Abbott Laboratories (ABT) 10-Q 2005 Q3 Quarterly report

Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(Unaudited)

(dollars in millions except ratio)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2005
Earnings from Continuing Operations	$	2,396
Add (deduct):
Taxes on earnings from continuing operations	824
Capitalized interest cost, net of amortization	(8		)
Minority interest	7
Earnings from Continuing Operations as adjusted	$	3,219
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term and short-term debt	180
Capitalized interest cost	18
Rental expense representative of an interest factor	46
Total Fixed Charges	244
Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges	$	3,463
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	14.2

NOTE:For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings have been calculated by adjusting earnings from continuing operations for taxes on earnings from continuing operations; interest expense; capitalized interest cost, net of amortization; 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.