Note 3 - Acquisitions - Consideration (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2021	May 03, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
BioLife stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 60.50	$ 35.07
Value of issued shares			$ 264,718	$ 0
BioLife shares outstanding (as of March 19, 2021) (in shares)		33,401,359
Value of issued shares			$ 264,718	$ 0
Sexton Acquisition [Member]
Merger consideration shares (in shares)	530,502
Value of issued shares	$ 32,095
plus: Fair value of BioLife’s existing investment in Sexton	7,951
less: Net working capital adjustment	(118)
Merger Consideration	$ 39,928
Stock consideration (in shares)	530,502
Value of issued shares	$ 32,095
GCI Acquisition [Member]
Merger consideration shares (in shares)		6,636,470
Value of issued shares		$ 232,741
Merger Consideration		$ 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
Value of issued shares		$ 232,741
plus: Settlement of BioLife prepaid deposits		2,152
plus: Net settlement of BioLife accounts receivable		$ 16