Note 3 - Acquisitions - Consideration (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			6 Months Ended
	May 03, 2021	Oct. 01, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
BioLife shares outstanding (as of March 19, 2021) (in shares)	33,401,359
BioLife stock price (as of May 3, 2021) (in dollars per share)	$ 35.07
SciSafe Holdings, Inc [Member]
Cash consideration		$ 15,000
Stock consideration		17,916
Contingent consideration		3,663
Working capital adjustment		(53)
Total consideration transferred		$ 36,526
Stock consideration (in shares)		611,683
GCI Acquisition [Member]
Stock consideration	$ 232,741		$ 232,741	$ 0
Total consideration transferred	$ 234,909
Merger consideration percentage	19.90%
Merger consideration shares (in shares)	6,646,870
less: Merger consideration shares withheld to satisfy outstanding GCI stockholder obligations to GCI (in shares)	10,400
Stock consideration (in shares)	6,636,470
plus: Settlement of BioLife prepaid deposits	$ 2,152
plus: Net settlement of BioLife accounts receivable	$ 16