Cash charges	7,444
Payments	-5,595
Currency adjustments	31
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	13,027
Severance-Related Costs [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance	2,708
Cash charges	3,437
Payments	-4,063
Currency adjustments	5
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	2,087
Facility and Transition Costs [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance	7,830
Cash charges	3,882
Payments	-1,459
Currency adjustments	35
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	10,288
Other Exit Costs [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance	609
Cash charges	125
Payments	-73
Currency adjustments	-9
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	$652

LongTerm_Debt_LongTerm_Debt_Ba

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt Balances Outstanding (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	$3,811,048	$3,821,900
Less: Current portion	-65,252	-49,112
Long-term debt, after discount, Total	3,745,796	3,772,788
A term loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	820,625	832,188
B term loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	901,875	904,188
Incremental B-1 term loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	244,375	245,000
Incremental B-2 term loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	194,629	195,050
Revolving line of credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	170,000	170,000
7.25% Senior notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	450,000	450,000
6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	425,000	425,000
8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	400,000	400,000
3% Convertible senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	150,000	150,000
Other lines of credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	581	355
Other [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, Total	$53,963	$50,119

LongTerm_Debt_LongTerm_Debt_Ba1

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt Balances Outstanding (Parenthetical) (Detail)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
7.25% Senior notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term debt, Interest rate	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%
6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term debt, Interest rate	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%
8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term debt, Interest rate	8.63%	8.63%	8.63%
3% Convertible senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term debt, Interest rate	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%

LongTerm_Debt_LongTerm_Debt_In

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt Interest Expense (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	$50,984	$56,517
Secured credit facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	24,762	27,275
7.25% Senior notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	8,525	8,356
7.875% Senior notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	0	-27
6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	7,178	0
9% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	0	10,394
8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	9,273	9,273
3% Convertible senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt issuance cost	$1,246	$1,246

LongTerm_Debt_LongTerm_Debt_In1

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt Interest Expense (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

7.25% Senior notes [Member]

7.25% Senior notes [Member]

7.25% Senior notes [Member]

7.875% Senior notes [Member]

7.875% Senior notes [Member]

6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

9% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

9% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]

3% Convertible senior subordinated notes [Member]

3% Convertible senior subordinated notes [Member]

3% Convertible senior subordinated notes [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt issuance cost

'

'

7.25%

7.25%

7.25%

7.88%

7.88%

6.50%

6.50%

6.50%

9.00%

9.00%

8.63%

8.63%

8.63%

3.00%

3.00%

3.00%

Amortization fee

$0.40

$1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements - Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Valuation Techniques (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Marketable securities	$781	$858
Total assets	781	858
Liabilities:	'	'
Contingent consideration obligations	210,819	213,969
Total liabilities	210,819	213,969
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Marketable securities	781	858
Total assets	781	858
Liabilities:	'	'
Contingent consideration obligations	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Marketable securities	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Liabilities:	'	'
Contingent consideration obligations	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Liabilities:	'	'
Contingent consideration obligations	210,819	213,969
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Marketable securities	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Liabilities:	'	'
Contingent consideration obligations	210,819	213,969
Total liabilities	$210,819	$213,969

Fair_Value_Measurements_Change

Fair Value Measurements - Changes in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Obligations (Detail) (Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'
Fair value of contingent consideration obligations, January 1, 2014	$213,969
Payments	-7,710
Present value accretion and adjustments	4,550
Foreign currency adjustments	10
Fair value of contingent consideration obligations, March 31, 2014	$210,819

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Estimated fair value of our long-term debt	$3.90	$3.90
Long-term debt, Total	$3.80	$3.80

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plan_N

Defined Benefit Pension Plan - Net Periodic Benefit Costs (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Service cost	$0	$0
Interest cost	199	182
Expected return on plan assets	-188	-156
Amortization of prior service cost	110	103
Net periodic benefit cost	$121	$129

