BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Details) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Orchid Cellmark Inc Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Genzyme Genetics Business Acquisitions [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Monogram Biosciences, Inc. Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Monogram Biosciences, Inc. Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Monogram Biosciences, Inc. Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 08, 2010 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 28, 2011 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 28, 2011 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2011 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2010 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2009 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member] CAD	Feb. 17, 2010 Ontario, Canada joint venture partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Combined Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Combined Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Combined Business Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes due 2016 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior notes due 2016 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior notes due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Senior notes due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Combined Senior notes due 2016 and 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Combined Senior notes due 2016 and 2020 [Member] USD ($)
Entity Acquired and Reason for Acquisition [Abstract]
Name of Acquired Entity													Orchid Cellmark Inc.	Genzyme Genetics			Monogram Biosciences, Inc.
Reason for Business Combination														expand the Company’s capabilities in reproductive, genetic, hematology-oncology and clinical trials central laboratory testing			enhance the Company’s scientific differentiation and esoteric testing capabilities
Date of Acquisition [Abstract]
Effective Date of Acquisition													December 15, 2011	December 1, 2010			August 3, 2009		November 28, 2011	November 28, 2011
Business acquisition, loss on divestiture of Orchid's U.S. government paternity business													$ 2.8
Cost of Acquired Entity [Abstract]
Business acquisition professional fees and expenses incurred														25.7			2.7
Research and development expenses incurred															8.5	12.1	5.2
Per share cash tender offer in Proposed Acquisition of Orchid Cellmark, Inc. (in dollars per share)													$ 2.80
Amount of proposed purchase price to stockholders and optionholders of Orchid Cellmark, Inc.													85.4
Business acquisition, cost of acquired entity, purchase price																			147.9	151.7
Business acquisition cost of acquired entity purchase price plus certain adjustments relating to cash distribution hold backs																				147.8
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired									137.3	1,181.3	212.6			925.2			160.0											137.3	256.1	212.6
Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Purchase consideration allocated to identifiable intangible assets													28.8	279.6			63.5
Weighted-average useful lives of identifiable intangible assets									13.4				12	23			15
Purchase consideration allocated to deferred taxes	9.1								9.1
Purchase consideration allocated to goodwill													27.2	537.8			83.6
Total intangible value amortizable for tax purposes														810.5
Tax related intangible value, amortization period for tax purposes (in years)														15
Business acquisition net operating loss tax assets													20.2				44.8
Business acquisition tax asset realization period													20				18
Bridge term loan credit agreement, maximum borrowing capacity												925.0
Business acquisition debt securities sold																															325.0	325.0	600.0	600.0	600.0	925.0	925.0
Business acquisition debt securities sold stated interest rate																															3.125%	3.125%	4.625%	4.625%	4.625%
Business acquisition debt securities sold maturity date									May 15, 2016																						May 15, 2016	May 15, 2016	Nov. 15, 2020	Nov. 15, 2020	Nov. 15, 2020
Business acquisition financing commitment fees incurred					7.0					7.0
Noncontrolling Interest Put [Abstract]
Noncontrolling interest put in Ontario, Canada joint venture									147.9	137.5	0							137.5
Ownership interest percentage in Ontario, Canada joint venture (in hundredths)																			98.20%	98.20%							85.60%
Net sales	$ 1,366.1	$ 1,404.5	$ 1,403.3	$ 1,368.4	$ 1,295.4	$ 1,276.5	$ 1,238.4	$ 1,193.6	$ 5,542.3	$ 5,003.9	$ 4,694.7										$ 309.4	306.0	$ 280.0	288.5	$ 247.5	281.3