EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

	2012			2011		2010
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	630,085		$	459,009	$	708,734
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(74,364		)	11,558		12,160
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	555,721		$	470,567	$	720,894
Income from continuing operations	$	630,085		$	459,009	$	708,734
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	2,506			2,907		3,292
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	627,579		$	456,102	$	705,442
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic	158,572			158,672		175,684
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units	1,493			1,500		1,636
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted	160,065			160,172		177,320
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.96		$	2.88	$	4.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.47		)	0.07		0.07
Net income	$	3.49		$	2.95	$	4.08
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.92		$	2.85	$	3.98
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.46		)	0.07		0.07
Net income	$	3.46		$	2.92	$	4.05

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect (shares in thousands):

	2012	2011	2010
Stock options and performance share units	1,793	2,259	2,886