CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 1,903,201	$ 1,874,727	$ 3,724,778	$ 3,680,230
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services	1,104,394	1,078,971	2,201,392	2,145,344
Selling, general and administrative	462,789	419,412	910,647	850,145
Amortization of intangible assets	18,592	9,270	28,441	18,629
Other operating expense, net	572	1,180	236,484	1,656
Total operating costs and expenses	1,586,347	1,508,833	3,376,964	3,015,774
Operating income	316,854	365,894	347,814	664,456
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(46,581)	(36,367)	(84,510)	(72,322)
Equity earnings in unconsolidated joint ventures	7,869	7,385	15,568	15,349
Other (expense) income, net	(346)	(7,119)	1,862	(1,107)
Total non-operating expenses, net	(39,058)	(36,101)	(67,080)	(58,080)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	277,796	329,793	280,734	606,376
Income tax expense	105,762	125,651	154,988	231,029
Income from continuing operations	172,034	204,142	125,746	375,347
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(507)	(266)	(881)	(318)
Net income	171,527	203,876	124,865	375,029
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8,384	9,261	15,583	17,966
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	163,143	194,615	109,282	357,063
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	163,650	194,881	110,163	357,381
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(507)	(266)	(881)	(318)
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 163,143	$ 194,615	$ 109,282	$ 357,063
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.03	$ 1.08	$ 0.68	$ 1.98
Loss from discontinued operations, per basic share
Net income	$ 1.03	$ 1.08	$ 0.68	$ 1.98
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.02	$ 1.07	$ 0.68	$ 1.96
Loss from discontinued operations, per diluted share			$ (0.01)
Net income	$ 1.02	$ 1.07	$ 0.67	$ 1.96
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	157,607	178,920	159,548	179,570
Diluted	159,352	180,760	161,278	181,572
Dividends per common share	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 0.2	$ 0.2