Financial_Information_by_Segme2

Financial Information by Segment - Performance of Our Operating Segments Based on Revenue and Operating Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net revenue	$716,622	$739,249	'
Operating income (loss)	25,940	30,489	'
Depreciation and amortization	98,086	104,970	'
Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	0	461	'
Restructuring charges	7,215	3,892	'
Stock-based compensation	5,704	4,123	'
Assets	7,036,186	'	7,060,814
Professional Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net revenue	566,545	582,492	'
Operating income (loss)	51,326	59,840	'
Depreciation and amortization	77,421	82,794	'
Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	'	461	'
Restructuring charges	4,303	1,389	'
Stock-based compensation	0	0	'
Assets	5,697,874	'	5,744,734
Health Information Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net revenue	123,668	134,207	'
Operating income (loss)	-6,720	-13,893	'
Depreciation and amortization	19,111	20,737	'
Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	'	0	'
Restructuring charges	2,817	2,503	'
Stock-based compensation	0	0	'
Assets	496,310	'	504,645
Consumer Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net revenue	26,409	22,550	'
Operating income (loss)	2,248	2,280	'
Depreciation and amortization	920	1,153	'
Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	'	0	'
Restructuring charges	0	0	'
Stock-based compensation	0	0	'
Assets	205,105	'	197,458
Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net revenue	0	0	'
Operating income (loss)	-20,914	-17,738	'
Depreciation and amortization	634	286	'
Non-cash charge associated with acquired inventory	'	0	'
Restructuring charges	95	0	'
Stock-based compensation	5,704	4,123	'
Assets	$636,897	'	$613,977

Financial_Information_by_Segme3

Financial Information by Segment - Summary of Company's Net Revenue from Professional Diagnostics and Health Information Solutions Reporting Segments by Groups of Similar Products and Services (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	$711,410	$735,185
License and royalty revenue	5,212	4,064
Net revenue	716,622	739,249
Health Information Solutions [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net revenue	123,668	134,207
Health Information Solutions [Member] | Condition and Case Management [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	49,319	54,126
Health Information Solutions [Member] | Wellness [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	24,950	26,300
Health Information Solutions [Member] | Women's & Children's Health [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	22,215	29,080
Health Information Solutions [Member] | Patient Self-testing Services [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	27,184	24,701
Professional Diagnostics [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	561,333	578,628
License and royalty revenue	5,212	3,864
Net revenue	566,545	582,492
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Infectious Disease [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	164,030	189,844
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Toxicology [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	151,897	149,049
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Cardiology [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	121,633	114,933
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Diabetes [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	50,721	50,083
Professional Diagnostics [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales and services revenue	$73,052	$74,719

Related_Party_Transactions_Add

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	31-May-07
				Sales Revenue Goods [Member]	Sales Revenue Goods [Member]	Sales Revenue Services [Member]	Sales Revenue Services [Member]	SPD [Member]	SPD [Member]	SPD [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Joint venture ownership percentage with Procter & Gamble	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%
Net receivable from SPD	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$200,000	$2,100,000	'
Restructuring charges	7,215,000	3,892,000	'	'	'	'	'	1,700,000	1,800,000	'
Long-term receivables cost related to restructuring plan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13,300,000	13,200,000	'
Customer receivables associated with revenue earned after SPD was completed have been classified as other receivables	9,300,000	'	12,400,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from joint venture	'	'	'	20,600,000	17,100,000	400,000	300,000	'	'	'
Trade receivables from SPD	5,800,000	'	9,400,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Trade payable to SPD	22,200,000	'	18,800,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash (return of investment) from SPD	'	$10,800,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Related_Party_Transactions_Rel

Related Party Transactions - Related Party Balances with SPD within Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	$528,793	$548,729
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	120,529	129,672
Deferred financing costs, net, and other non-current assets	80,056	84,073
Accounts payable	190,448	187,371
Related Party Transaction [Member]	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	5,753	9,436
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,469	12,417
Deferred financing costs, net, and other non-current assets	13,313	13,249
Accounts payable	$22,215	$18,811

Other_Arrangements_Additional_

Other Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 19, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 19, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Gates Foundation [Member]	Gates Foundation [Member]	Gates Loan Agreement [Member]	Gates Loan Agreement [Member]
Agreements [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from grant awarded	'	'	$21.60	'	'	'
Aggregate principal amount of subordinated term loan	'	'	'	'	'	20.6
Loan bearing interest rate	'	'	'	'	3.00%	'
Maturity date	'	'	'	'	31-Dec-19	'
Cash received from grant-related funding	'	'	'	7.9	'	'
Qualified expenditures	'	'	'	2.1	'	'
Amount borrowed under agreement	$3,800	$3,800	'	'	$0	'

