Quest Diagnostics (DGX) 10-Q 1 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

DOCUMENT_AND_ENTITY_INFORMATIO

DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 24, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Entity Registrant Name	'QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001022079	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	144,485,296
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Net revenues	$1,746	$1,787
Operating costs and expenses:	'	'
Cost of services	1,101	1,092
Selling, general and administrative	415	448
Amortization of intangible assets	22	19
Other operating expense, net	0	1
Total operating costs and expenses	1,538	1,560
Operating income	208	227
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	-39	-40
Equity in earnings of equity method investees	6	6
Other income, net	1	4
Total non-operating expenses, net	-32	-30
Income from continuing operations before taxes	176	197
Income tax expense	65	73
Income from continuing operations	111	124
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income	111	144
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	8
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	104	136
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:	'	'
Income from continuing operations	104	116
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$104	$136
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:	'	'
Income from continuing operations	$0.72	$0.73
Income from discontinued operations, per basic share	$0	$0.13
Net income	$0.72	$0.86
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:	'	'
Income from continuing operations	$0.71	$0.72
Income from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$0	$0.13
Net income	$0.71	$0.85
Weighted average common shares outstanding:	'	'
Basic	144	158
Diluted	145	159
Dividends per common share	$0.33	$0.30

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Net income	$111	$144
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'
Currency translation	-1	-4
Net deferred loss on cash flow hedges, net of tax	-2	0
Other comprehensive loss	-3	-4
Comprehensive income	108	140
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	8
Comprehensive income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$101	$132

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$144	$187
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $246 and $236 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	977	852
Inventories	99	91
Deferred income taxes	153	148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	115	105
Total current assets	1,488	1,383
Property, plant and equipment, net	851	805
Goodwill	5,920	5,649
Intangible assets, net	1,078	896
Other assets	213	215
Total assets	9,550	8,948
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	'	'
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	969	920
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	223	212
Total current liabilities	1,192	1,132
Long-term debt	3,724	3,120
Other liabilities	614	723
Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity:	'	'
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 215 shares issued at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	2	2
Additional paid-in capital	2,381	2,379
Retained earnings	5,415	5,358
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-11	-8
Treasury stock, at cost; 71 shares at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	-3,795	-3,783
Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	3,992	3,948
Noncontrolling interests	28	25
Total stockholders' equity	4,020	3,973
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$9,550	$8,948

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$246	$236
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	600	600
Common stock, shares, issued	215	215
Treasury stock, shares	71	71

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$111	$144
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	75	70
Provision for doubtful accounts	75	72
Deferred income tax benefit	-10	0
Stock-based compensation expense	12	5
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	0	-1
Other, net	-2	-1
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-152	-132
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-86	-77
Income taxes payable	70	-29
Other assets and liabilities, net	-9	-4
Net cash provided by operating activities	84	47
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-567	-90
Capital expenditures	-68	-49
Increase in investments and other assets	-1	-1
Net cash used in investing activities	-636	-140
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from borrowings	1,513	176
Repayments of debt	-923	-132
Purchases of treasury stock	-32	-62
Exercise of stock options	12	14
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	0	1
Dividends paid	-43	-48
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-3	-3
Other financing activities, net	-15	-6
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	509	-60
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-43	-153
Change in cash and cash equivalents included in assets held for sale	0	-9
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	187	296
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$144	$134

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock, at Cost	Non-controlling Interests
In Millions
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	$4,186	$2	$2,371	$4,690	$14	($2,914)	$23
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	158	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	144	'	'	136	'	'	8
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	-4	'	'	'	-4	'	'
Dividends declared	-47	'	'	-47	'	'	'
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-3	'	'	'	'	'	-3
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, value	5	'	1	'	'	4	'
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, shares	'	1	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	5	'	4	'	'	1	'
Exercise of stock options, value	14	'	-1	'	'	15	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, value	-9	'	-9	'	'	'	'
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans	-1	'	-1	'	'	'	'
Purchases of treasury stock, value	-62	'	'	'	'	-62	'
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	'	-1	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, value at Mar. 31, 2013	4,228	2	2,365	4,779	10	-2,956	28
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2013	'	158	'	'	'	'	'
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	3,973	2	2,379	5,358	-8	-3,783	25
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	'	144	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	111	'	'	104	'	'	7
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	-3	'	'	'	-3	'	'
Dividends declared	-47	'	'	-47	'	'	'
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-3	'	'	'	'	'	-3
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, value	5	'	'	'	'	5	'
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans, shares	'	1	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	12	'	11	'	'	1	'
Exercise of stock options, value	12	'	-2	'	'	14	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, value	-5	'	-5	'	'	'	'
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans, shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans	-2	'	-2	'	'	'	'
Purchases of treasury stock, value	-32	'	'	'	'	-32	'
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	'	-1	'	'	'	'	'
Other	-1	'	'	'	'	'	-1
Balance, value at Mar. 31, 2014	$4,020	$2	$2,381	$5,415	($11)	($3,795)	$28
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2014	'	144	'	'	'	'	'

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Description of Business (Abstract)	'
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	'
	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
	Background
	Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its subsidiaries ("Quest Diagnostics" or the "Company") is the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services ("DIS") providing insights that empower and enable patients, physicians, hospitals, integrated delivery networks, health plans, employers and others to make better healthcare decisions. The Company offers the broadest access in the United States to DIS through its nationwide network of laboratories and Company-owned patient service centers and the Company is the leading provider of DIS, including routine testing, esoteric or gene-based testing and anatomic pathology testing. The Company provides interpretive consultation through the largest medical and scientific staff in the industry, with hundreds of M.D.s and Ph.D.s, primarily located in the United States, many of whom are recognized leaders in their fields. The Company's Diagnostic Solutions ("DS") businesses offer a variety of solutions for life insurers, healthcare providers and others. The Company is the leading provider of risk assessment services for the life insurance industry. In addition, the Company is a leading provider of testing for clinical trials. The Company's diagnostics products business manufactures and markets diagnostic products. In addition, the Company offers healthcare organizations and clinicians robust information technology solutions.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Basis of Presentation
	The interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair statement of results of operations, comprehensive income, financial condition, cash flows and stockholders' equity for the periods presented. Except as otherwise disclosed, all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The interim consolidated financial statements have been compiled without audit. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	The year-end balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of December 31, 2013, but does not include all the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Earnings Per Share
	The Company's unvested restricted stock units that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities and, therefore, are included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share using the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and performance share units granted under the Company's Amended and Restated Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan and its Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Long-Term Incentive Plan. Earnings allocable to participating securities include the portion of dividends declared as well as the portion of undistributed earnings during the period allocable to participating securities.
	Adoption of New Accounting Standards
	On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted a new accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") on foreign currency matters that clarifies the guidance of a parent company's accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. Under this standard, a parent company that ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a foreign subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity shall release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income only if a sale or transfer results in complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
	On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted a new accounting standard issued by the FASB on the financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The standard provides that a liability related to an unrecognized tax benefit would be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
	New Accounting Pronouncement
	In April 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update ("ASU") related to the presentation and reporting of discontinued operations, including the disposals of components of an entity. The ASU changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area and requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. This ASU is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The impact of the adoption of this ASU on the Company’s results of operation, financial position, cash flows and disclosures will be assessed as part of any future disposal activity.

