Restructuring Reserves (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 72		$ 31		$ 54
Costs incurred		106	[1]	167	[2]	90	[3]
Reserves reversed	[4]	(9)		(3)		(15)
Payments		(93)		(122)		(97)
Currency translation				(1)		(1)
Ending balance		76		72		31
Restructuring and other costs, net		97		189		116
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment				(5)
Restructuring and Related Costs, Other Costs (Income), Net		27		(3)		1
Loss (Gain) Related to Litigation-related Matter		(27)		24		25
Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		38		15		38
Costs incurred		62		109		57
Reserves reversed	[4]	(9)		(2)		(12)
Payments		(62)		(83)		(67)
Currency translation		1		(1)		(1)
Ending balance		$ 30		38		15
Restructuring Reserve, Expected Final Year of Payments		2018
Abandonment of Excess Facilities [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 32		13		10
Costs incurred		27		46		19
Reserves reversed	[4]					(1)
Payments		(19)		(27)		(15)
Ending balance		$ 40		32		13
Restructuring Reserve, Expected Final Year of Payments		2027
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	[5]	$ 2		3		6
Costs incurred	[5]	17		12		14
Reserves reversed	[4],[5]			(1)		(2)
Payments	[5]	(12)		(12)		(15)
Currency translation	[5]	(1)
Ending balance	[5]	$ 6		2		3
Restructuring Reserve, Expected Final Year of Payments		2018
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred				11		8
Environmental Remediation Expense				8
Restructuring and other costs, net		$ 41		17		13
Loss (Gain) Related to Litigation-related Matter				(1)		5
Life Sciences Solutions [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred		48		78		40
Restructuring and other costs, net		(16)		88		65
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment						3
Loss (Gain) on Divestiture of Businesses						(8)
Restructuring and Related Costs, Other Costs (Income), Net				10
Loss (Gain) Related to Litigation-related Matter		(64)				20
Impairment of Acquired Technology in Development						15
Life Sciences Solutions [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred		23		60		24
Life Sciences Solutions [Member] | Abandonment of Excess Facilities [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred		$ 25		$ 18		4
Life Sciences Solutions [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred						$ 7

[1] 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.

[2] Excludes $24 million of provision for losses on litigation-related matters; $8 million of provision for environmental remediation; $5 million of net gains on the sale of real estate; and an aggregate of $3 million of non-cash income, net.

[3] Excludes $25 million of provision for losses on litigation-related matters; $15 million of impairment of acquired technology in development; a $8 million gain on the sale of a product line; $5 million of cash compensation contractually due to employees of an acquired business on the date of acquisition; $1 million of charges associated with a previous sale of a business; and an aggregate of $1 million of non-cash charges, net.

[4] Represents reductions in cost of plans.

[5] Other includes cash charges to monetize certain equity awards held by employees of Life Technologies at the date of acquisition, 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.