Abbott Laboratories (ABT) 10-K 2008 FY Annual report

Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(Unaudited)

(dollars in millions)

	2008		2007			2006			2005			2004
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS ADD (DEDUCT)	$	4,734	$	3,606		$	1,717		$	3,372		$	3,176
Taxes on earnings from continuing operations	1,122		863			559			1,248			950
Amortization of capitalized interest, net of capitalized interest	6		(25		)	(28		)	(16		)	5
Minority interest	7		9			8			9			11
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AS ADJUSTED	$	5,869	$	4,453		$	2,256		$	4,613		$	4,142
FIXED CHARGES Interest on long-term and short-term debt	528		593			416			241			200
Capitalized interest cost	17		42			43			29			9
Rental expense representative of an interest factor	77		69			66			64			59
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES	622		704			525			334			268
TOTAL ADJUSTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT OF FIXED CHARGES	$	6,491	$	5,157		$	2,781		$	4,947		$	4,410
RATIO OF EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO FIXED CHARGES	10.4		7.3			5.3			14.8			16.5

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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