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]	'
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE	'
	EARNINGS PER SHARE
	The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share was as follows (in millions, except per share data):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
	Income from continuing operations	$	104		$	116
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—			20
	Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	104		$	136
	Income from continuing operations	$	104		$	116
	Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	1			1
	Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	103		$	115
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	144			158
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options and performance share units	1			1
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	145			159
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.72		$	0.73
	Income from discontinued operations	—			0.13
	Net income	$	0.72		$	0.86
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – diluted:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.71		$	0.72
	Income from discontinued operations	—			0.13
	Net income	$	0.71		$	0.85
	The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect (shares in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Stock options and performance share units	6		2

RESTRUCTURING_ACTIVITIES

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES	'
	Invigorate Program
	During 2012, the Company committed to a course of action related to a multi-year program called Invigorate which is
	designed to reduce its cost structure. The Invigorate program is intended to mitigate the impact of continued reimbursement
	pressures and labor and benefit cost increases, free up additional resources to invest in science, innovation and other growth
	initiatives, and enable the Company to improve operating profitability and quality.
	The following table provides a summary of the Company's pre-tax restructuring charges associated with its Invigorate program and other restructuring activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Employee separation costs	$	8		$	34
	Facility-related costs	1			—
	Accelerated vesting of stock-based compensation	—			1
	Total restructuring charges	$	9		$	35
	Total restructuring charges incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2014 included $8 million of employee
	separation costs associated with various workforce reduction initiatives as the Company continues to simply its organization. Of the total $9 million in restructuring charges incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014, $8 million and $1 million were recorded in cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.
	Total restructuring charges incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2013 included $18 million of employee
	separation costs incurred in connection with the Company's management layer reduction initiative, $3 million represents costs incurred under the Company's voluntary retirement program, with the remaining costs associated with various workforce reduction initiatives. Of the total $35 million in restructuring charges incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2013, $13 million and $22 million were recorded in cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.
	Charges for both periods presented were primarily recorded in the Company's DIS business.
	The following table summarizes activity in the restructuring liability as of March 31, 2014:
		Employee Separation Costs			Facility-Related Costs			Total
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	31		$	5		$	36
	Current period charges	8			1			9
	Less:
	Cash payments	(16		)	(1		)	(17		)
	Balance, March 31, 2014	$	23		$	5		$	28

BUSINESS_ACQUISITION

BUSINESS ACQUISITION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
BUSINESS ACQUISITION	'
	BUSINESS ACQUISITION
	Acquisition of Solstas Lab Partners Group
	On March 7, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of Solstas Lab Partners Group and its subsidiaries ("Solstas") in an all-cash transaction valued at $572 million, or $563 million net of cash acquired. The Company financed the acquisition with borrowings under its secured receivables credit facility and senior unsecured revolving credit facility. Through the acquisition, the Company acquired all of Solstas' operations. Solstas is a full-service commercial laboratory based in Greensboro, North Carolina and operates in nine states throughout the Southeastern United States, including the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014, Solstas contributed $25 million to the Company's consolidated net revenues and $27 million to operating expenses, which includes $3 million of integration and transaction related costs recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.
	The acquisition of Solstas was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. As such, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded based on their estimated fair values as of the closing date. The purchase price allocation is based upon a preliminary valuation and the Company's estimates and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period as the valuation is finalized. Management is currently in the process of verifying data and finalizing information related to the valuation and recording of identifiable intangible assets, certain other assets and liabilities and the corresponding effect on the amount of goodwill. All of the goodwill acquired in connection with the Solstas acquisition has been allocated to the Company's DIS business.
	The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Solstas and the preliminary amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:
		Preliminary Fair Values as of
		7-Mar-14
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	9
	Accounts receivable, net	48
	Current deferred income taxes	7
	Other current assets	13
	Property, plant and equipment, net	51
	Goodwill	269
	Intangible assets	203
	Non-current deferred income taxes	42
	Total assets acquired	642
	Current liabilities	57
	Non-current deferred income taxes	4
	Other non-current liabilities	9
	Total liabilities assumed	70
	Net assets acquired	$	572
	The acquired amortizable customer relationships are being amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows:
		Fair Values		Weighted Average Useful Life (in years)
	Customer relationships	$	203	20
	The goodwill recorded as part of the Solstas acquisition includes the expected synergies resulting from combining the operations of the acquired business with those of the Company and the value associated with an assembled workforce that has a historical track record of identifying opportunities.
	Pro Forma Combined Financial Information
	The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information reflects the consolidated statement of operations of the Company as if the acquisition of Solstas had occurred as of January 1, 2013. The pro forma information includes adjustments primarily related to the amortization of intangible assets acquired, interest expense associated with debt extinguished prior to the acquisition, and integration and transaction costs related to the Solstas acquisition. The pro forma combined financial information does not include the estimated annual synergies expected to be realized upon completion of the integration of Solstas and therefore is not indicative of the results of operations as they would have been had the transaction been effected on the assumed date.
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Pro forma net revenues	$	1,815	$	1,886
	Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	110	$	123
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - basic:
	Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	0.71	$	0.73
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - diluted:
	Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	0.7	$	0.72

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The following table provides a summary of the recognized assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
				Basis of Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs
				Identical
				Assets /
				Liabilities
	March 31, 2014			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:
	Trading securities	$	49	$	49	$	—	$	—
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	29		—		29		—
	Put option	4		—		—		4
	Interest rate swaps	1		—		1		—
	Total	$	83	$	49	$	30	$	4
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation liabilities	$	83	$	—	$	83	$	—
	Interest rate swaps	29		—		29		—
	Call option	8		—		—		8
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	2		—		2		—
	Total	$	122	$	—	$	114	$	8
				Basis of Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs
				Identical
				Assets /
				Liabilities
	December 31, 2013			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:
	Trading securities	$	50	$	50	$	—	$	—
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	29		—		29		—
	Put option	4		—		—		4
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	2		—		2		—
	Total	$	85	$	50	$	31	$	4
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation liabilities	$	84	$	—	$	84	$	—
	Interest rate swaps	34		—		34		—
	Call option	8		—		—		8
	Total	$	126	$	—	$	118	$	8
	A full description regarding the Company's fair value measurements is contained in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	The fair value measurements of the Company's interest rate swaps and forward starting swaps are model-derived valuations as of a given date in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets including certain financial information and certain assumptions regarding past, present and future market conditions.
	In connection with the acquisition of certain businesses of UMass, the Company granted to UMass a call option and UMass granted to the Company a put option for UMass to acquire an 18.90% equity interest in a newly formed entity. The put and call options are derivative instruments that have a remaining vesting period of approximately 12 months and their fair values have been measured using a combination of discounted cash flows and the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model.
	There were no material changes in the Level 3 assets and liabilities using significant unobservable inputs for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value based on the short maturities of these instruments. At March 31, 2014, the fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $4.2 billion, which exceeded the carrying value by $293 million. At December 31, 2013, the fair value of the Company's debt was estimated at $3.5 billion, which exceeded the carrying value by $184 million. Principally all of the Company's debt is classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because the fair value of the debt is estimated based on rates currently offered to the Company with identical terms and maturities, using quoted active market prices and yields, taking into account the underlying terms of the debt instruments.

