| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2412405 - Disclosure - Segment and Significant Concentrations Segment and Significant Concentrations - Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Region (Details) (http://www.cepheid.com/role/SegmentAndSignificantConcentrationsSegmentAndSignificantConcentrationsLongLivedAssetsByGeographicRegionDetails) |
| Table | Schedule of Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Table] |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001037760 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015-12-31 | 2014-12-31 | |||||
| Geographical [Axis] | Geographical [Axis] | |||||
| United States | Other regions | Geographical [Domain] | United States | Other regions | Geographical [Domain] | |
Long-lived assets | ||||||