Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Common Stock [Member]		Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]		Retained Earnings [Member]	[1]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	[1]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2013	[1]	100
Balance at May. 31, 2013				$ 751,635	[1]	$ (89,007)		$ (17,922)			$ 644,706
Share-based compensation expense				1,512	[1]						1,512
Net Loss						(182,257)					(182,257)
Other comprehensive income (net of taxes):
Foreign exchange translation adjustment								4,315			4,315
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges								340			340
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2014	[1]	100
Balance at May. 31, 2014				753,147	[1]	(271,264)		(13,267)			468,616
Other comprehensive income (net of taxes):
Share-based compensation expense				1,512	[1]						1,512
Net Loss						(182,257)					(182,257)
Share-based compensation expense				2,087	[1]						2,087
Net Loss						(60,725)					(60,725)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment								(26,712)			(26,712)
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges								415			415
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2015	[1]	100
Balance at May. 31, 2015				755,234	[1]	(331,989)		(39,564)			383,681
Other comprehensive income (net of taxes):
Share-based compensation expense				2,087	[1]						2,087
Net Loss						(60,725)					(60,725)
Share-based compensation expense				5,326	[1]						5,326
Net Loss						(42,090)					(43,767)
Foreign exchange translation adjustment								(174)			(174)
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges								331			331
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2016	[1]	100
Balance at May. 31, 2016			[1]	753,709	[1]	(374,079)		$ (39,407)		$ 4,323	344,546
Other comprehensive income (net of taxes):
Share-based compensation expense				5,326	[1]						5,326
Net Loss						$ (42,090)					(43,767)
Activities with IVD Holdings, Inc.				(851)							(851)
Non-cash dividend distributed				$ (6,000)							(6,000)
Equity of noncontrolling interest										$ 6,000	$ 6,000

[1] Shareholders' equity of Immucor, Inc.