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	'
	GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	The changes in goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:
		March 31,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	5,649			$	5,536
	Goodwill acquired during the period	271				150
	Write-off associated with sale of a business during the period	—				(37		)
	Balance at end of period	$	5,920			$	5,649
	Principally all of the Company’s goodwill as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was associated with its DIS business.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014, goodwill acquired was principally associated with the Solstas acquisition. This acquisition also resulted in $203 million of customer-related intangibles. For further details regarding the Solstas acquisition, see Note 5.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, goodwill acquired was principally associated with the UMass, ATN, Dignity and ConVerge acquisitions, of which $135 million is deductible for tax purposes. These acquisitions also resulted in $108 million of intangible assets, principally comprised of customer-related intangibles. For further details regarding the Company's 2013 acquisitions, see Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, $37 million of goodwill was written-off in conjunction with the sale of Enterix. For further details regarding the sale of Enterix, see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	Intangible assets at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:
		Weighted		March 31, 2014									December 31, 2013
		Average
		Amortization
		Period
		(in Years)
				Cost				Accumulated			Net		Cost		Accumulated			Net
								Amortization							Amortization
	Amortizing intangible assets:
	Customer-related intangibles	19		$	873			$	(220	)	$	653	$	670	$	(210	)	$	460
	Non-compete agreements	4		43				(30		)	13		43		(27		)	16
	Technology	14		119				(31		)	88		119		(28		)	91
	Other	8		142				(63		)	79		141		(57		)	84
	Total	17		1,177				(344		)	833		973		(322		)	651
	Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
	Tradenames			244				—			244		244		—			244
	Other			1				—			1		1		—			1
	Total intangible assets			$	1,422			$	(344	)	$	1,078	$	1,218	$	(322	)	$	896
	Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $22 million and $19 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The estimated amortization expense related to amortizable intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter as of March 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Year Ending December 31,
	Remainder of 2014	$	67
	2015	79
	2016	71
	2017	67
	2018	59
	2019	58
	Thereafter	432
	Total	$	833

DEBT

DEBT	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instruments [Abstract]	'
DEBT	'
	DEBT
	Long-term debt at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Floating Rate Senior Notes due March 2014	$	—		$	200
	5.45% Senior Notes due November 2015	500			500
	3.20% Senior Notes due April 2016	306			307
	6.40% Senior Notes due July 2017	375			375
	2.70% Senior Notes due April 2019	300			—
	4.75% Senior Notes due January 2020	521			520
	4.70% Senior Notes due April 2021	539			533
	4.25% Senior Notes due April 2024	297			—
	6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037	421			421
	5.75% Senior Notes due January 2040	439			439
	Other	54			37
	Total long-term debt	3,752			3,332
	Less: current portion of long-term debt	28			212
	Total long-term debt, net of current portion	$	3,724		$	3,120
	2014 Senior Notes Offering
	In March 2014, the Company completed a $600 million senior notes offering (the “2014 Senior Notes”) that was sold in two tranches: (a) $300 million aggregate principal amount of 2.70% senior notes due April 2019; and (b) $300 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% senior notes due April 2024, issued at a discount of $1 million. These senior notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally with the Company's other senior unsecured obligations. None of the Company's senior notes have a sinking fund requirement.
	The Company incurred $5 million of costs associated with the 2014 Senior Notes, which is included in other assets and is being amortized over the term of the related debt.
	Maturities of Long-Term Debt
	As of March 31, 2014, long-term debt matures as follows:
	Year Ending December 31,
	Remainder of 2014	$	15
	2015	523
	2016	309
	2017	380
	2018	2
	2019	300
	Thereafter	2,225
	Total maturities of long-term debt	3,754
	Unamortized discount	(21		)
	Fair value basis adjustments attributable to hedged debt	19
	Total long-term debt	3,752
	Current portion of long-term debt	28
	Total long-term debt, net of current portion	$	3,724
	For further discussion regarding the Company's debt, see Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

FINANCIAL_INSTRUMENTS

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	'
	FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to market risks for changes in interest rates and foreign currencies. This strategy includes the use of interest rate swap agreements, forward starting interest rate swap agreements, treasury lock agreements and foreign currency forward contracts to manage its exposure to movements in interest and currency rates. The Company has established policies and procedures for risk assessment and the approval, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instrument activities. These policies prohibit holding or issuing derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features or requirements to post collateral.
	A summary of the fair values of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets is stated in the table below:
		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value			Balance Sheet	Fair Value
		Classification				Classification
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Asset Derivatives:
	Interest rate swaps	Other assets	$	1		Other assets	$	—
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	Other assets	—			Other assets	2
	Total Asset Derivatives		1				2
	Liability Derivatives:
	Interest rate swaps	Other liabilities	29			Other liabilities	34
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	Other liabilities	2			Other liabilities	—
	Total Liability Derivatives		31				34
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Asset Derivatives:
	Put option	Other assets	4			Other assets	4
	Liability Derivatives:
	Call option	Other liabilities	8			Other liabilities	8
	Total Net Derivatives Liabilities		$	(34	)		$	(36	)
	A full description regarding the Company's use of derivative financial instruments is contained in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	Interest Rate Risk
	The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its cash and cash equivalents and its debt obligations. Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents may fluctuate as interest rates change; however, due to their relatively short maturities, the Company does not hedge these assets or their investment cash flows and the impact of interest rate risk is not material. The Company's debt obligations consist of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt instruments. The Company's primary objective is to achieve the lowest overall cost of funding while managing the variability in cash outflows within an acceptable range. In order to achieve this objective, the Company has entered into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the periodic exchange of payments without the exchange of underlying principal or notional amounts. Net settlements between the counterparties are recognized as an adjustment to interest expense.
	Interest Rate Derivatives – Cash Flow Hedges
	In March 2014, the Company entered into interest rate lock agreements with several financial institutions for a total notional amount of $175 million. (the "Treasury Lock Agreements"). The Treasury Lock Agreements, which had an original maturity date of March 28, 2014, were entered into to hedge part of the Company's interest rate exposure associated with the variability in future cash flows attributable to changes in the five-year U.S. treasury rates related to the planned issuance of debt securities. In connection with the Company's senior notes offering in March 2014 (see note 8), the Company settled the Treasury Lock Agreements, which have been accounted for as cash flow hedges. The loss on settlement of the Treasury Lock Agreements was not material. During the fourth quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, the Company entered into various forward starting interest rate swap agreements (the "Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Agreements") for an aggregate notional amount of $150 million. The Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Agreements have fixed interest rates ranging from 3.570% to 3.788%. The Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap Agreements were 21 to 24 month forward agreements that covered a ten-year hedging period and were entered into to hedge part of the Company's interest rate exposure associated with forecasted new debt issuances related to the refinancing of certain debt maturing through 2016. Through time the Company has entered into various interest rate lock agreements and forward starting interest rate swap agreements to hedge part of the Company's interest rate exposure associated with the variability in future cash flows attributable to changes in interest rates. The total net loss, net of taxes, recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, related to the Company's cash flow hedges as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $8 million and $5 million, respectively. The loss recognized on the Company's cash flow hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, as a result of ineffectiveness, was not material. The net amount of deferred losses on cash flow hedges that is expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings within the next twelve months is $1 million.
	Interest Rate Derivatives – Fair Value Hedges
	The Company maintains various fixed-to-variable interest rate swaps to convert a portion of the Company's long-term debt into variable interest rate debt. In July 2012, the Company entered into fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements on a portion of the Senior Notes due 2016 and 2020. These interest rate swap agreements have an aggregate notional amount of $550 million and variable interest rates based on six-month LIBOR plus 2.3% and one-month LIBOR plus 3.6%. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company entered into additional fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million and variable interest rates based on one-month LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 3.4% to 5.1%. These derivative financial instruments are accounted for as fair value hedges on a portion of the Senior Notes due 2015 and a portion of the Senior Notes due 2021. In November 2013, the Company terminated the interest rate swaps associated with the Senior Notes due 2015 and concurrently entered into additional fixed-to-variable interest rate swaps agreements. The fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements entered into in November 2013 have an aggregate notional amount of $200 million and variable interest rates based on one-month LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.45% to 2.46% and are accounted for as fair value hedges on a portion of the Senior Notes due 2021. In March 2014, the Company entered into various fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements which have a notional amount of $250 million and variable interest rates based on one-month LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.54% to 1.59% and are accounted for as fair value hedges of a portion of the Senior Notes due 2024.
	The interest rate swaps associated with the Senior Notes due 2016, 2020, 2024 and those on a portion of the Senior Notes due 2021 are classified as liabilities with an aggregate fair value of $29 million at March 31, 2014. The interest rate swaps associated with the Senior Notes due 2021 entered into in November 2013 are classified as assets with an aggregate fair value of $1 million at March 31, 2014. The interest rate swaps associated with the Senior Notes due 2016, 2020, and 2021 are classified as liabilities with an aggregate fair value of $34 million at December 31, 2013. Since inception, the fair value hedges have been highly effective; therefore, there is no impact on earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 as a result of hedge ineffectiveness.

