Note 20 - Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Of Guarantor Subsidiaries (Detail) - Condensed Consolidating Cash Flow Information (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 19, 2011	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010	May 31, 2009
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 25,588	$ (9,593)	$ 102,111	$ 84,751
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,265)	(1,945,450)	(9,061)	(6,304)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities	66	1,652,090	2,578	(11,757)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,029)	(1,432)	4,326	(502)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	20,360	(304,385)	99,954	66,188
Cash and cash equivalents	322,963	18,578	302,603	202,649	136,461
Immucor Inc [Member] | Successor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		314,304
Immucor Inc [Member] | Successor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		8,093
Immucor Inc [Member] | Successor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(15,073)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,943,229)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities		1,652,091
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(306,211)
Cash and cash equivalents		8,093
Immucor Inc [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	250,386		171,144	112,697
Immucor Inc [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	314,304		250,386	171,144
Immucor Inc [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	64,243		82,767	78,454
Net cash used in investing activities	(393)		(6,112)	(8,250)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities	68		2,578	(11,757)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			9
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	63,918		79,242	58,447
Cash and cash equivalents			250,386
Guarantor [Member] | Successor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		(89)
Guarantor [Member] | Successor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		903
Net cash used in investing activities		(814)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		89
Guarantor [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	(80)		(278)	(138)
Guarantor [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	(89)		(80)	(278)
Guarantor [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	144		803	87
Net cash used in investing activities	(153)		(605)	(227)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(9)		198	(140)
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Successor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		8,748
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Successor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		10,629
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Successor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		18,080
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,407)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities		(14,003)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(789)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		1,881
Cash and cash equivalents		10,629
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	52,297		31,783	23,902
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	8,748		52,297	31,783
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(13,821)		17,731	6,006
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,719)		(2,344)	2,173
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities	(25,085)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,924)		5,127	(298)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(43,549)		20,514	7,881
Cash and cash equivalents			52,297
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Successor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		(144)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Successor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(13,503)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities		14,002
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(643)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(144)
Cash and cash equivalents		(144)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(24,978)		810	204
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities	25,083
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(105)		(810)	(204)
Cash and cash equivalents			(80)
Total [Member] | Successor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		322,963
Total [Member] | Successor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		18,578
Total [Member] | Successor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(9,593)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,945,450)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities		1,652,090
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(1,432)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(304,385)
Cash and cash equivalents		18,578
Total [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Beginning Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	302,603		202,649	136,461
Total [Member] | Predecessor [Member] | Ending Balance [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	322,963		302,603	202,649
Total [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	25,588		102,111	84,751
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,265)		(9,061)	(6,304)
Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities	66		2,578	(11,757)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,029)		4,326	(502)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	20,360		99,954	66,188
Cash and cash equivalents			$ 302,603