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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R5KeJoWBgNX42sL0jl8tWYUixyLnFLXCy5IUJbrKDSs6PsS3kkvx5UsLsuMTvCjC
 qSdshb1sbmghTFTs6uQ89A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950117-03-003426.txt : 20030804
<SEC-HEADER>0000950117-03-003426.hdr.sgml : 20030804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030804173520
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950117-03-003426
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030804

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEMAN KENNETH W/NJ
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222699

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12215
		FILM NUMBER:		03821595

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE MALCOLM AVE
		CITY:			TETERBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07608
		BUSINESS PHONE:		201 393 5470

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022079
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MEDICAL LABORATORIES [8071]
		IRS NUMBER:				161387862
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MALCOLM AVE
		CITY:			TETERBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07608
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2013935000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MALCOLM AVE
		CITY:			TETERBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CORNING CLINICAL LABORATORIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960903
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rsr_10006.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DGX</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222699</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREEMAN KENNETH W/NJ</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MALCOLM AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TETERBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07608</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Chief Exec. Officer; Chairman</officerTitle>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-08-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>939</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>59.805</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>399962</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>1677</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>See footnote</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>432</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>See footnote</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Certain of these shares are subject to restrictions on transfer, the possibility of forfeiture and/or certain other terms contained in the underlying stock agreements and related plan documents.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">These underlying shares were acquired on a periodic basis by the trustee of the Company's tax qualified profit sharing (401(k)) plan.  The information was obtained from the plan administrator as of July 28, 2003.  The number of shares is based on the account balance of the Company stock fund under the plan (which includes some money market instruments) divided by the market price of the Company's stock as of July 28, 2003.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">These shares are owned by the reporting person's wife as custodian under UGMA in accounts for the benefit of the reporting person's children.  The reporting person disclaims ownership of these shares.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Jeanne C. Serocke, as Attorney-in-fact for Kenneth W. Freeman</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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