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'
	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Components of Comprehensive Income
	The net deferred loss on cash flow hedges represents deferred losses on the Company’s interest rate related derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges, net of amounts reclassified to interest expense (see Note 9). For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the tax effects related to the deferred losses were not material. Foreign currency translation adjustments are not adjusted for income taxes since they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries.
	Dividend Program
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per common share. During each of the quarters of 2013, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per common share.
	Share Repurchase Plan
	In August 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase an additional $1 billion of the Company’s common stock, increasing the total available authorization at that time to $1.3 billion. The share repurchase authorization has no set expiration or termination date.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company repurchased 0.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $52.80 per share for $32 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company reissued 0.4 million shares for employee benefit plans. At March 31, 2014, $796 million remained available under the Company’s share repurchase authorizations.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $57.81 per share for a total of $62 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company reissued 0.4 million shares for employee benefit plans.

SUPPLEMENTAL_CASH_FLOW_OTHER_D

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA	'
	SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA
	Supplemental cash flow data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Depreciation expense	$	53		$	51
	Amortization expense	22			19
	Interest paid	52			52
	Income taxes paid	9			84
	Assets acquired under capital leases	2			—
	Decrease in accounts payable associated with capital expenditures	21			—
	Businesses acquired:
	Fair value of assets acquired	646			151
	Fair value of liabilities assumed	70			11
	Fair value of net assets acquired	576			140
	Merger consideration paid (payable), net	—			(50		)
	Cash paid for business acquisitions	576			90
	Less: Cash acquired	9			—
	Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$	567		$	90
	Supplemental continuing operations data for the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Depreciation expense	$	53		$	51
	Interest expense	(40		)	(41		)
	Interest income	1			1
	Interest expense, net	$	(39	)	$	(40	)

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	The Company has a line of credit with a financial institution totaling $85 million for the issuance of letters of credit (the “Letter of Credit Line”). The Letter of Credit Line, which is renewed annually, matures on November 18, 2014.
	In support of its risk management program, to ensure the Company’s performance or payment to third parties, $59 million in letters of credit were outstanding at March 31, 2014. The letters of credit primarily represent collateral for current and future automobile liability and workers’ compensation loss payments.
	Contingent Lease Obligations
	The Company is subject to contingent obligations under certain real estate leases that were entered into by certain predecessor companies of a subsidiary prior to the Company's acquisition of the subsidiary. No liability has been recorded for any of these potential contingent obligations. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.
	Legal Matters
	The Company is involved in various legal proceedings. Some of the proceedings against the Company involve claims that could be substantial in amount.
	In addition to the matters described below, in the normal course of business, the Company has been named, from time to time, as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, arising in connection with the Company's activities as a provider of diagnostic testing, information and services. These legal actions may include lawsuits alleging negligence or other similar legal claims. These actions could involve claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages, and could have an adverse impact on the Company's client base and reputation.
	The Company is also involved, from time to time, in other reviews, investigations and proceedings by governmental agencies regarding the Company's business, including, among other matters, operational matters, which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief. The number of these reviews, investigations and proceedings has increased in recent years with regard to many firms in the healthcare services industry, including the Company.
	In November 2010, a putative class action entitled Seibert v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, et al. was filed against the Company and certain former officers of the Company in New Jersey state court, on behalf of the Company's sales people nationwide who were over forty years old and who either resigned or were terminated after being placed on a performance improvement plan. The complaint alleges that the defendants' conduct violates the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination ("NJLAD"), and seeks, among other things, unspecified damages. The defendants removed the complaint to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint that added claims under ERISA. The Company filed a motion seeking to limit the application of the NJLAD to only those members of the purported class who worked in New Jersey and to dismiss the individual defendants. The motion was granted. The only remaining NJLAD claim is that of the named plaintiff. Both parties have filed summary judgment motions. The defendants' motion was granted in part, but denied as to an ERISA claim, and the plaintiff's motion was denied. The plaintiff’s motion for class certification of the ERISA claim was denied.
	In 2010, a purported class action entitled In re Celera Corp. Securities Litigation was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Celera Corporation and certain of its directors and current and former officers. An amended complaint filed in October 2010 alleges that from April 2008 through July 22, 2009, the defendants made false and misleading statements regarding Celera's business and financial results with an intent to defraud investors. The complaint was further amended in 2011 to add allegations regarding a financial restatement. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages on behalf of an alleged class of purchasers of Celera's stock during the period in which the alleged misrepresentations were made. The Company's motion to dismiss the complaint was denied.
	In August 2011, the Company received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia seeking various business records, including records related to the Company's compliance program, certain marketing materials, certain product offerings, and test ordering and other policies. The Company is cooperating with the request.
	In January 2012, a putative class action entitled Beery v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Company and a subsidiary, on behalf of all female sales representatives employed by the defendants from February 17, 2010 to the present. The amended complaint alleges that the defendants discriminate against these female sales representatives on account of their gender, in violation of the federal civil rights and equal pay acts, and seeks, among other things, injunctive relief and monetary damages. The Company's motion to compel arbitration was granted and the case was dismissed. In the arbitration, the plaintiffs requested to proceed on a class basis. The Company objected to the plaintiffs' request. The arbitrator denied the plaintiff’s request.
	In September 2009, the Company received a subpoena from the Michigan Attorney General's Office seeking documents relating to the Company's pricing and billing practices as they relate to Michigan's Medicaid program. The Company cooperated with the requests. In January 2012, the State of Michigan intervened as a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit, Michigan ex rel. Hunter Laboratories LLC v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, et al., filed in Michigan Superior Court. The suit, originally filed by a competitor laboratory, alleges that the Company overcharged Michigan's Medicaid program. The Company's motion to dismiss the complaint was denied.
	In June 2010, the Company received a subpoena from the Florida Attorney General's Office seeking documents relating to the Company's pricing and billing practices as they relate to Florida’s Medicaid program. The Company cooperated with the requests. In November 2013, the State of Florida intervened as a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit, Florida ex rel. Hunter Laboratories LLC v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, et al., filed in Florida Circuit Court. The suit, originally filed by a competitor laboratory, alleges that the Company overcharged Florida’s Medicaid program. Hunter Laboratories LLC filed similar lawsuits in Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada and Virginia; in each of those lawsuits, the state attorney general’s office has not intervened. The parties have settled the Georgia lawsuit and reached an agreement in principle to settle the Massachusetts lawsuit.
	In July 2013, Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. and others filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company, Celera, former directors of Celera and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) alleging, among other things, federal securities laws violations and breach of fiduciary duty claims against Celera, its directors and Credit Suisse. Following motions by the parties, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.
	In October 2013, the Company commenced a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking a declaration that the Company’s BRCA1 and 2 tests do not infringe several patents of Myriad Genetics, Inc., or that the patents are invalid. Later that month, Myriad and its partners commenced a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Utah against the Company alleging that the Company’s BRCA 1 and 2 tests infringed Myriad’s patents. Myriad moved to dismiss the Company’s lawsuit and to transfer all cases involving its BRCA 1 and 2 patents to the federal court in Utah. The Company moved to dismiss Myriad’s lawsuit. The Multidistrict Panel for Litigation consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Utah all the litigation between the Company and Myriad regarding BRCA, and the parties withdrew their motions to dismiss without prejudice.
	Berkeley HeartLab, Inc. (“BHL”), a Company subsidiary, received a subpoena from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding certain alleged business practices of BHL. In addition, the Company and BHL received civil investigative demands requesting responses to interrogatories. BHL and the Company are cooperating with the investigation.
	The federal or state governments may bring claims based on the Company's current practices, which it believes are lawful. In addition, certain federal and state statutes, including the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act, allow private individuals to bring lawsuits against healthcare companies on behalf of government or private payers. The Company is aware of certain pending individual or class action lawsuits, and has received several subpoenas, related to billing practices filed under the qui tam provisions of the Civil False Claims Act and/or other federal and state statutes, regulations or other laws. The Company understands that there may be other pending qui tam claims brought by former employees or other "whistle blowers" as to which the Company cannot determine the extent of any potential liability.
	Management cannot predict the outcome of such matters. Although management does not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of such matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, given the high degree of judgment involved in establishing loss estimates related to these types of matters, the outcome of such matters may be material to the Company's results of operations or cash flows in the period in which the impact of such matters is determined or paid.
	These matters are in different stages. Some of these matters are in their early stages. Matters may involve responding to and cooperating with various government investigations and related subpoenas. As of March 31, 2014, the Company believes that there are no losses related to the Legal Matters described above that are probable, or, if a loss is probable, it cannot be reasonably estimated. While the Company believes that a reasonable possibility exists that losses may have been incurred related to the Legal Matters described above, based on the nature and status of these matters, potential losses, if any, cannot be estimated.
	Reserves for Legal Matters
	Reserves for legal matters, other than those described above in "Legal Matters", totaled less than $5 million at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	Reserves for General and Professional Liability Claims
	As a general matter, providers of clinical testing services may be subject to lawsuits alleging negligence or other similar legal claims. These suits could involve claims for substantial damages. Any professional liability litigation could also have an adverse impact on the Company's client base and reputation. The Company maintains various liability insurance coverages for, among other things, claims that could result from providing, or failing to provide, clinical testing services, including inaccurate testing results, and other exposures. The Company's insurance coverage limits its maximum exposure on individual claims; however, the Company is essentially self-insured for a significant portion of these claims. Reserves for such matters, including those associated with both asserted and incurred but not reported claims, are established by considering actuarially determined losses based upon the Company's historical and projected loss experience. Such reserves totaled approximately $116 million and $121 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Management believes that established reserves and present insurance coverage are sufficient to cover currently estimated exposures. Management cannot predict the outcome of any claims made against the Company. Although management does not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings or claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, given the high degree of judgment involved in establishing accruals for loss estimates related to these types of matters, the outcome may be material to the Company's results of operations or cash flows in the period in which the impact of such claims is determined or paid.

