Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013 Segment		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segments
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,191.5		$ 3,056.8
Cost of revenues charges	(13.2)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	(1.3)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(21.5)		(12.2)
Operating Income	387.1		361.5
Other expense, net	(44.2)		(50.4)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	342.9		311.1
Depreciation	59.0		58.6
Total Assets	27,410.7				27,444.6
Capital Expenditures	66.0		69.2
Excluded from Reportable Segment Operating Income [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges	(13.2)		(26.6)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	(1.3)		7.7
Restructuring and other costs, net	(21.5)		(12.2)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets	(192.0)		(183.9)
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	615.1	[1]	576.5	[1]
Analytical Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	977.8		980.0
Cost of revenues charges	(0.8)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	(1.3)
Restructuring and other costs, net	(9.5)
Operating Income	176.1	[1]	178.8	[1]
Depreciation	15.3		16.4
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	805.6		731.9
Cost of revenues charges	(12.2)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	0
Restructuring and other costs, net	(6.7)
Operating Income	221.7	[1]	186.9	[1]
Depreciation	18.5		17.7
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,544.3		1,475.8
Cost of revenues charges	(0.2)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net	0
Restructuring and other costs, net	(4.8)
Operating Income	217.3	[1]	210.8	[1]
Depreciation	25.2		24.5
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (136.2)		$ (130.9)

[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.