Reportable Segment and Major Concentrations Data - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Product	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Criteria for identifying individual customers as major customers	10% or more
Percentage of major product sales accounted for in net sales	47.00%	47.00%	44.00%
Percentage of major product sales sourced from another vendor accounted for in net sales	14.00%	13.00%	12.00%
Percentage of consolidated accounts receivable dependant upon a single customer	16.00%
Number product families which accounted for significant portion of net sales	3
Identifiable assets	$ 176,748	$ 161,381	$ 155,493
Foreign Customers [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Combined international sales for Diagnostics and Life Science Reportable segments	56,224	54,909	54,047
Italy [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	10,760	12,537
United Kingdom [Member] | Bioline Group [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	14,220	13,464
Germany [Member] | Bioline Group [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	7,965	6,684
Australia [Member] | Bioline Group [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	4,239	4,568
Diagnostics [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Number of foodbone products sourced from another vendor	2
Amounts due from customers	17.00%	14.00%
Number of customers	2
Identifiable assets	$ 112,054	$ 96,928	$ 104,179