SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 184,218	$ 449,301	$ 447,888	$ 534,256
Accounts receivable, net	929,372	845,299
Other current assets	364,365	310,817
Total current assets	1,477,955	1,605,417
Property, plant and equipment, net	820,593	834,376
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	6,899,140	5,898,343
Intercompany receivable (payable)
Investment in subsidiaries
Other assets	233,503	189,494
Total assets	9,431,191	8,527,630
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	998,682	865,272
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	994,675	348,996
Total current liabilities	1,993,357	1,214,268
Long-term debt	3,332,931	2,641,160
Other liabilities	654,307	618,077
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	3,429,150	4,033,480
Noncontrolling interests	21,446	20,645
Total stockholders' equity	3,450,596	4,054,125	3,946,888	4,011,464
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,431,191	8,527,630
Parent [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	138,157	392,525	386,621	464,958
Accounts receivable, net	22,222	15,913
Other current assets	75,339	55,723
Total current assets	235,718	464,161
Property, plant and equipment, net	169,607	179,624
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	155,529	155,596
Intercompany receivable (payable)	(461,060)	84,107
Investment in subsidiaries	7,788,982	6,195,557
Other assets	274,555	227,822
Total assets	8,163,331	7,306,867
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	786,734	623,610
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	763,683	203,659
Total current liabilities	1,550,417	827,269
Long-term debt	2,989,123	2,295,709
Other liabilities	194,641	150,409
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	3,429,150	4,033,480
Noncontrolling interests
Total stockholders' equity	3,429,150	4,033,480
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	8,163,331	7,306,867
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,484	928	11,649	17,457
Accounts receivable, net	163,482	135,417
Other current assets	186,666	165,099
Total current assets	352,632	301,444
Property, plant and equipment, net	609,465	616,114
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	6,260,302	5,279,371
Intercompany receivable (payable)	739,576	231,268
Investment in subsidiaries
Other assets	43,974	10,090
Total assets	8,005,949	6,438,287
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	161,246	190,334
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	144,699	144,004
Total current liabilities	305,945	334,338
Long-term debt	18,378	19,342
Other liabilities	541,596	512,681
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	7,140,030	5,571,926
Noncontrolling interests
Total stockholders' equity	7,140,030	5,571,926
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	8,005,949	6,438,287
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	43,577	55,848	49,618	51,841
Accounts receivable, net	743,668	693,969
Other current assets	102,360	96,183
Total current assets	889,605	846,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	41,521	38,638
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	483,309	463,376
Intercompany receivable (payable)	(278,516)	(315,375)
Investment in subsidiaries
Other assets	50,321	48,319
Total assets	1,186,240	1,080,958
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	50,702	57,516
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	86,293	1,333
Total current liabilities	136,995	58,849
Long-term debt	325,430	326,109
Other liabilities	53,417	51,724
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	648,952	623,631
Noncontrolling interests	21,446	20,645
Total stockholders' equity	670,398	644,276
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,186,240	1,080,958
Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net
Other current assets		(6,188)
Total current assets		(6,188)
Property, plant and equipment, net
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
Intercompany receivable (payable)
Investment in subsidiaries	(7,788,982)	(6,195,557)
Other assets	(135,347)	(96,737)
Total assets	(7,924,329)	(6,298,482)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(6,188)
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt
Total current liabilities		(6,188)
Long-term debt
Other liabilities	(135,347)	(96,737)
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	(7,788,982)	(6,195,557)
Noncontrolling interests
Total stockholders' equity	(7,788,982)	(6,195,557)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (7,924,329)	$ (6,298,482)