-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BfjvzaOw+ESjzldTA/QCK1UtLeowWWozpBZazu14YRBfEIWRUFNwoi6eskcBJ67L
 sEmAR+jCzot86urRKE0zLA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950117-03-003478.txt : 20030807
<SEC-HEADER>0000950117-03-003478.hdr.sgml : 20030807
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030807170649
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950117-03-003478
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030807

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLAHERTY JAMES F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201560

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12215
		FILM NUMBER:		03829340

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4675 MACARTHUR COURT
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE MALCOLM AVE
		CITY:			TETERBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07608

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_10016.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-06</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DGX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201560</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FLAHERTY JAMES F III</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>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-08-06</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>57.56</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeanne C. Serocke, as Attorney-in-fact for James F. Flaherty III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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