Property and Equipment, Net

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property and Equipment, Net

  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. The costs of additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When an item is sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are relieved, and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized in the consolidated statements of income. We evaluate our property and equipment for impairment periodically or as changes in circumstances or the occurrence of events suggest the remaining value is not recoverable from future cash flows. If the carrying value of our property and equipment is impaired, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the property and equipment exceeds its fair value. We provide for depreciation and amortization primarily using the straight-line method by charges to the consolidated statements of income in amounts that allocate the cost of property and equipment over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Asset Classification	Estimated Useful Life
Land improvements	15 to 20 years
Buildings and improvements	10 to 40 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of remaining lease term or useful life of improvements
Machinery and equipment	3 to 8 years
Office furniture and equipment	3 to 7 years
Computer hardware and software	3 to 7 years

We capitalize interest on the acquisition and construction of significant assets that require a substantial period of time to be made ready for use. The capitalized interest is included in the cost of the completed asset and depreciated over the asset’s estimated useful life. The amount of interest capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was not material.

We capitalize certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining software designated for internal use based on three distinct stages of development. Qualifying costs incurred during the application development stage, which consist primarily of internal payroll and direct fringe benefits and external direct project costs, including labor and travel, are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset. Costs incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation and operation phases are expensed as incurred. These costs relate primarily to the determination of performance requirements, data conversion and training. Software developed to deliver hosted services to our customers has been designated as internal use.

Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following:

(in thousands)	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Land and improvements	$	8,725	$	8,701
Buildings and improvements	249,918		190,809
Leasehold improvements	74,602		66,917
Machinery and equipment	322,814		299,204
Office furniture and equipment	53,210		51,661
Computer hardware and software	240,406		218,150
Construction in progress	103,200		70,561
	1,052,875		906,003
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	519,030		468,733
Total property and equipment, net	$	533,845	$	437,270

Below are the amounts of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, capitalized computer software for internal use, unpaid property and equipment reflected in accounts payable and accrued expenses, and rental and reagent rental program instruments transferred from inventory to property and equipment:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2019		2018		2017
Depreciation and amortization expense	$	78,495	$	74,208	$	73,797
Capitalized computer software developed for internal use	$	20,130	$	17,115	$	16,131
Unpaid property and equipment, reflected in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	24,688	$	17,894	$	11,744
Rental and operating-type reagent rental program instruments transferred from inventory to property and equipment (Note 3)	$	14,498	$	20,360	$	16,313