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	'
	DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
	Results of operations for OralDNA, HemoCue and NID have been reported as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2013, includes discrete tax benefits of $20 million associated with favorable resolution of certain tax contingencies related to the Company's NID business.
	Summarized financial information for the discontinued operations is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Net revenues	$	—	$	25
	Income from discontinued operations before taxes	—		1
	Income tax benefit	—		19
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	—	$	20
	The remaining balance sheet information related to HemoCue, OralDNA and NID was not material at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

BUSINESS_SEGMENT_INFORMATION

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION	'
	BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
	The clinical testing that the Company performs is an essential element in the delivery of healthcare services. Physicians use clinical testing to assist in detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of diseases and other medical conditions.
	The Company's DIS business provides insights through clinical testing and related services that empower and enable patients, physicians, hospitals, integrated delivery networks, health plans, employers and others to make better healthcare decisions. The Company provides clinical testing, including routine testing, gene-based and esoteric testing, anatomic pathology services and drugs-of-abuse testing, as well as related services and insights. Customers of the DIS business include patients, physicians, hospitals, employers, governmental institutions and other commercial clinical laboratories. The DIS business accounted for greater than 90% of net revenues from continuing operations in 2014 and 2013.
	All other operating segments are included in the Company's DS business and consist of its risk assessment services, clinical trials testing, diagnostic products and healthcare information technology businesses. The Company's DS business offers a variety of solutions for life insurers, healthcare providers and others. The Company provides risk assessment services for the life insurance industry and the Company also provides testing for clinical trials. In addition, the Company offers healthcare organizations and clinicians robust information technology solutions, and diagnostic products, including test kits.
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Company acquired Solstas, which is included in the Company's DIS business. See Note 5 for further details regarding business acquisitions.
	On April 19, 2006, the Company decided to discontinue NID’s operations. The Company completed the sale of OralDNA in the fourth quarter of 2012 and completed the sale of HemoCue in the second quarter of 2013. The results of operations for NID, OralDNA and HemoCue have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 13 for further details regarding discontinued operations.
	At March 31, 2014, substantially all of the Company’s services are provided within the United States, and substantially all of the Company’s assets are located within the United States.
	The following table is a summary of segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Segment asset information is not presented since it is not used by the chief operating decision maker at the operating segment level. Operating earnings (loss) of each segment represents net revenues less directly identifiable expenses to arrive at operating income for the segment. General corporate activities included in the table below are comprised of general management and administrative corporate expenses, amortization of intangibles assets and other miscellaneous operating income and expenses, net of certain general corporate activity costs that are allocated to the DIS and DS businesses. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those of the Company as set forth in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 2 to the interim consolidated financial statements.
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net revenues:
	DIS business	$	1,614		$	1,649
	All other operating segments	132			138
	Total net revenues	$	1,746		$	1,787
	Operating earnings (loss):
	DIS business	$	231		$	270
	All other operating segments	18			14
	General corporate activities	(41		)	(57		)
	Total operating income	208			227
	Non-operating expenses, net	(32		)	(30		)
	Income from continuing operations before taxes	176			197
	Income tax expense	65			73
	Income from continuing operations	111			124
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—			20
	Net income	111			144
	Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7			8
	Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	104		$	136

SUBSEQUENT_EVENT

SUBSEQUENT EVENT	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
SUBSEQUENT EVENT	'
	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	The Company completed the acquisition of Summit Health, Inc. ("Summit Health"), a provider of on-site prevention and wellness programs on April 18, 2014 for approximately $113 million in cash paid at closing and contingent consideration of up to $25 million to be paid in 2016 based on the achievement of certain financial performance benchmarks.
	The Company completed the acquisition of the outreach laboratory service operations of Steward Health Care Systems, LLC on April 16, 2014.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	The interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair statement of results of operations, comprehensive income, financial condition, cash flows and stockholders' equity for the periods presented. Except as otherwise disclosed, all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The interim consolidated financial statements have been compiled without audit. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	The year-end balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of December 31, 2013, but does not include all the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
Use Of Estimates	'
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Earnings Per Share	'
	The Company's unvested restricted stock units that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities and, therefore, are included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share using the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and performance share units granted under the Company's Amended and Restated Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan and its Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Long-Term Incentive Plan. Earnings allocable to participating securities include the portion of dividends declared as well as the portion of undistributed earnings during the period allocable to participating securities.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards	'
	On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted a new accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") on foreign currency matters that clarifies the guidance of a parent company's accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. Under this standard, a parent company that ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a foreign subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity shall release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income only if a sale or transfer results in complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
	On January 1, 2014, the Company adopted a new accounting standard issued by the FASB on the financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The standard provides that a liability related to an unrecognized tax benefit would be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	In April 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update ("ASU") related to the presentation and reporting of discontinued operations, including the disposals of components of an entity. The ASU changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area and requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. This ASU is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The impact of the adoption of this ASU on the Company’s results of operation, financial position, cash flows and disclosures will be assessed as part of any future disposal activity.
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to market risks for changes in interest rates and foreign currencies. This strategy includes the use of interest rate swap agreements, forward starting interest rate swap agreements, treasury lock agreements and foreign currency forward contracts to manage its exposure to movements in interest and currency rates. The Company has established policies and procedures for risk assessment and the approval, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instrument activities. These policies prohibit holding or issuing derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features or requirements to post collateral.
Interest Rate Risk	'
	The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its cash and cash equivalents and its debt obligations. Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents may fluctuate as interest rates change; however, due to their relatively short maturities, the Company does not hedge these assets or their investment cash flows and the impact of interest rate risk is not material. The Company's debt obligations consist of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt instruments. The Company's primary objective is to achieve the lowest overall cost of funding while managing the variability in cash outflows within an acceptable range. In order to achieve this objective, the Company has entered into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the periodic exchange of payments without the exchange of underlying principal or notional amounts. Net settlements between the counterparties are recognized as an adjustment to interest expense.

