Restructuring Charges and Other Costs Associated with Acquisitions and Cost-Reduction/Productivity Initiatives - Components of Costs Incurred (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)										$ 33	$ 26	$ 13
Exit costs	[1],[2]									0	1	3
Restructuring charges and certain acquisition-related costs		$ 18	$ 6	$ 22	$ 5	$ 14	$ 47	$ 5	$ 2	51	68	19
United States
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)											7	2
International
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)										2	19	11
Manufacturing, Research, Corporate
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)										31
Employee Severance
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee termination costs/(reversals)	[1],[2]									33	25	10
Employee Severance | Europe
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance Costs											7	4
Direct Cost
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Integration costs	[3]									18	21	6
Transaction costs	[4]									$ 0	21	0
Operational efficiency initiative and supply network strategy
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Exit costs											1
Operational efficiency initiative and supply network strategy | Employee Severance
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance Costs											3	2
Abaxis Inc | Employee Severance
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance Costs											$ 21
Irish biologic therapeutics company | Employee Severance
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance Costs												$ 4

[1] The restructuring charges are associated with the following: • For the year ended December 31, 2019, International of $2 million and Manufacturing/research/corporate of $31 million. • For the year ended December 31, 2018, International of $7 million, and Manufacturing/research/corporate of a $19 million. • For the year ended December 31, 2017 International of $2 million, and Manufacturing/research/corporate of a $11 million.

[2] The restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2019, are primarily related to the acquisition of Abaxis and CEO transition-related costs. The restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2018, are primarily related to: • employee termination costs of $7 million in Europe as a result of initiatives to better align our organizational structure; • employee termination costs of $21 million related to the acquisition of Abaxis; and • a net reversal of employee termination costs of $3 million, and exit costs of $1 million as a result of our operational efficiency initiative and supply network strategy initiative launched in 2015. The restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2017, are primarily related to: • a net increase in employee termination costs of $2 million related to the operational efficiency initiative and supply network strategy initiative launched in 2015; • employee termination costs of $4 million related to the acquisition of an Irish biologic therapeutics company in the third quarter of 2017, and • employee termination costs of $4 million in Europe, as a result of initiatives to better align our organizational structure.     

[3] Integration costs represent external, incremental costs directly related to integrating acquired businesses and primarily include expenditures for consulting and the integration of systems and processes, as well as product transfer costs.

[4] Transaction costs represent external costs directly related to acquiring businesses and primarily include expenditures for banking, legal, accounting and other similar services.