Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Revenue by principal business segments
Revenues	$ 7,828,904	$ 7,372,333	$ 6,986,722
Medical [Member]
Revenue by principal business segments
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	4,007,304	3,796,432	3,556,694
Diagnostics [Member]
Revenue by principal business segments
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	2,480,477	2,318,879	2,226,219
Biosciences [Member]
Revenue by principal business segments
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	$ 1,341,123	$ 1,257,022	$ 1,203,809

Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration