<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001022079 <NAME> Quest Diagnostics Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> US <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.00 <CASH> 67,914 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 291,427 <ALLOWANCES> 110,979 <INVENTORY> 28,604 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 516,511 <PP&E> 279,168 <DEPRECIATION> 298,629 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,385,553 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 240,057 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,000 <COMMON> 1,178,969 <OTHER-SE> (633,534) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,385,553 <SALES> 388,103 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 388,103 <CGS> 239,314 <TOTAL-COSTS> 363,287 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (256) <LOSS-PROVISION> 29,077 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,613 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,417 <INCOME-TAX> 4,370 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,047 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,047 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.14 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.14