Business Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | Segment		4
Revenues		$ 39,211	$ 32,218	$ 25,542
Restructuring and other (costs) income		(197)	(99)	413
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets		(1,761)	(1,667)	(1,713)
Operating Income		10,028	7,794	4,594
Interest income		43	65	224
Interest expense		(536)	(553)	(676)
Other income/(expense)		(694)	(76)	(70)
Income before income taxes		8,841	7,230	4,072
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		831	658	564
Total Assets		95,123	69,052	58,381
Capital Expenditures		2,523	1,474	926
Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other (costs) income		(129)	(34)	(24)
Total Assets		22,751	20,209	18,306
Capital Expenditures		810	392	151
Analytical Instruments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other (costs) income		(6)	(26)	(14)
Total Assets		9,692	9,773	9,896
Capital Expenditures		79	74	64
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other (costs) income		(18)	(9)	471
Total Assets		6,010	6,534	5,867
Capital Expenditures		167	175	83
Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other (costs) income		(35)	(23)	(17)
Total Assets		52,639	22,711	21,761
Capital Expenditures		1,327	772	554
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	4,031	9,825	2,551
Capital Expenditures		140	61	74
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income		12,138	9,556	5,973
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		15,631	12,168	6,856
Operating Income		7,817	6,109	2,446
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		197	140	130
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Analytical Instruments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		6,069	5,124	5,522
Operating Income		1,197	808	1,273
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		83	76	75
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		5,659	5,343	3,718
Operating Income		1,280	1,368	930
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		128	100	67
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		14,862	12,245	10,599
Operating Income		1,844	1,271	1,324
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		423	342	292
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		(3,010)	(2,662)	(1,153)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges		(8)	(6)	(17)
Selling, general and administrative (charges) credits		(144)	10	(62)
Restructuring and other (costs) income		(197)	(99)	413
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets		$ (1,761)	$ (1,667)	$ (1,713)

[1] Corporate assets consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and property and equipment at the company's corporate offices.