Restructuring Reserves (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 80		$ 76		$ 72
Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change	[1]	(28)
Costs incurred		66	[2]	102	[3]	106	[4]
Reserves reversed	[5]	(14)		(14)		(9)
Payments		(69)		(83)		(93)
Currency translation		(1)		(1)		0
Ending balance		34		80		76
Restructuring and other (income) costs, net		(413)		50		97
Loss (Gain) on Divestiture of Businesses		(482)		0		0
Restructuring and Related Costs, Other Costs (Income), Net		$ 17		(38)		27
Loss (Gain) Related to Litigation-related Matter						(27)
Restructuring Reserve, Expected Final Year of Payments		2020
Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 34		30		38
Costs incurred		45		51		62
Reserves reversed	[5]	(13)		(7)		(9)
Payments		(47)		(39)		(62)
Currency translation		(1)		(1)		1
Ending balance		18		34		30
Abandonment of Excess Facilities [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		42		40		32
Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change	[1]	(28)
Costs incurred		7		33		27
Reserves reversed	[5]	(1)		(4)
Payments		(10)		(27)		(19)
Ending balance		10		42		40
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	[6]	4		6		2
Costs incurred	[6]	14		18		17
Reserves reversed	[5],[6]			(3)
Payments	[6]	(12)		(17)		(12)
Currency translation	[6]					(1)
Ending balance	[6]	6		4		6
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and other (income) costs, net		17		31		41
Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred						48
Restructuring and other (income) costs, net		$ 24		(17)		(16)
Loss (Gain) Related to Litigation-related Matter				$ (46)		(64)
Life Sciences Solutions [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred						23
Life Sciences Solutions [Member] | Abandonment of Excess Facilities [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred						$ 25

[1] Impact of adopting new lease accounting guidance on January 1, 2019.

[2] Excludes $482 million of net gain on the sale of businesses, and $17 million of other restructuring charges, net, primarily for the impairment of acquired in-process research and development, pre-acquisition litigation-related matters, and compensation due to employees on the date of acquisition.

[3] Excludes $38 million of income, net, primarily associated with litigation-related matters, gains on sales of real estate, charges for environmental remediation, and hurricane response costs.

[4] Excludes $27 million of net credits associated with litigation-related matters, and $27 million of other restructuring charges, net, primarily for hurricane response/impairment, charges associated with the settlement/curtailment of retirement plans, and non-cash compensation due at an acquired business.

[5] Represents reductions in cost of plans.

[6] Other includes relocation and moving expenses associated with facility consolidations, as well as employee retention costs which are accrued ratably over the period through which employees must work to qualify for a payment.