Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 25,347	$ 25,290
Acquisitions	947	161
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions	(2)	21
Sale of business	(478)
Currency translation	(102)	(124)
Other	2	(1)
Ending balance	25,714	25,347
Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	8,548	8,391
Acquisitions		161
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions	(2)
Currency translation	(3)	(5)
Other	1	1
Ending balance	8,544	8,548
Analytical Instruments [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	4,950	5,027
Acquisitions	9
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions		1
Currency translation	(38)	(77)
Other	7	(1)
Ending balance	4,928	4,950
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	3,735	3,856
Sale of business	(478)
Currency translation	(72)	(121)
Other	(1)
Ending balance	3,184	3,735
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	8,114	8,016
Acquisitions	938
Finalization of purchase price allocations for prior year acquisitions		20
Currency translation	11	79
Other	(5)	(1)
Ending balance	$ 9,058	$ 8,114