Material_Contingencies_Contrac

Material Contingencies - Contractual Contingent Purchase Price Consideration Obligations Related to Certain Acquisitions (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	$210,819	$213,969
Payments made during 2014	7,710	'
TwistDx, Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	11-Mar-10	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	35,600	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	123,888	'
Estimated Fair Value	46,400	45,502
Payments made during 2014	139	'
Ionian Technologies, Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	12-Jul-10	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	24,500	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	57,500	'
Estimated Fair Value	29,400	29,000
Payments made during 2014	0	'
Laboratory Data Systems, Inc. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	29-Aug-11	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	13,000	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	7,500	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2013	'
Estimated Fair Value	7,500	7,400
Payments made during 2014	0	'
Forensics Limited (ROAR) [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	22-Sep-11	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	5,463	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	12,600	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Estimated Fair Value	3,328	2,484
Payments made during 2014	0	'
Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic) [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	9-Dec-11	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	18,900	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	0	'
Estimated Fair Value	25,400	26,900
Payments made during 2014	150	'
MedApps [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	2-Jul-12	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	13,100	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	8,600	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Estimated Fair Value	7,600	8,200
Payments made during 2014	5,000	'
Amedica Biotech, Inc. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	3-Jul-12	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	8,900	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	8,100	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2013	'
Estimated Fair Value	7,935	7,500
Payments made during 2014	0	'
DiagnosisOne, Inc. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	31-Jul-12	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	22,300	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	33,000	'
Estimated Fair Value	26,900	26,600
Payments made during 2014	0	'
Epocal. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	1-Feb-13	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	75,000	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	65,500	'
Estimated Fair Value	45,600	47,200
Payments made during 2014	0	'
Other [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Acquisition Date	'Various	'
Acquisition Date Fair Value	58,877	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	20,229	'
Estimated Fair Value	10,756	13,183
Payments made during 2014	$2,421	'
Minimum [Member] | TwistDx, Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Minimum [Member] | Ionian Technologies, Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Minimum [Member] | Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic) [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Minimum [Member] | DiagnosisOne, Inc. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Minimum [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Minimum [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2014	'
Maximum [Member] | TwistDx, Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2025	'
Maximum [Member] | Ionian Technologies, Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2015	'
Maximum [Member] | Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic) [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2019	'
Maximum [Member] | DiagnosisOne, Inc. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2017	'
Maximum [Member] | Epocal. [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2018	'
Maximum [Member] | Other [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'	'
Remaining Earn-out Period	'2016	'

Material_Contingencies_Contrac1

Material Contingencies - Contractual Contingent Purchase Price Consideration Obligations Related to Certain Acquisitions (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'
Earn-out period	'15 years
Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic) [Member]	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	0
Method Factory Inc. (Wellogic) [Member] | Earn-out Potential [Member]	'
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]	'
Maximum Remaining Earn-out Potential	49,900

Equity_Investments_Additional_

Equity Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	$5,352	$2,934
SPD [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	5,100	2,500
Ownership percentage	50.00%	'
TechLab [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	$300	$200
Ownership percentage	49.00%	'

Equity_Investments_Financial_I

Equity Investments - Financial Information for SPD and TechLab on Combined Condensed Results of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'	'
Net revenue	$48,933	$49,155
Gross profit	42,980	37,113
Net income after taxes	$10,830	$5,577

Equity_Investments_Financial_I1

Equity Investments - Financial Information for SPD and TechLab on Combined Condensed Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'	'
Current assets	$72,582	$63,985
Non-current assets	38,376	38,541
Total assets	110,958	102,526
Current liabilities	38,524	38,053
Non-current liabilities	6,430	6,175
Total liabilities	$44,954	$44,228

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio2

Guarantor Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
7.25% Senior notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest rate of debt instrument	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%
8.625% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest rate of debt instrument	8.63%	8.63%	8.63%
6.5% Senior subordinated notes [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest rate of debt instrument	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio3

