Exhibit 12 Abbott Laboratories Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited) (dollars in millions except ratios) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2000 ------------------ Net Earnings ........................................................ $2,033 Add (deduct): Taxes on earnings .............................................. 752 Capitalized interest cost, net of amortization ................. (3) Minority interest .............................................. 6 ------ Net Earnings as adjusted ............................................ $2,788 ------ Fixed Charges: Interest on long-term and short-term debt ...................... 90 Capitalized interest cost ...................................... 14 Rental expense representative of an interest factor ............ 34 ------ Total Fixed Charges ................................................. 138 ------ Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges ...... $2,926 ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges .................................. 21.2 ====== NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings have been calculated by adjusting net 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.