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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-17077, 333-17079, 333-17083, 333-60477,
333-66177, 333-74103 and 333-85713) of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated of our
report dated January 24, 2001, except as to Note 18 which is as of February 21,
2001, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule,
which appears in this Form 10-K.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
April 2, 2001