Guarantor Financial Information - Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales	$495,445	$508,276
Services revenue	215,965	226,909
Net product sales and services revenue	711,410	735,185
License and royalty revenue	5,212	4,064
Net revenue	716,622	739,249
Cost of net product sales	246,112	253,078
Cost of services revenue	117,732	120,158
Cost of net product sales and services revenue	363,844	373,236
Cost of license and royalty revenue	1,539	1,756
Cost of net revenue	365,383	374,992
Gross profit (loss)	351,239	364,257
Operating expenses:	'	'
Research and development	38,699	41,454
Sales and marketing	147,064	156,456
General and administrative	139,536	135,858
Operating expenses	325,299	333,768
Operating income (loss)	25,940	30,489
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	-52,044	-57,399
Other income (expense), net	4,722	-470
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes	-21,382	-27,380
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	-9,917	-36,871
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-11,465	9,491
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	5,352	2,934
Net income (loss)	-6,113	12,425
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	108	-25
Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	-6,221	12,450
Preferred stock dividends	-5,250	-5,250
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	-11,471	7,200
Issuer [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales	0	0
Services revenue	0	0
Net product sales and services revenue	0	0
License and royalty revenue	0	0
Net revenue	0	0
Cost of net product sales	688	948
Cost of services revenue	73	0
Cost of net product sales and services revenue	761	948
Cost of license and royalty revenue	0	0
Cost of net revenue	761	948
Gross profit (loss)	-761	-948
Operating expenses:	'	'
Research and development	5,615	4,423
Sales and marketing	1,868	1,392
General and administrative	18,488	14,027
Operating expenses	25,971	19,842
Operating income (loss)	-26,732	-20,790
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	-51,258	-56,858
Other income (expense), net	4,694	4,770
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes	-73,296	-72,878
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	-38,423	-62,811
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-34,873	-10,067
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	28,355	22,244
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	405	248
Net income (loss)	-6,113	12,425
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	-6,113	12,425
Preferred stock dividends	-5,250	-5,250
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	-11,363	7,175
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales	213,409	233,551
Services revenue	197,908	207,749
Net product sales and services revenue	411,317	441,300
License and royalty revenue	3,485	3,035
Net revenue	414,802	444,335
Cost of net product sales	114,135	121,236
Cost of services revenue	115,325	115,971
Cost of net product sales and services revenue	229,460	237,207
Cost of license and royalty revenue	92	17
Cost of net revenue	229,552	237,224
Gross profit (loss)	185,250	207,111
Operating expenses:	'	'
Research and development	14,845	18,100
Sales and marketing	74,959	83,431
General and administrative	68,782	67,146
Operating expenses	158,586	168,677
Operating income (loss)	26,664	38,434
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	-5,628	-7,021
Other income (expense), net	3,648	6,259
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes	24,684	37,672
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	17,367	17,082
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax	7,317	20,590
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	68	-614
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	0	0
Net income (loss)	7,385	19,976
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	7,385	19,976
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	7,385	19,976
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales	336,037	320,839
Services revenue	18,057	19,160
Net product sales and services revenue	354,094	339,999
License and royalty revenue	5,018	3,533
Net revenue	359,112	343,532
Cost of net product sales	183,774	172,574
Cost of services revenue	8,054	8,142
Cost of net product sales and services revenue	191,828	180,716
Cost of license and royalty revenue	4,738	4,243
Cost of net revenue	196,566	184,959
Gross profit (loss)	162,546	158,573
Operating expenses:	'	'
Research and development	18,239	18,931
Sales and marketing	70,237	71,633
General and administrative	52,266	54,685
Operating expenses	140,742	145,249
Operating income (loss)	21,804	13,324
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	-4,544	-3,417
Other income (expense), net	5,825	-1,603
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes	23,085	8,304
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	9,681	8,971
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax	13,404	-667
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	5,064	2,688
Net income (loss)	18,468	2,021
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	108	-25
Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	18,360	2,046
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	18,360	2,046
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net product sales	-54,001	-46,114
Services revenue	0	0
Net product sales and services revenue	-54,001	-46,114
License and royalty revenue	-3,291	-2,504
Net revenue	-57,292	-48,618
Cost of net product sales	-52,485	-41,680
Cost of services revenue	-5,720	-3,955
Cost of net product sales and services revenue	-58,205	-45,635
Cost of license and royalty revenue	-3,291	-2,504
Cost of net revenue	-61,496	-48,139
Gross profit (loss)	4,204	-479
Operating expenses:	'	'
Research and development	0	0
Sales and marketing	0	0
General and administrative	0	0
Operating expenses	0	0
Operating income (loss)	4,204	-479
Interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	9,386	9,897
Other income (expense), net	-9,445	-9,896
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes	4,145	-478
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,458	-113
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities, net of tax	2,687	-365
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	-28,423	-21,630
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-117	-2
Net income (loss)	-25,853	-21,997
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	-25,853	-21,997
Preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	($25,853)	($21,997)