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Tables

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	'
	The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share was as follows (in millions, except per share data):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
	Income from continuing operations	$	104		$	116
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—			20
	Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	104		$	136
	Income from continuing operations	$	104		$	116
	Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	1			1
	Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	103		$	115
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	144			158
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options and performance share units	1			1
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	145			159
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.72		$	0.73
	Income from discontinued operations	—			0.13
	Net income	$	0.72		$	0.86
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – diluted:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.71		$	0.72
	Income from discontinued operations	—			0.13
	Net income	$	0.71		$	0.85
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	'
	The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect (shares in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Stock options and performance share units	6		2

RESTRUCTURING_ACTIVITIES_Table

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Pre-Tax Restructuring and Integration Charges	'
	The following table provides a summary of the Company's pre-tax restructuring charges associated with its Invigorate program and other restructuring activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Employee separation costs	$	8		$	34
	Facility-related costs	1			—
	Accelerated vesting of stock-based compensation	—			1
	Total restructuring charges	$	9		$	35
Schedule of Activity of Restructuring Liability	'
	The following table summarizes activity in the restructuring liability as of March 31, 2014:
		Employee Separation Costs			Facility-Related Costs			Total
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	31		$	5		$	36
	Current period charges	8			1			9
	Less:
	Cash payments	(16		)	(1		)	(17		)
	Balance, March 31, 2014	$	23		$	5		$	28

BUSINESS_ACQUISITION_Tables

BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Solstas and the preliminary amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:
		Preliminary Fair Values as of
		7-Mar-14
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	9
	Accounts receivable, net	48
	Current deferred income taxes	7
	Other current assets	13
	Property, plant and equipment, net	51
	Goodwill	269
	Intangible assets	203
	Non-current deferred income taxes	42
	Total assets acquired	642
	Current liabilities	57
	Non-current deferred income taxes	4
	Other non-current liabilities	9
	Total liabilities assumed	70
	Net assets acquired	$	572
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The acquired amortizable customer relationships are being amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows:
		Fair Values		Weighted Average Useful Life (in years)
	Customer relationships	$	203	20
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]	'
	The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information reflects the consolidated statement of operations of the Company as if the acquisition of Solstas had occurred as of January 1, 2013. The pro forma information includes adjustments primarily related to the amortization of intangible assets acquired, interest expense associated with debt extinguished prior to the acquisition, and integration and transaction costs related to the Solstas acquisition. The pro forma combined financial information does not include the estimated annual synergies expected to be realized upon completion of the integration of Solstas and therefore is not indicative of the results of operations as they would have been had the transaction been effected on the assumed date.
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Pro forma net revenues	$	1,815	$	1,886
	Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	110	$	123
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - basic:
	Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	0.71	$	0.73
	Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - diluted:
	Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	0.7	$	0.72

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	The following table provides a summary of the recognized assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
				Basis of Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs
				Identical
				Assets /
				Liabilities
	March 31, 2014			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:
	Trading securities	$	49	$	49	$	—	$	—
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	29		—		29		—
	Put option	4		—		—		4
	Interest rate swaps	1		—		1		—
	Total	$	83	$	49	$	30	$	4
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation liabilities	$	83	$	—	$	83	$	—
	Interest rate swaps	29		—		29		—
	Call option	8		—		—		8
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	2		—		2		—
	Total	$	122	$	—	$	114	$	8
				Basis of Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Unobservable
				Active		Observable		Inputs
				Markets for		Inputs
				Identical
				Assets /
				Liabilities
	December 31, 2013			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:
	Trading securities	$	50	$	50	$	—	$	—
	Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	29		—		29		—
	Put option	4		—		—		4
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	2		—		2		—
	Total	$	85	$	50	$	31	$	4
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation liabilities	$	84	$	—	$	84	$	—
	Interest rate swaps	34		—		34		—
	Call option	8		—		—		8
	Total	$	126	$	—	$	118	$	8

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS1

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Changes in Goodwill, Net	'
	The changes in goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:
		March 31,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	5,649			$	5,536
	Goodwill acquired during the period	271				150
	Write-off associated with sale of a business during the period	—				(37		)
	Balance at end of period	$	5,920			$	5,649
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill	'
	Intangible assets at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:
		Weighted		March 31, 2014									December 31, 2013
		Average
		Amortization
		Period
		(in Years)
				Cost				Accumulated			Net		Cost		Accumulated			Net
								Amortization							Amortization
	Amortizing intangible assets:
	Customer-related intangibles	19		$	873			$	(220	)	$	653	$	670	$	(210	)	$	460
	Non-compete agreements	4		43				(30		)	13		43		(27		)	16
	Technology	14		119				(31		)	88		119		(28		)	91
	Other	8		142				(63		)	79		141		(57		)	84
	Total	17		1,177				(344		)	833		973		(322		)	651
	Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
	Tradenames			244				—			244		244		—			244
	Other			1				—			1		1		—			1
	Total intangible assets			$	1,422			$	(344	)	$	1,078	$	1,218	$	(322	)	$	896
Future Amortization Expense Intangible Assets	'
	The estimated amortization expense related to amortizable intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter as of March 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Year Ending December 31,
	Remainder of 2014	$	67
	2015	79
	2016	71
	2017	67
	2018	59
	2019	58
	Thereafter	432
	Total	$	833

DEBT_Tables

DEBT (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instruments [Abstract]	'
Long-term Debt	'
	Long-term debt at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Floating Rate Senior Notes due March 2014	$	—		$	200
	5.45% Senior Notes due November 2015	500			500
	3.20% Senior Notes due April 2016	306			307
	6.40% Senior Notes due July 2017	375			375
	2.70% Senior Notes due April 2019	300			—
	4.75% Senior Notes due January 2020	521			520
	4.70% Senior Notes due April 2021	539			533
	4.25% Senior Notes due April 2024	297			—
	6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037	421			421
	5.75% Senior Notes due January 2040	439			439
	Other	54			37
	Total long-term debt	3,752			3,332
	Less: current portion of long-term debt	28			212
	Total long-term debt, net of current portion	$	3,724		$	3,120
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	'
	As of March 31, 2014, long-term debt matures as follows:
	Year Ending December 31,
	Remainder of 2014	$	15
	2015	523
	2016	309
	2017	380
	2018	2
	2019	300
	Thereafter	2,225
	Total maturities of long-term debt	3,754
	Unamortized discount	(21		)
	Fair value basis adjustments attributable to hedged debt	19
	Total long-term debt	3,752
	Current portion of long-term debt	28
	Total long-term debt, net of current portion	$	3,724

FINANCIAL_INSTRUMENTS_Tables

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of the fair values of derivative instruments	'
	A summary of the fair values of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets is stated in the table below:
		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value			Balance Sheet	Fair Value
		Classification				Classification
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Asset Derivatives:
	Interest rate swaps	Other assets	$	1		Other assets	$	—
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	Other assets	—			Other assets	2
	Total Asset Derivatives		1				2
	Liability Derivatives:
	Interest rate swaps	Other liabilities	29			Other liabilities	34
	Forward starting interest rate swaps	Other liabilities	2			Other liabilities	—
	Total Liability Derivatives		31				34
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Asset Derivatives:
	Put option	Other assets	4			Other assets	4
	Liability Derivatives:
	Call option	Other liabilities	8			Other liabilities	8
	Total Net Derivatives Liabilities		$	(34	)		$	(36	)

