2. Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]	2. ACQUISITIONS GnuBIO, Inc. In April 2014, we acquired 100.0% of the issued and outstanding stock of GnuBIO, Inc. (GnuBIO). This acquisition was accounted for as a business combination as GnuBIO represents an integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return and therefore constitutes a business in accordance with GAAP. The amount of acquisition-related costs was minimal as Bio-Rad primarily represented itself during the acquisition process. This business acquisition is included in our Clinical Diagnostics segment's results of operations from the acquisition date. We believe that GnuBIO's innovative DNA workflow is well-suited for the clinical diagnostics sequencing market and will leverage our leadership role in the area of droplet digital PCR. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair values assigned to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we finalized the determination of fair values of 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 and the finalization of certain tax returns, resulting in an overall reduction to goodwill of $1.7 million. These measurement period adjustments had no impact on our results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2014. The final fair values of the net assets acquired from GnuBIO as of the acquisition date were determined to be $46.4 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets (specifically in-process research and development or "IPR&D"), $13.5 million of goodwill and $9.5 million of net tangible liabilities. We do not expect the goodwill recorded to be deductible for income tax purposes. Accounting guidance requires that the fair value of IPR&D acquired in a business combination be recorded on the balance sheet as of the acquisition date. Intangible assets related to IPR&D projects are considered to be indefinite-lived until completion or abandonment of the related project. During the period the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they will not be amortized but will be tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if we become aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that would indicate a reduction in the fair value of the projects below their respective carrying amounts. We perform our annual impairment tests at December 31. If and when it is determined that identified intangible assets are impaired, an impairment charge would be recorded. If and when development is considered complete, the associated assets would be deemed finite-lived and would then be amortized based on their respective remaining estimated useful lives. The fair value of the consideration as of the acquisition date was $50.4 million, which includes $39.7 million paid in cash at the closing date and $10.7 million in contingent consideration potentially payable to GnuBIO's shareholders. The contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach that could reach $70.0 million upon the achievement of all development/regulatory and sales milestones. The contingent consideration for the development/regulatory milestones was valued at $10.7 million, based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the milestones, with such amounts discounted to present value. The contingent consideration for the sales milestones was determined to be negligible, using the risk-neutral probability of being in the money based on a Black-Scholes framework. The contingent consideration was recognized at its estimated fair value of $10.0 million as of December 31, 2014. See Note 3 for further discussion of the contingent consideration valuation and underlying assumptions. We do not consider this business combination to be material and therefore have not disclosed the pro forma results of operations as required for material business combinations. AbD Serotec In January 2013, we acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of AbD Serotec, a division of MorphoSys AG, for total consideration of $62.2 million (net of cash received of $7.3 million). This acquisition was accounted for as a business combination as AbD Serotec represented an integrated set of activities and assets that was capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return and therefore constitutes a business in accordance with GAAP. The amount of acquisition-related costs was minimal as Bio-Rad primarily represented itself during the acquisition process. This business acquisition is included in our Life Science segment's results of operations from the acquisition date. We believe that with AbD Serotec's comprehensive catalog of antibodies, we are able to offer our customers total assay solutions that can be validated on many of our research platforms for western blotting, multiplex protein expression, ELISA and cell sorting. During the second quarter of 2013, we finalized the determination of fair values of certain acquired intangible assets and adjusted the preliminary carrying values of goodwill and certain other assets and liabilities to include final information received, and an update to the weighted average tax rate applied to our valuation model and changes in the determination of fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. These factors that existed as of the acquisition date resulted in an overall increase to intangible assets of $1.7 million, a reduction of goodwill of $2.1 million and an increase to net tangible assets of $0.4 million. These measurement period adjustments did not have a material impact on our previously reported condensed consolidated financial statements and, therefore, we have not retrospectively adjusted those financial statements. The final fair values of the net assets acquired consist of definite-lived intangible assets of $44.0 million, goodwill of $14.9 million and net tangible assets of $3.3 million. A portion of the goodwill recorded is deductible for income tax purposes.