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio4

Guarantor Financial Information - Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net income (loss)	($6,113)	$12,425
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	-11,340	-75,355
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities	-17	0
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments	8	11
Minimum pension liability adjustment	74	605
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-11,275	-74,739
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-11,275	-74,739
Comprehensive income (loss)	-17,388	-62,314
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	108	-25
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	-17,496	-62,289
Issuer [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net income (loss)	-6,113	12,425
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	157	-201
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities	0	'
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments	0	0
Minimum pension liability adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	157	-201
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	157	-201
Comprehensive income (loss)	-5,956	12,224
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	-5,956	12,224
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net income (loss)	7,385	19,976
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	-129	0
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities	-17	'
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments	0	0
Minimum pension liability adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-146	0
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-146	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	7,240	19,976
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	7,240	19,976
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net income (loss)	18,468	2,021
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	-11,368	-75,154
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities	0	'
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments	8	11
Minimum pension liability adjustment	74	605
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	-11,286	-74,538
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-11,286	-74,538
Comprehensive income (loss)	7,180	-72,517
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	108	-25
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	7,072	-72,492
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net income (loss)	-25,853	-21,997
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	'	'
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	0	0
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities	0	'
Unrealized gains on hedging instruments	0	0
Minimum pension liability adjustment	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	0	0
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	-25,852	-21,997
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alere Inc. and Subsidiaries	($25,852)	($21,997)

