SEGMENT INFORMATION Revenue by product category (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2017
Oct. 31, 2016
Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues $ 4,472 $ 4,202 $ 4,038
Instrumentation [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 1,946 1,871 1,827
Analytical Lab Services [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 991 910 843
Analytical lab consumables [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 540 510 489
Diagnostics and genomics solutions [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues 772 709 662
Informatics and other [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Revenues $ 223 $ 202 $ 217