Business Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | Segment										4
Revenues		$ 6,047	$ 5,116	$ 4,990	$ 4,765	$ 4,953	$ 4,491	$ 4,535	$ 4,295	$ 20,918	$ 18,274	$ 16,965
Cost of revenues charges										(123)	(102)	(9)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net										(78)	(104)	(46)
Restructuring and other costs, net										(97)	(189)	(116)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets										(1,590)	(1,380)	(1,310)
Operating Income										2,968	2,449	2,336
Other expense, net										(539)	(425)	(400)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes										2,429	2,024	1,936
Depreciation										439	380	373
Total Assets		56,669				45,908				56,669	45,908	40,834
Capital Expenditures										508	444	423
Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges										(1)	(31)	(2)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net										(29)	(36)	(13)
Restructuring and other costs, net										16	(88)	(65)
Total Assets		19,063				19,065				19,063	19,065	18,537
Capital Expenditures										118	122	93
Analytical Instruments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges										(31)	(63)	0
Selling, general and administrative charges, net										2	(46)	0
Restructuring and other costs, net										(30)	(68)	(27)
Total Assets		9,960				9,520				9,960	9,520	4,763
Capital Expenditures										56	34	60
Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges										(1)		(1)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net										2	0	0
Restructuring and other costs, net										(39)	(15)	(9)
Total Assets		7,095				6,802				7,095	6,802	7,183
Capital Expenditures										87	72	76
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges										(90)	(8)	(6)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net										(61)	(1)	(6)
Restructuring and other costs, net										(41)	(17)	(13)
Total Assets		19,181				9,405				19,181	9,405	9,614
Capital Expenditures										178	111	90
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	$ 1,370				$ 1,116				1,370	1,116	737
Capital Expenditures										69	105	104
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	[2]									4,860	4,222	3,822
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										5,728	5,317	4,774
Operating Income	[2]									1,896	1,596	1,414
Depreciation										129	142	147
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Analytical Instruments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										4,821	3,668	3,208
Operating Income	[2]									1,027	745	613
Depreciation										71	50	39
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Specialty Diagnostics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										3,486	3,339	3,244
Operating Income	[2]									930	910	873
Depreciation										72	70	74
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										7,825	6,724	6,372
Operating Income	[2]									1,007	971	922
Depreciation										167	118	113
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										(942)	(774)	(633)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenues charges										(123)	(102)	(9)
Selling, general and administrative charges, net										(78)	(104)	(46)
Restructuring and other costs, net										(97)	(189)	(116)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets										$ (1,594)	$ (1,378)	$ (1,315)

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

[2] Represents operating income before certain charges to cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses; restructuring and other costs, net; and amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.