Name:	abt_ConsiderationReceivedForSaleOfBusinessInShares
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Represents the percentage of shares of new business will be received from Mylan as the price for sale of developed markets branded generics pharmaceuticals business.

No definition available.

Name:	abt_ConsiderationReceivedForSaleOfBusinessInSharesAsPercentage
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Period Type:	instant

Represents number of shares in investment is sold.

No definition available.

Name:	abt_SaleOfStockNumberOfSharesSold
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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Amount after tax of gain (loss) not previously recognized resulting from the disposal of a discontinued operation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=abt_DevelopedMarketsBrandedGenericsPharmaceuticalsBusinessMember
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Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=abt_MylanMember
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