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio5

Guarantor Financial Information - Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$433,026	$361,908	$327,233	$328,346
Restricted cash	4,222	6,373	'	'
Marketable securities	781	858	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	528,793	548,729	'	'
Inventories, net	371,136	364,185	'	'
Deferred tax assets	62,616	60,689	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	120,529	129,672	'	'
Intercompany receivables	0	0	'	'
Total current assets	1,521,103	1,472,414	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	545,051	545,164	'	'
Goodwill	3,090,056	3,093,691	'	'
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives	55,916	56,702	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	1,617,254	1,684,611	'	'
Restricted cash	28,856	29,370	'	'
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets	80,056	84,073	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Investments in unconsolidated entities	90,445	86,830	'	'
Deferred tax assets	7,449	7,959	'	'
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)	0	0	'	'
Total assets	7,036,186	7,060,814	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	65,252	49,112	'	'
Current portion of capital lease obligations	6,220	6,855	'	'
Accounts payable	190,448	187,371	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	430,261	429,848	'	'
Intercompany payables	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	692,181	673,186	'	'
Long-term liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	3,745,796	3,772,788	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion	15,090	14,407	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	307,574	329,249	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	194,989	188,336	'	'
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)	0	0	'	'
Total long-term liabilities	4,263,449	4,304,780	'	'
Stockholders' equity	2,075,566	2,077,966	'	'
Non-controlling interests	4,990	4,882	'	'
Total equity	2,080,556	2,082,848	2,124,903	2,182,704
Total liabilities and equity	7,036,186	7,060,814	'	'
Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	13,020	14,801	8,626	3,623
Restricted cash	84	2,221	'	'
Marketable securities	0	0	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	0	0	'	'
Inventories, net	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax assets	4,984	5,191	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	538,410	512,123	'	'
Intercompany receivables	304,817	317,357	'	'
Total current assets	861,315	851,693	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	19,312	15,086	'	'
Goodwill	0	0	'	'
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives	0	0	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	10,245	11,006	'	'
Restricted cash	0	0	'	'
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets	51,746	55,207	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	3,821,577	3,802,475	'	'
Investments in unconsolidated entities	30,174	29,005	'	'
Deferred tax assets	0	0	'	'
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)	1,099,817	1,100,746	'	'
Total assets	5,894,186	5,865,218	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	60,000	45,000	'	'
Current portion of capital lease obligations	0	0	'	'
Accounts payable	8,280	12,584	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	85,170	63,990	'	'
Intercompany payables	660,712	728,541	'	'
Total current liabilities	814,162	850,115	'	'
Long-term liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	3,705,215	3,735,137	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	-65,370	-43,246	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	25,384	19,753	'	'
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)	-660,771	-774,507	'	'
Total long-term liabilities	3,004,458	2,937,137	'	'
Stockholders' equity	2,075,566	2,077,966	'	'
Non-controlling interests	0	0	'	'
Total equity	2,075,566	2,077,966	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	5,894,186	5,865,218	'	'
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	82,048	85,453	52,986	67,941
Restricted cash	2,915	2,915	'	'
Marketable securities	776	853	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	250,603	238,782	'	'
Inventories, net	170,165	168,058	'	'
Deferred tax assets	27,375	20,541	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-432,500	-405,954	'	'
Intercompany receivables	715,596	759,497	'	'
Total current assets	816,978	870,145	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	286,490	288,637	'	'
Goodwill	1,842,309	1,841,377	'	'
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives	14,300	14,300	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	959,002	995,868	'	'
Restricted cash	0	0	'	'
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets	7,586	8,353	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	270,857	267,824	'	'