2. ACQUISITIONS

GnuBIO, Inc.

In April 2014, we acquired 100.0% of the issued and outstanding stock of GnuBIO, Inc. (GnuBIO). This acquisition was accounted for as a business combination as GnuBIO represents an integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return and therefore constitutes a business in accordance with GAAP. The amount of acquisition-related costs was minimal as Bio-Rad primarily represented itself during the acquisition process. This business acquisition is included in our Clinical Diagnostics segment's results of operations from the acquisition date. We believe that GnuBIO's innovative DNA workflow is well-suited for the clinical diagnostics sequencing market and will leverage our leadership role in the area of droplet digital PCR.

The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair values assigned to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we finalized the determination of fair values of 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 and the finalization of certain tax returns, resulting in an overall reduction to goodwill of $1.7 million. These measurement period adjustments had no impact on our results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2014.

The final fair values of the net assets acquired from GnuBIO as of the acquisition date were determined to be $46.4 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets (specifically in-process research and development or "IPR&D"), $13.5 million of goodwill and $9.5 million of net tangible liabilities. We do not expect the goodwill recorded to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Accounting guidance requires that the fair value of IPR&D acquired in a business combination be recorded on the balance sheet as of the acquisition date. Intangible assets related to IPR&D projects are considered to be indefinite-lived until completion or abandonment of the related project. During the period the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they will not be amortized but will be tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if we become aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that would indicate a reduction in the fair value of the projects below their respective carrying amounts. We perform our annual impairment tests at December 31. If and when it is determined that identified intangible assets are impaired, an impairment charge would be recorded. If and when development is considered complete, the associated assets would be deemed finite-lived and would then be amortized based on their respective remaining estimated useful lives.

The fair value of the consideration as of the acquisition date was $50.4 million, which includes $39.7 million paid in cash at the closing date and $10.7 million in contingent consideration potentially payable to GnuBIO's shareholders. The contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach that could reach $70.0 million upon the achievement of all development/regulatory and sales milestones. The contingent consideration for the development/regulatory milestones was valued at $10.7 million, based on assumptions regarding the probability of achieving the milestones, with such amounts discounted to present value. The contingent consideration for the sales milestones was determined to be negligible, using the risk-neutral probability of being in the money based on a Black-Scholes framework. The contingent consideration was recognized at its estimated fair value of $10.0 million as of December 31, 2014. See Note 3 for further discussion of the contingent consideration valuation and underlying assumptions.

We do not consider this business combination to be material and therefore have not disclosed the pro forma results of operations as required for material business combinations.

AbD Serotec

In January 2013, we acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of AbD Serotec, a division of MorphoSys AG, for total consideration of $62.2 million (net of cash received of $7.3 million). This acquisition was accounted for as a business combination as AbD Serotec represented an integrated set of activities and assets that was capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return and therefore constitutes a business in accordance with GAAP. The amount of acquisition-related costs was minimal as Bio-Rad primarily represented itself during the acquisition process. This business acquisition is included in our Life Science segment's results of operations from the acquisition date. We believe that with AbD Serotec's comprehensive catalog of antibodies, we are able to offer our customers total assay solutions that can be validated on many of our research platforms for western blotting, multiplex protein expression, ELISA and cell sorting.

During the second quarter of 2013, we finalized the determination of fair values of certain acquired intangible assets and adjusted the preliminary carrying values of goodwill and certain other assets and liabilities to include final information received, and an update to the weighted average tax rate applied to our valuation model and changes in the determination of fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. These factors that existed as of the acquisition date resulted in an overall increase to intangible assets of $1.7 million, a reduction of goodwill of $2.1 million and an increase to net tangible assets of $0.4 million. These measurement period adjustments did not have a material impact on our previously reported condensed consolidated financial statements and, therefore, we have not retrospectively adjusted those financial statements.

The final fair values of the net assets acquired consist of definite-lived intangible assets of $44.0 million, goodwill of $14.9 million and net tangible assets of $3.3 million. A portion of the goodwill recorded is deductible for income tax purposes.