STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS - Transactions involving warrants (Details 2) (Warrants, USD $)	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Warrants
Class Of Warrant Or Right, Number Of Shares [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, Number of Shares	58,205,280	69,207,946
Granted	1,075,000	11,897,334
Exercised	(5,039,633)
Cancelled or expired	(8,400,000)	(22,900,000)
Ending Balance, Number of Shares	45,840,647	58,205,280
Class Of Warrant Or Right, Weighted Average Price Per Share [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Price Per Share	$ 0.140	$ 0.237
Granted	$ 0.071	$ 0.044
Warrants Exercised	$ (0.045)
Cancelled or expired	$ (0.161)	$ (0.384)
Ending Balance, Weighted Average Price Per Share	$ 0.145	$ 0.140

Represents the number of warrants exercised by participants.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of warrants that were either cancelled or expired.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents number of warrants granted to participants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightGranted
Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSharesRollForward
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightWeightedAveragePricePerShareRollForward
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of warrants that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apdn_WarrantsCancelledOrExpired
Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of warrants exercised during the current period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apdn_WarrantsExercised
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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate amount of each class of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 4

-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 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph i

-Article 4

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph c(1)

-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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(2)(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.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(2)(b)

-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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(2)(a)

-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.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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