2. Acquisitions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	2.ACQUISITIONS In January 2012, we purchased, for cash, certain assets from a current raw material supplier for approximately $12.5 million. The asset acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and is included in the Clinical Diagnostics segment's results of operations. The fair value of the assets acquired was determined to be $6.3 million of net tangible assets, $5.1 million of intangible assets and $1.1 million of goodwill. We expect the goodwill recorded to be deductible for tax purposes. In addition, we paid $2.0 million for employment agreements as an incentive to certain employees of the acquired business to remain with Bio-Rad. Such amount will be expensed over the next two years and is recorded in Prepaid expenses, taxes and other current assets and Other assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We believe this acquisition will allow us to secure the supply of critical raw materials and lower our overall costs in the Clinical Diagnostics segment. In October 2011, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of QuantaLife, Inc. (QuantaLife). The fair value of the consideration as of the acquisition date was $179.4 million, which comprised of $150.3 million paid in cash at the closing date, a $5.0 million holdback of cash until the completion of certain post-closing matters, and $24.1 million in contingent consideration potentially payable to QuantaLife shareholders. The contingent consideration was initially recognized at its estimated fair value of $24.1 million, based on a probability-weighted income approach that would reach $48 million upon the achievement of all sales and development milestones. The contingent consideration for the development milestone was valued based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the milestone, with such amounts discounted to present value. The contingent consideration for the sales milestones were valued based on a statistically significant number of simulations for each potential outcome. The operating results of this business are included in the results of operations of our Life Science segment from the acquisition date. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination. The determination of the fair value of net assets acquired of QuantaLife was based upon valuation information, estimates and assumptions available at October 4, 2011. During the second quarter of 2012, we finalized the determination of fair value for certain acquired tax attributes and adjusted the preliminary carrying values of goodwill and certain other assets and liabilities in order to reflect final information received, resulting in an overall reduction of goodwill of $0.6 million. These measurement period adjustments had no impact on our condensed consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012. The final fair values of the net assets acquired were determined to be $105.5 million of goodwill, $94.7 million of intangible assets and $20.8 million of net tangible liabilities. We do not expect the goodwill recorded to be deductible for tax purposes. Integrating the acquired QuantaLife business into Bio-Rad is expected to expand our current portfolio of products for the amplification and study of DNA and we believe it will complement Bio-Rad's existing business.

2. Acquisitions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

2.ACQUISITIONS

In January 2012, we purchased, for cash, certain assets from a current raw material supplier for approximately $12.5 million. The asset acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and is included in the Clinical Diagnostics segment's results of operations. The fair value of the assets acquired was determined to be $6.3 million of net tangible assets, $5.1 million of intangible assets and $1.1 million of goodwill. We expect the goodwill recorded to be deductible for tax purposes. In addition, we paid $2.0 million for employment agreements as an incentive to certain employees of the acquired business to remain with Bio-Rad. Such amount will be expensed over the next two years and is recorded in Prepaid expenses, taxes and other current assets and Other assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We believe this acquisition will allow us to secure the supply of critical raw materials and lower our overall costs in the Clinical Diagnostics segment.

In October 2011, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of QuantaLife, Inc. (QuantaLife). The fair value of the consideration as of the acquisition date was $179.4 million, which comprised of $150.3 million paid in cash at the closing date, a $5.0 million holdback of cash until the completion of certain post-closing matters, and $24.1 million in contingent consideration potentially payable to QuantaLife shareholders. The contingent consideration was initially recognized at its estimated fair value of $24.1 million, based on a probability-weighted income approach that would reach $48 million upon the achievement of all sales and development milestones. The contingent consideration for the development milestone was valued based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the milestone, with such amounts discounted to present value. The contingent consideration for the sales milestones were valued based on a statistically significant number of simulations for each potential outcome. The operating results of this business are included in the results of operations of our Life Science segment from the acquisition date. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination.

The determination of the fair value of net assets acquired of QuantaLife was based upon valuation information, estimates and assumptions available at October 4, 2011. During the second quarter of 2012, we finalized the determination of fair value for certain acquired tax attributes and adjusted the preliminary carrying values of goodwill and certain other assets and liabilities in order to reflect final information received, resulting in an overall reduction of goodwill of $0.6 million. These measurement period adjustments had no impact on our condensed consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

The final fair values of the net assets acquired were determined to be $105.5 million of goodwill, $94.7 million of intangible assets and $20.8 million of net tangible liabilities. We do not expect the goodwill recorded to be deductible for tax purposes. Integrating the acquired QuantaLife business into Bio-Rad is expected to expand our current portfolio of products for the amplification and study of DNA and we believe it will complement Bio-Rad's existing business.