POWER OF ATTORNEY


     Know all by these presents, that the undersigned
hereby constiutes and appoints each of William J.
O'Shaughnessy, Jr., Michael E. Prevoznik, and Leo C.
Farrenkopf, Jr., signing singly, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact to:

(1)  execute for and on behalf of the undersigned all
reports, including but not limited to, Forms 3, 4 and 5
in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2)  do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf
of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to
complete the execution of any such report and the timely
filing of such report with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission and any other authority; and

(3)  take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of
such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best
interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it
being understood that any document executed pursuant to
this power of attorney shall be in such form and contain
such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may
approve in his discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grants to each such
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and
perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary and proper to be done in the exercise of any of
the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
if personally present, with full power of substitution or
revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that any
such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power
of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.
The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorney-
in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of
the undersigned, are not assuming any of the under-
signed's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  This power of
attorney shall remain in effect as long as the under-
signed is required to file reports under Section 16(a)
with respect to Quest Diagnostics Incorporated.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused
this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 25th
day of October, 2007.

		/s/ Surya N. Mohapatra
		Signature
		SURYA N. MOHAPATRA

STATE OF NEW JERSEY)
	  	   )  ss.:
COUNTY OF MORRIS   )

	On this 25TH day of October, 2007, before me,
the subscriber, personally appeared SURYA N. MOHAPATRA,
to me and known to me to be the same person described
in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and he
duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same.


		/s/ Angela Del Casale
		Notary Public
		My Commission Expires 9-20-2011