Exhibit 12.1
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
| FOR THE | ||||||||||||||||||
| NINE | ||||||||||||||||||
| MONTHS | ||||||||||||||||||
| ENDED | YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| SEPTEMBER 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||||||
| Income from continuing | ||||||||||||||||||
| operations before taxes, equity | ||||||||||||||||||
| earnings and minority share of | ||||||||||||||||||
| income | $ | 909,617 | $ | 1,020,613 | $ | 912,380 | $ | 1,028,161 | $ | 941,498 | $ | 822,880 | ||||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Distributed income from less | ||||||||||||||||||
| than 50% owned companies | 16,085 | 28,752 | 24,972 | 26,411 | 25,492 | 21,973 | ||||||||||||
| Fixed charges | 157,915 | 248,716 | 243,317 | 147,133 | 108,751 | 103,725 | ||||||||||||
| Earnings from continuing | ||||||||||||||||||
| operations before taxes and | ||||||||||||||||||
| fixed charges, as adjusted | $ | 1,083,617 | $ | 1,298,081 | $ | 1,180,669 | $ | 1,201,705 | $ | 1,075,741 | $ | 948,578 | ||||||
| Fixed charges: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | 111,991 | $ | 185,783 | $ | 186,957 | $ | 96,997 | $ | 63,266 | $ | 60,464 | ||||||
| Portion of rent expense which | ||||||||||||||||||
| represents interest factor | 45,924 | 62,933 | 56,360 | 50,136 | 45,485 | 43,261 | ||||||||||||
| Total fixed charges | $ | 157,915 | $ | 248,716 | $ | 243,317 | $ | 147,133 | $ | 108,751 | $ | 103,725 | ||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed | ||||||||||||||||||
| charges | 6.9 | x | 5.2 | x | 4.9 | x | 8.2 | x | 9.9 | x | 9.2 | x | ||||||
