EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
The Board of Directors
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings:
 
  We consent to the use of our reports included herein and incorporated herein
by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in
the prospectus.
 
                                          /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Raleigh, North Carolina
May 2, 1997