Reportable Segment and Major Concentrations Data - Significant Sales Information by Country for the Diagnostics and Life Science Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Diagnostics [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	$ 144,629	$ 130,180	$ 120,433
Diagnostics [Member] | United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	114,935	99,998	89,078
Diagnostics [Member] | Italy [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	7,427	7,473	8,544
Diagnostics [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	2,141	2,441	2,373
Diagnostics [Member] | France [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	1,936	2,149	2,537
Diagnostics [Member] | Holland [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	1,764	1,818	2,142
Diagnostics [Member] | Belgium [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	1,285	1,271	1,289
Diagnostics [Member] | Canada [Member]]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	1,248	941	892
Diagnostics [Member] | Other Countries [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	13,893	14,089	13,578
Life Science [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	44,057	42,532	38,403
Life Science [Member] | United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	17,527	17,805	15,711
Life Science [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	5,590	5,251	4,890
Life Science [Member] | France [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	1,440	1,282	1,111
Life Science [Member] | Other Countries [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	9,581	9,899	8,664
Life Science [Member] | Germany [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	6,465	4,872	4,922
Life Science [Member] | Australia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total Diagnostics	$ 3,454	$ 3,423	$ 3,105