DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details)	Dec. 31, 2011
Description of Business (Abstract)
Number of requisitions processed during the period	146

Number of requisitions processed during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	dgx_NumberOfRequisitionsProcessedDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	dgx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant