Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 Segment		Apr. 02, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Business Segments
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,100.3		$ 2,721.4
Cost of revenues charges	(26.8)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	7.7
Restructuring and other costs, net	(15.1)		(15.3)
Operating Income	354.9		321.5
Other expense, net	(49.9)		(22.5)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes	305.0		299.0
Depreciation	59.9		48.9
Total Assets	26,822.7				26,833.7
Capital Expenditures	69.4		63.7
Excluded from Reportable Segment Operating Income [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges	(26.8)		(2.9)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	7.7		(3.1)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(15.1)		(15.3)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets	(183.9)		(135.4)
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	573.0	[1]	478.2	[1]
Analytical Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,006.2		830.2
Cost of revenues charges	(0.6)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	0.1
Restructuring and other costs, net	(4.1)
Operating Income	185.3	[1]	137.0	[1]
Depreciation	16.7		13.5
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	729.4		576.6
Cost of revenues charges	(26.3)
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	0
Restructuring and other costs, net	(2.7)
Operating Income	186.0	[1]	141.9	[1]
Depreciation	17.7		9.7
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,506.7		1,442.5
Cost of revenues charges	0.1
Selling, general and administrative income (charges), net	0
Restructuring and other costs, net	(8.2)
Operating Income	201.7	[1]	199.3	[1]
Depreciation	25.5		25.7
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (142.0)		$ (127.9)

[1] Represents operating income before certain charges to cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses; restructuring and other costs, net; and amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.