Abbott Laboratories (ABT) 10-Q 2007 Q2 Quarterly report

Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Unaudited)
(dollars in millions except ratio)

	Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2007
Net Earnings	$	1,686
Add (deduct):
Taxes on earnings	407
Capitalized interest cost, net of amortization	(10		)
Minority interest	4
Earnings from Operations as adjusted	2,087
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term and short-term debt	301
Capitalized interest cost	19
Rental expense representative of an interest factor	36
Total Fixed Charges	356
Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges	$	2,443
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	6.9

NOTE:  For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings have been calculated by adjusting earnings for taxes on earnings; 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.