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DISPOSITIONS AND HELD FOR SALE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May 13, 2016 | Jul. 01, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized |  |  |  |  | $ 118 | $ 334 | $ 0
Income tax (benefit) expense |  |  |  |  | 429 | 373 | 262
Income taxes paid |  |  |  |  | 361 | 319 | 327
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  | $ 37 | $ 112 | $ 23
Effective tax rate |  |  |  |  | 39.50% | 33.80% | 31.80%
Investment in equity method investee |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 33 | $ 0
Equity method investments carrying value |  |  |  |  | 443 | 473 |
Q² Solutions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  | 145 |
Investment in equity method investee |  | $ 33 |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments carrying value |  |  |  |  | 389 | 416 |
Excess of equity in underlying net assets |  | $ 219 |  |  |  |  |
Clinical Trials [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized |  |  |  | $ 334 |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  |  | 12.00% |  |  |
Long-term growth rate |  |  |  | 2.50% |  |  |
Deferred income tax liabilities |  |  |  | $ 145 |  |  |
Focus Diagnostics Products [Member] | DiaSorin [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Supply agreement | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Focus Diagnostics Products [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration | $ 300 |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration, net | 293 |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds held in escrow | 25 |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized |  |  | $ 118 |  | 118 |  |
Income tax (benefit) expense | 84 |  |  |  | 84 |  |
Income taxes paid |  |  |  |  | 91 |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | $ (7) |  |  |  | $ (7) |  |
Effective tax rate | 71.40% |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 113 |  |  |  |  | $ 113 |
Intangible assets | 30 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other assets | 38 |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities, current | $ 6 |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Basis Difference [Member] | Q² Solutions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount allocated to finite-lived intangible assets |  | $ 75 |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, remaining amortization period |  | 8 years |  |  |  |  |

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