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax assets	0	0	'	'
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)	720,017	630,628	'	'
Total assets	4,917,539	4,917,132	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	962	323	'	'
Current portion of capital lease obligations	3,165	3,751	'	'
Accounts payable	79,319	69,076	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	161,351	164,762	'	'
Intercompany payables	148,533	149,031	'	'
Total current liabilities	393,330	386,943	'	'
Long-term liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	100	100	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion	5,563	5,938	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	290,283	284,448	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	61,026	58,823	'	'
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)	1,419,782	1,444,741	'	'
Total long-term liabilities	1,776,754	1,794,050	'	'
Stockholders' equity	2,747,455	2,736,139	'	'
Non-controlling interests	0	0	'	'
Total equity	2,747,455	2,736,139	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	4,917,539	4,917,132	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	337,958	261,654	265,621	256,782
Restricted cash	1,223	1,237	'	'
Marketable securities	5	5	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	278,190	309,947	'	'
Inventories, net	218,246	219,892	'	'
Deferred tax assets	32,120	31,451	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,713	23,547	'	'
Intercompany receivables	69,903	75,424	'	'
Total current assets	948,358	923,157	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	239,523	241,737	'	'
Goodwill	1,247,747	1,252,314	'	'
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives	41,675	42,402	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	648,007	677,737	'	'
Restricted cash	28,856	29,370	'	'
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets	20,764	20,559	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	191,920	191,947	'	'
Investments in unconsolidated entities	49,510	44,637	'	'
Deferred tax assets	7,449	7,959	'	'
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)	48,779	-741,016	'	'
Total assets	3,472,588	2,690,803	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	4,290	3,789	'	'
Current portion of capital lease obligations	3,055	3,104	'	'
Accounts payable	102,849	105,711	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	183,775	201,132	'	'
Intercompany payables	281,071	274,707	'	'
Total current liabilities	575,040	588,443	'	'
Long-term liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	40,481	37,551	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion	9,527	8,469	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	82,616	88,039	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	108,619	109,806	'	'
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)	1,109,602	320,125	'	'
Total long-term liabilities	1,350,845	563,990	'	'
Stockholders' equity	1,541,713	1,533,488	'	'
Non-controlling interests	4,990	4,882	'	'
Total equity	1,546,703	1,538,370	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	3,472,588	2,690,803	'	'
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0	'	'
Marketable securities	0	0	'	'
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	0	0	'	'
Inventories, net	-17,275	-23,765	'	'
Deferred tax assets	-1,863	3,506	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,906	-44	'	'
Intercompany receivables	-1,090,316	-1,152,278	'	'
Total current assets	-1,105,548	-1,172,581	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	-274	-296	'	'
Goodwill	0	0	'	'
Other intangible assets with indefinite lives	-59	0	'	'
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	0	0	'	'
Restricted cash	0	0	'	'
Deferred financing costs, net and other non-current assets	-40	-46	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	-4,284,354	-4,262,246	'	'
Investments in unconsolidated entities	10,761	13,188	'	'
Deferred tax assets	0	0	'	'
Intercompany notes receivables (payables)	-1,868,613	-990,358	'	'
Total assets	-7,248,127	-6,412,339	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	'	'
Current portion of capital lease obligations	0	0	'	'
Accounts payable	0	0	'	'
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	-35	-36	'	'
Intercompany payables	-1,090,316	-1,152,279	'	'
Total current liabilities	-1,090,351	-1,152,315	'	'
Long-term liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	45	8	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	-40	-46	'	'
Intercompany notes payables (receivables)	-1,868,613	-990,359	'	'
Total long-term liabilities	-1,868,608	-990,397	'	'
Stockholders' equity	-4,289,168	-4,269,627	'	'
Non-controlling interests	0	0	'	'
Total equity	-4,289,168	-4,269,627	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	($7,248,127)	($6,412,339)	'	'

