Laboratory Corporation of America (LH) 10-Q 2010 Q2 Quarterly report

											EXHIBIT 12.1
STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(dollars in millions, except ratio information)
	Fiscal Years Ended December 31,										Six Months Ended June 30,
	2005		2006		2007		2008		2009		2010
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes		640.7		720.9		802.3		785.7		884.6		483.1
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term and
short-term debt including
amortization of debt expense		34.4		47.8		56.6		72.0		62.9		29.1
Portion of rental expense as can be
demonstrated to be representative
of the interest factor		39.9		43.6		53.0		58.4		61.0		32.5
Total fixed charges		74.3		91.4		109.6		130.4		123.9		61.6
Earnings before income taxes and
fixed charges		715.0		812.3		911.9		916.1		1,008.5		544.7
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		9.62		8.89		8.32		7.03		8.14		8.84