8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                          _____________________________

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                          _____________________________

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2003

                         Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                       1-12215                      16-1387862
(State or other             Commission File Number           (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                           Identification Number)
incorporation)
                          _____________________________

                               One Malcolm Avenue
                           Teterboro, New Jersey 07608
                                 (201) 393-5000
          (Address of principal executive offices and telephone number,
                              including area code)

                          _____________________________



Item 9.       Regulation FD Disclosure.
              -------------------------

On January 24, 2003, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated issued a press release.




                                    Signature

              Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: January 24, 2003

                                         QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED



                                         By: /s/ Robert A. Hagemann
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Hagemann
                                            Title:  Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer



    Exhibit Index

    Exhibit 99.1 Press release of the Company issued on January 24, 2003.

EX-99.1

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS DISCLOSES GUIDANCE ON WEBCASTED INVESTOR CALL

Contacts:

Laure Park (Investors):  201-393-5030
Gary Samuels (Media):  201-393-5700


TETERBORO, N.J., JANUARY 24, 2003 -Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX)
discussed guidance for 2003 on its webcasted investor call this morning. As
discussed on the call, for the full year 2003 Quest Diagnostics expects earnings
per diluted share to increase to between $4.00 and $4.20, excluding the impact
of the planned acquisition of Unilab. Revenues are expected to grow
approximately 8% to 10%. Volume, as measured by the number of requisitions, is
expected to grow between 6% and 7%, with 2% to 3% coming from organic volume
growth. Revenue per requisition is expected to increase 2% to 3%. Earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) are expected to
improve to between 19% and 20% of revenues. Capital expenditures are expected to
approximate between $170 million and $180 million and cash from operations is
expected to exceed $500 million.

Additionally on the call the company provided guidance for the first quarter
2003. For the first quarter earnings per diluted share are expected to increase
to between $0.82 and $0.87. Revenues are expected to grow approximately 12%.
Volume is expected to increase by 9% to 10%. On a pro forma basis, assuming that
American Medical Laboratories (AML) had been part of Quest Diagnostics during
the first quarter of 2002, volume growth is expected to be between 1% and 2%.
Revenue per requisition is expected to increase 2% to 3%. EBITDA is expected to
improve to between 17% and 18% of revenues.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic
testing, information and services, providing insights that enable physicians,
hospitals, managed care organizations and other healthcare professionals to make
decisions to improve health. The company offers patients and physicians the
broadest access to diagnostic laboratory services through its national network
of laboratories and patient service centers. Quest Diagnostics is the leading
provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based medical testing, and empowers
healthcare organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art connectivity
solutions that improve practice management. Additional company information can
be found on the Internet at: www.questdiagnostics.com.

The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to
be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties may include,
but are not limited to, unanticipated expenditures, changing relationships with
customers, suppliers and strategic partners, conditions of the economy and other
factors described in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated 2001 Form 10-K and
subsequent filings.