Guarantor_Financial_Informatio6

Guarantor Financial Information - Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	($6,113)	$12,425
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Equity earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	4,141	5,217
Depreciation and amortization	98,086	104,970
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition	0	461
Impairment of inventory	589	0
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	5,704	4,123
Impairment of long-lived assets	161	0
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	2,072	172
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-5,352	-2,934
Deferred income taxes	-24,636	-50,907
Other non-cash items	-3,659	1,941
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	19,898	-20,167
Inventories, net	-12,745	-17,171
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,330	-5,833
Accounts payable	5,231	-1,988
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	8,363	42,096
Other non-current liabilities	13,313	795
Cash paid for contingent consideration	-3,475	-2,139
Intercompany payable (receivable)	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	105,908	71,061
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Decrease in restricted cash	2,151	-8,573
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-27,540	-36,105
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	129	1,143
Cash received from disposition	4,373	0
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	-158,421
Cash paid for investments	-507	'
Cash received from equity method investments	-507	10,771
Cash received from sales of marketable securities	60	0
Increase in other assets	-2,925	-5,569
Net cash used in investing activities	-24,259	-196,754
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Cash paid for financing costs	-7	-1,427
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration	-4,195	-19,098
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	14,698	6,135
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	939	10,053
Payments on long-term debt	-15,823	-19,638
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities	233	162,483
Cash paid for dividends	-5,323	-5,323
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	292	104
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	-1,840	-1,721
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-11,026	131,568
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents	495	-6,988
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	71,118	-1,113
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	361,908	328,346
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	433,026	327,233
Issuer [Member]	'	'
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	-6,113	12,425
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Equity earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	-28,355	-22,244
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	3,857	5,153
Depreciation and amortization	1,399	1,287
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition	2,407	0
Impairment of inventory	0	'
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	'	1,660
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	'
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	0	0
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-405	-248
Deferred income taxes	-21,658	-30,889
Other non-cash items	0	-762
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories, net	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-26,287	-473,927
Accounts payable	-4,305	-604
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	18,625	478,784
Other non-current liabilities	9,106	-126
Cash paid for contingent consideration	-3,417	-2,139
Intercompany payable (receivable)	67,749	64,910
Net cash provided by operating activities	12,603	33,280
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Decrease in restricted cash	2,125	-7,933
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-6,323	-37
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	269	0
Cash received from disposition	0	'
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	'	-151,372
Cash paid for investments	-504	'
Cash received from equity method investments	'	0
Cash received from sales of marketable securities	0	'
Increase in other assets	-311	-3,210
Net cash used in investing activities	-4,744	-162,552
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Cash paid for financing costs	-7	-1,427
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration	-4,072	-19,098
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	14,698	6,135
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	-15,000	-16,845
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities	0	170,000
Cash paid for dividends	-5,323	-5,323
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	53	71
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-9,651	133,513
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents	11	762
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-1,781	5,003
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	14,801	3,623
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	13,020	8,626
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	7,385	19,976
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Equity earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	-68	614
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	125	55
Depreciation and amortization	58,445	62,711
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition	1,093	0
Impairment of inventory	0	'
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	'	1,096
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	'
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	2,010	227
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	0	0
Deferred income taxes	-1,399	-10,300
Other non-cash items	1,197	275
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	-11,821	-1,968
Inventories, net	-8,576	-10,617
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	23,130	413,274
Accounts payable	11,975	-7,823
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	-3,339	-387,671
Other non-current liabilities	2,148	-2,959
Cash paid for contingent consideration	0	0
Intercompany payable (receivable)	-70,945	-77,486
Net cash provided by operating activities	11,360	-596
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Decrease in restricted cash	0	-630
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-12,941	-14,732
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	664	2,106
Cash received from disposition	0	'
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	'	0
Cash paid for investments	0	'
Cash received from equity method investments	'	0
Cash received from sales of marketable securities	60	'
Increase in other assets	-2,185	-881
Net cash used in investing activities	-14,402	-14,137
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Cash paid for financing costs	0	0
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	939	1,007
Payments on long-term debt	-301	-445
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities	0	0
Cash paid for dividends	0	0
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	207	17
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	-1,080	-817
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-235	-238
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents	-128	16
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-3,405	-14,955
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	85,453	67,941
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	82,048	52,986
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	18,468	2,021
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Equity earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	159	9
Depreciation and amortization	38,166	41,001
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition	2,204	461
Impairment of inventory	589	'
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	'	1,367
Impairment of long-lived assets	161	'
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	62	-55
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	-5,064	-2,688
Deferred income taxes	-3,037	-9,605
Other non-cash items	-4,856	2,428
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	31,719	-18,199
Inventories, net	-105	-7,129
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,790	35,633
Accounts payable	-2,439	6,439
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	-7,278	-29,830
Other non-current liabilities	-1,895	3,880
Cash paid for contingent consideration	-58	0
Intercompany payable (receivable)	3,196	12,576
Net cash provided by operating activities	81,782	38,309
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Decrease in restricted cash	26	-10
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-9,093	-26,358
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	112	4,085
Cash received from disposition	4,373	'
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	'	-7,049
Cash paid for investments	-3	'
Cash received from equity method investments	'	10,771
Cash received from sales of marketable securities	0	'
Increase in other assets	-482	-1,478
Net cash used in investing activities	-5,067	-20,039
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Cash paid for financing costs	0	0
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration	-123	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	9,046
Payments on long-term debt	-522	-2,348
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities	233	-7,517
Cash paid for dividends	0	0
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	32	16
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	-760	-904
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-1,140	-1,707
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents	729	-7,724
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	76,304	8,839
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	261,654	256,782
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	337,958	265,621
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	-25,853	-21,997
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Equity earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	28,423	21,630
Non-cash interest expense, including amortization of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	76	-29
Non-cash charges for sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition	0	0
Impairment of inventory	0	'
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	'	0
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	'
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets	0	0
Equity earnings of unconsolidated entities, net of tax	117	2
Deferred income taxes	1,458	-113
Other non-cash items	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories, net	-4,064	575
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-4,303	19,187
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	355	-19,187
Other non-current liabilities	3,954	0
Cash paid for contingent consideration	0	0
Intercompany payable (receivable)	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	163	68
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Decrease in restricted cash	0	0
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	817	5,022
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	-916	-5,048
Cash received from disposition	0	'
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	'	0
Cash paid for investments	0	'
Cash received from equity method investments	'	0
Cash received from sales of marketable securities	0	'
Increase in other assets	53	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-46	-26
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Cash paid for financing costs	0	0
Cash paid for contingent purchase price consideration	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Net proceeds (payments) under revolving credit facilities	0	0
Cash paid for dividends	0	0
Excess tax benefits on exercised stock options	0	0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0
Foreign exchange effect on cash and cash equivalents	-117	-42
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$0	$0