STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS - Transactions involving warrants (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Number of Shares
Balance at October 1, 2014	945,166
Granted	3,912,958apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightGranted
Exercised
Cancelled or expired	(404,289)
Balance, March 31, 2015	4,453,835
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Balance at October 1, 2014	$ 9.59
Granted	$ 3.51
Exercised
Cancelled or expired	$ (13.66)
Balance, March 31, 2015	$ 3.88

Represents the number of warrants exercised by participants.

No definition available.

Name:	apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercised
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

Name:	apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightForfeituresAndExpirations
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
Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	apdn_ClassOfWarrantOrRightWeightedAveragePricePerShareRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents weighted average exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights Cancelled or expired.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents weighted average exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights exercised.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents weighted average exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights granted.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents weighted average exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apdn_WeightedAveragePricePerShareWarrantOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	apdn_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: 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=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph i

-Article 4

+ Details

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