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Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(Unaudited)

(dollars in millions)

	2004		2003		2002		2001			2000
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	$	3,176	$	2,505	$	2,547	$	1,278		$	2,489
ADD (DEDUCT)
Taxes on earnings from continuing operations		950		882		774		216			906
Amortization of capitalized interest, net of capitalized interest		5		11		8		(6	)		(3	)
Minority interest		11		11		18		17			8
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AS ADJUSTED	$	4,142	$	3,409	$	3,347	$	1,505		$	3,400
FIXED CHARGES
Interest on long-term and short-term debt		200		188		239		307			114
Capitalized interest cost		9		5		8		22			18
Rental expense representative of an interest factor		59		59		56		46			45
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES		268		252		303		375			177
TOTAL ADJUSTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT OF FIXED CHARGES	$	4,410	$	3,661	$	3,650	$	1,880		$	3,577
RATIO OF EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO FIXED CHARGES		16.5		14.5		12.0		5.0			20.2

NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings from continuing operations have been calculated by adjusting earnings from continuing operations for taxes on earnings from continuing operations; interest expense; amortization of capitalized interest, net of capitalized interest; 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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Abbott Laboratories Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited) (dollars in millions)