Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ (66,940)	$ (42,263)	$ 30,928
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	24,573	18,425	16,192
Deferred income taxes	(11,330)	(12,264)	(340)
Share-based compensation expense	18,813us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	13,130us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	14,268us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation			(2,119)
Provision (recovery) for bad debt	(1,814)us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1,946us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	198us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Impairment of long-lived assets	58,170	1,220	1,335
Gain on sale of lab tools	(1,549)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	(767)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Gain on disposal of segment			(4,112)
Gain on cumulative translation adjustment	(3,142)
Changes in contingent consideration	(29,368)	829
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(25,390)	36,898	31,017
Inventories and deferred cost of sales	6,513us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2,753us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	53,937us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(2,245)	842	8,524
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(5,534)	7,542	(12,106)
Customer deposits and deferred revenue	55,536	(17,329)	(34,227)
Income taxes receivable and payable, net	20,279	(12,734)	1,853
Other, net	5,497	2,499	9,253
Discontinued operations			(2,638)
Net cash provided by operating activities	42,069	727	111,963
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(144,069)	(71,488)
Capital expenditures	(15,588)	(9,174)	(24,994)
Proceeds from the liquidation of investments	318,276	499,645	244,929
Payments for purchases of investments	(157,737)	(589,099)	(165,080)
Payments for purchase of cost method investment	(2,388)	(2,391)	(10,341)
Proceeds from sale of assets from discontinued segment			3,758
Proceeds from sale of lab tools	9,259	4,440
Other	350	11	49
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	8,103	(168,056)	48,321
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from stock option exercises	12,056	2,199	5,409
Restricted stock tax withholdings	(2,075)	(2,696)	(1,725)
Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation			2,119
Contingent consideration payments		(5,000)
Repayments of long-term debt	(290)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(269)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(248)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	9,691	(5,766)	5,555
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	149	(663)	796
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	60,012	(173,758)	166,635
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period	210,799	384,557	217,922
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period	270,811	210,799	384,557
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
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Income taxes paid	$ 3,320us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	$ 8,001us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	$ 11,566us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.

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The cash outflow associated with other investments held by the entity for investment purposes not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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The cash inflow associated with the sale or maturity (principal being due) of securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which are classified as available-for-sale securities.

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The cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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-Publisher FASB

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Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable.

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-Section 45

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 5

-Article 5

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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Represents the amount of contingent consideration in a business combination earned and paid during the period.

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No definition available.

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The noncash component of income tax expense for the period representing the increase (decrease) in the entity's deferred tax assets and liabilities pertaining to continuing operations.

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No definition available.

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The cash inflow from the sale of assets used in the investing activities of the entity's discontinued operations during the period.

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No definition available.

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