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Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Unaudited)

(dollars in millions except ratio)

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2005
Earnings from Continuing Operations		$	838
Add (deduct):
	Taxes on earnings from continuing operations		340
	Capitalized interest cost, net of amortization		(2	)
	Minority interest		2
Earnings from Continuing Operations as adjusted		$	1,178
Fixed Charges:
	Interest on long-term and short-term debt		57
	Capitalized interest cost		6
	Rental expense representative of an interest factor		16
Total Fixed Charges			79
Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges		$	1,257
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			15.9

NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings have been calculated by adjusting earnings from continuing operations for taxes on earnings from continuing operations; interest expense; capitalized interest cost, net of amortization; minority interest; and the portion of rentals representative of the interest factor, (ii) Abbott considers one-third of rental expense to be the amount representing return on capital, and (iii) fixed charges comprise total interest expense, including capitalized interest and such portion of rentals.

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Exhibit 12