SUPPLEMENTAL_CASH_FLOW_OTHER_D1

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Data	'
	Supplemental cash flow data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Depreciation expense	$	53		$	51
	Amortization expense	22			19
	Interest paid	52			52
	Income taxes paid	9			84
	Assets acquired under capital leases	2			—
	Decrease in accounts payable associated with capital expenditures	21			—
	Businesses acquired:
	Fair value of assets acquired	646			151
	Fair value of liabilities assumed	70			11
	Fair value of net assets acquired	576			140
	Merger consideration paid (payable), net	—			(50		)
	Cash paid for business acquisitions	576			90
	Less: Cash acquired	9			—
	Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$	567		$	90
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures, Continuing Operations	'
	Supplemental continuing operations data for the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Depreciation expense	$	53		$	51
	Interest expense	(40		)	(41		)
	Interest income	1			1
	Interest expense, net	$	(39	)	$	(40	)

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_Tables

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'
Summarized Financial Information for Discontinued Operations	'
	Summarized financial information for the discontinued operations is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Net revenues	$	—	$	25
	Income from discontinued operations before taxes	—		1
	Income tax benefit	—		19
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	—	$	20

BUSINESS_SEGMENT_INFORMATION_T

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Summary of Segment Reporting Information by Segment	'
	The following table is a summary of segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Segment asset information is not presented since it is not used by the chief operating decision maker at the operating segment level. Operating earnings (loss) of each segment represents net revenues less directly identifiable expenses to arrive at operating income for the segment. General corporate activities included in the table below are comprised of general management and administrative corporate expenses, amortization of intangibles assets and other miscellaneous operating income and expenses, net of certain general corporate activity costs that are allocated to the DIS and DS businesses. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those of the Company as set forth in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 2 to the interim consolidated financial statements.
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net revenues:
	DIS business	$	1,614		$	1,649
	All other operating segments	132			138
	Total net revenues	$	1,746		$	1,787
	Operating earnings (loss):
	DIS business	$	231		$	270
	All other operating segments	18			14
	General corporate activities	(41		)	(57		)
	Total operating income	208			227
	Non-operating expenses, net	(32		)	(30		)
	Income from continuing operations before taxes	176			197
	Income tax expense	65			73
	Income from continuing operations	111			124
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	—			20
	Net income	111			144
	Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7			8
	Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	104		$	136

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Details

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]	'	'
Income from continuing operations	$104	$116
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	104	136
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	1	1
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and diluted	$103	$115
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	144	158
Stock options and performance share units	1	1
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	145	159
Income from continuing operations, per basic share	$0.72	$0.73
Income from discontinued operations, per basic share	$0	$0.13
Net income , per basic share	$0.72	$0.86
Income from continuing operations, per diluted share	$0.71	$0.72
Income from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$0	$0.13
Net income, per diluted share	$0.71	$0.85
Stock options and performance share units not included due to their antidilutive effect	6	2

RESTRUCTURING_ACTIVITIES_Narra

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges	$9	($35)
Cost of Services [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges, including equity component	8	13
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring charges, including equity component	1	22
Other Restructuring Initiatives [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Employee separation costs	8	'
Management Layer Reduction Initiative [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Employee separation costs	'	18
Voluntary Retirement Program [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Employee separation costs	'	$3

RESTRUCTURING_ACTIVITIES_PreTa

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Pre-Tax Restructuring and Integration Charges) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Total restructuring charges	($9)	$35
Invigorate Program [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Employee Separation Costs	8	34
Facility-related costs	1	0
Accelerated vesting of stock-based compensation	0	1
Total restructuring charges	$9	$35

RESTRUCTURING_ACTIVITIES_Activ

RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Activities of Restructuring Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	$36	'
Current period charges	9	-35
Cash payments	-17	'
Balance, end of period	28	'
Employee Separation Costs [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	31	'
Current period charges	8	'
Cash payments	-16	'
Balance, end of period	23	'
Facility-Related Costs [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	5	'
Current period charges	1	'
Cash payments	-1	'
Balance, end of period	$5	'

BUSINESS_ACQUISITION_Narrative

BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 07, 2014
			Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash paid for acquisition	'	'	$572
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	567	90	563
Operating expenses	'	'	27
Net revenues	1,746	1,787	25
Integration and transaction related costs	'	'	$3

BUSINESS_ACQUISITION_Considera

BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Consideration Paid) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 07, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified				Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	$9
Accounts receivable, net	'	'	'	48
Current deferred income taxes	'	'	'	7
Other current assets	'	'	'	13
Property, plant and equipment, net	'	'	'	51
Goodwill	5,920	5,649	5,536	269
Intangible assets	'	'	'	203
Non-current deferred income taxes - Assets	'	'	'	42
Total assets acquired	'	'	'	642
Current liabilities	'	'	'	57
Non-current deferred income taxes - liabilities	'	'	'	4
Other non-current liabilities	'	'	'	9
Total liabilities assumed	'	'	'	70
Net assets acquired	'	'	'	$572

BUSINESS_ACQUISITION_Amortizab

BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Amortizable Assets) (Details) (Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member], Customer Relationships [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 07, 2014
Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Fair Value of Finite-lived Intangible Assets	$203
Weighted Average Useful Life	'20 years

BUSINESS_ACQUISITION_Pro_Forma

BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Pro Forma) (Details) (Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Pro forma net revenues	$1,815	$1,886
Pro forma income from continuing operations	$110	$123
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - basic:	'	'
Pro forma income from continuing operations	$0.71	$0.73
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - diluted:	'	'
Pro forma income from continuing operations	$0.70	$0.72

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Narrat

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 02, 2013
			Put Option [Member]	Call Option [Member]	UMass Memorial Medical Center (UMass) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of equity interest expected to be divested	'	'	'	'	18.90%
Vesting period for derivative instrument	'	'	'12 months	'12 months	'
Fair value of debt	$4,200,000,000	$3,500,000,000	'	'	'
Debt Instrument Fair Value In Excess Of Carrying Value Of Debt	$293,000,000	$184,000,000	'	'	'

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Recogn

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Recognized Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value) (Details) (Recurring Basis [Member], USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Trading securities	$49	$50
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	29	29
Total assets	83	85
Deferred compensation liabilities	83	84
Total liabilities	122	126
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Trading securities	49	50
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	'	'
Total assets	49	50
Deferred compensation liabilities	'	'
Total liabilities	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Trading securities	'	'
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	29	29
Total assets	30	31
Deferred compensation liabilities	83	84
Total liabilities	114	118
Significant Unobservable Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Trading securities	'	'
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	'	'
Total assets	4	4
Deferred compensation liabilities	'	'
Total liabilities	8	8
Put Option [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	4	4
Put Option [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	'
Put Option [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	0	0
Put Option [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	4	4
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	1	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	29	34
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	0	'
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	1	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	29	34
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	0	'
Call Option [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	8	8
Call Option [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	'	'
Call Option [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	'	0
Call Option [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	8	8
Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	2
Derivative instruments, liabilities	2	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	'	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	2
Derivative instruments, liabilities	2	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative asset	'	'
Derivative instruments, liabilities	'	'

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS2

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 07, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Enterix [Member]

Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Tradenames [Member]

Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Tradenames [Member]

Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Other [Member]

Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Other [Member]

Customer-related intangibles [Member]

Customer-related intangibles [Member]

Non-compete agreements [Member]

Non-compete agreements [Member]

Technology [Member]

Technology [Member]

Other [Member]

Other [Member]

Total Amortizing Intangible Assets [Member]

Total Amortizing Intangible Assets [Member]

Solstas Lab Parnters Group [Member]

UMass, ATN, Dignity and Con Verge Combined [Member]

Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Intangible assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$203

'

Goodwill, Balance at beginning of period

5,649

5,536

5,536

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

269

'

Goodwill acquired during the period

271

'

150

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Goodwill impairment and write-off associated with sale of businesses during the period

0

'

-37

-37

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Goodwill, Balance at end of period

5,920

'

5,649

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

269

'

Intangible assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

108

Goodwill deductible for tax purposes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

135

Weighted Average Amortization Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'19 years

'

'4 years

'

'14 years

'

'8 years

'

'17 years

'

'

'

Amortizing intangible assets, Cost

1,422

'

1,218

'

244

244

1

1

873

670

43

43

119

119

142

141

1,177

973

'

'

Amortizing intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization

-344

'

-322

'

'

'

'

'

-220

-210

-30

-27

-31

-28

-63

-57

-344

-322

'

'

Amortizing intangible assets, Net

1,078

'

896

'

244

244

1

1

653

460

13

16

88

91

79

84

833

651

'

'

Amortization expense related to intangible assets

22

19

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Remainder of 2014

67

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, 2015

79

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, 2016

71

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, 2017

67

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, 2018

59

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, 2019

58

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, Thereafter

432

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization Expense, Total

$833

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

DEBT_Narrative_Details

DEBT (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt offering amount	$600
Unamortized discount	21
Debt issuance cost	5
2.70% Senior Notes due April 2019 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt offering amount	300
Debt instrument, interest rate	2.70%
4.25% Senior Notes due April 2024 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt offering amount	300
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.25%
Unamortized discount	$1

DEBT_LongTerm_Debt_Details

DEBT (Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	$3,752	$3,332
Less: current portion of long-term debt	28	212
Total long-term debt, net of current portion	3,724	3,120
Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	0	200
5.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	500	500
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.45%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Nov-15	'
3.20% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	306	307
Debt instrument, interest rate	3.20%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Apr-16	'
6.40% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	375	375
Debt instrument, interest rate	6.40%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Jul-17	'
2.70% Senior Notes due April 2019 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	300	0
Debt instrument, interest rate	2.70%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Apr-19	'
4.75% Senior Notes due January 2020 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	521	520
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.75%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	30-Jan-20	'
4.70% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	539	533
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.70%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Apr-21	'
4.25% Senior Notes due April 2024 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	297	0
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.25%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Apr-24	'
6.95% Senior Notes Due 2037 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	421	421
Debt instrument, interest rate	6.95%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	1-Jul-37	'
5.75% Senior Notes Due 2040 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	439	439
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.75%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	30-Jan-40	'
Other Long-term Debt [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Other	$54	$37

DEBT_Maturities_of_LongTerm_De

DEBT (Maturities of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Remainder of 2014	$15	'
2015	523	'
2016	309	'
2017	380	'
2018	2	'
2019	300	'
Thereafter	2,225	'
Total maturities of debt	3,754	'
Unamortized discount	-21	'
Debt Instrument, fair value basis adjustment attributable to hedged debt	19	'
Total long-term debt	3,752	3,332
Current portion of long-term debt	28	212
Total long-term debt, net of current portion	$3,724	'

FINANCIAL_INSTRUMENTS_Narrativ

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Jul. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Jul. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 30, 2013

Jul. 31, 2012

Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]

Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]

Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Interest Rate Swaps [Member]

Interest Rate Swaps [Member]

Interest Rate Swaps [Member]

Treasury Lock [Member]

Forward Contracts [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

Fair Value Hedging [Member]

4.70% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]

Six-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

One-Month LIBOR [Member]

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notional amount of interest rate derivatives

'

'

'

'

'

$175

$150

$550

$250

$400

$200

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Maturity Date

'

'

'

'

'

28-Mar-14

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fixed interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.57%

'

'

'

'

3.79%

'

'

'

'

Term of contract

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'21 months

'

'

'

'

'24 months

'

'

'

'

Accumulated net loss from designated or qualifying cash flow hedges

8

5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net amount of deferred gains and losses on cash flow hedges that is expected to be reclassified within the next 12 months

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Variable interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.30%

1.54%

3.40%

2.45%

'

1.59%

5.10%

2.46%

3.60%

Derivative instruments, liabilities

'

'

29

34

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative asset

'

'

'

'

$1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

FINANCIAL_INSTRUMENTS_Summary_

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Summary of Fair Value of Derivatives) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net Derivatives Liabilities	($34)	($36)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Asset Derivatives	1	2
Liability Derivatives	31	34
Other Assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Asset Derivatives	1	0
Other Assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Asset Derivatives	0	2
Other Assets [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Put Option [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Asset Derivatives	4	4
Other Liabilities [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Liability Derivatives	29	34
Other Liabilities [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Liability Derivatives	2	0
Other Liabilities [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Call Option [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Liability Derivatives	$8	$8

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Narrative_

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013
Stockholder's Equity Narrative [Details]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Dividend program	'	$0.33	$0.30	$0.30	$0.30	$0.30
Treasury stock aquired repurchase program	$1,000,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Share repurchase authorization remaining available	1,300,000,000	796,000,000	'	'	'	'
Treasury stock value acquired cost method	'	32,000,000	62,000,000	'	'	'
Reissuance of shares for employee benefit plan	'	0.4	0.4	'	'	'
Share Repurchases Open Market [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stockholder's Equity Narrative [Details]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Treasury stock shares acquired	'	0.6	1.1	'	'	'
Treasury stock acquired average cost per share	'	$52.80	$57.81	'	'	'
Treasury stock value acquired cost method	'	$32,000,000	$62,000,000	'	'	'

SUPPLEMENTAL_CASH_FLOW_OTHER_D2

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'	'
Depreciation expense	$53	$51
Amortization expense	22	19
Interest paid	52	52
Income taxes paid	9	84
Assets acquired under capital leases	2	0
Decrease in accounts payable associated with capital expenditures	21	0
Fair value of assets acquired	646	151
Fair value of liabilities assumed	70	11
Fair value of net assets acquired	576	140
Merger consideration paid (payable), net	0	-50
Cash paid for business acquisitions	576	90
Less: Cash acquired	9	0
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$567	$90

SUPPLEMENTAL_CASH_FLOW_OTHER_D3

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA (Continuing Operations) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Data [Line Items]	'	'
Depreciation expense	$53	$51
Interest expense, net	-39	-40
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]	'	'
Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Data [Line Items]	'	'
Depreciation expense	53	51
Interest expense	-40	-41
Interest income	1	1
Interest expense, net	($39)	($40)

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Line of Credit [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Line of credit	$85	'	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	'	'	18-Nov-14
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	59	'	'
Litigation reserves	5	5	'
Self-insurance reserves	$116	$121	'

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_Detail

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Net revenues	$0	$25
Income from discontinued operations before taxes	0	1
Income tax benefit	0	19
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
NID [Member]	'	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'
Discrete tax benefits	'	$20

BUSINESS_SEGMENT_INFORMATION_D

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of net revenues from the DIS business	90.00%	90.00%
Total net revenues	$1,746	$1,787
Total operating income	208	227
Non-operating expenses, net	-32	-30
Income from continuing operations before taxes	176	197
Income tax expense	65	73
Income from continuing operations	111	124
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income	111	144
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	8
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	104	136
DIS business	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total net revenues	1,614	1,649
Total operating income	231	270
All other operating segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total net revenues	132	138
Total operating income	18	14
General corporate expenses [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total operating income	($41)	($57)

SUBSEQUENT_EVENT_Details

SUBSEQUENT EVENT (Details) (Subsequent Event [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 18, 2014
Subsequent Event [Member]	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Cash paid for acquisition	$113
Contingent consideration, liability	$25