CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 1,815,740	$ 1,878,352	$ 3,602,387	$ 3,787,049
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services	1,093,666	1,101,924	2,185,510	2,211,088
Selling, general and administrative	418,548	424,085	866,407	907,337
Amortization of intangible assets	19,756	18,808	39,040	37,633
Other operating (income) expense, net	(4,951)	183	(4,285)	(180)
Total operating costs and expenses	1,527,019	1,545,000	3,086,672	3,155,878
Operating income	288,721	333,352	515,715	631,171
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(39,921)	(41,750)	(79,786)	(83,852)
Equity earnings in unconsolidated joint ventures	7,253	7,372	13,399	14,981
Other income (expense), net	258	(1,255)	3,649	3,501
Total non-operating expenses, net	(32,410)	(35,633)	(62,738)	(65,370)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	256,311	297,719	452,977	565,801
Income tax expense	94,491	113,726	167,828	216,288
Income from continuing operations	161,820	183,993	285,149	349,513
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	12,803	2,480	33,091	5,475
Net income	174,623	186,473	318,240	354,988
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9,155	8,768	16,993	18,165
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	165,468	177,705	301,247	336,823
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	152,665	175,225	268,156	331,348
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	12,803	2,480	33,091	5,475
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 165,468	$ 177,705	$ 301,247	$ 336,823
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 0.99	$ 1.10	$ 1.72	$ 2.08
Income from discontinued operations, per basic share	$ 0.08	$ 0.02	$ 0.21	$ 0.04
Net income, per basic share	$ 1.07	$ 1.12	$ 1.93	$ 2.12
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations, per diluted share	$ 0.99	$ 1.09	$ 1.71	$ 2.06
Income from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$ 0.08	$ 0.02	$ 0.21	$ 0.04
Net income, per diluted share	$ 1.07	$ 1.11	$ 1.92	$ 2.10
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	152,708	158,477	155,403	158,385
Diluted	154,059	159,784	156,733	159,745
Dividends per common share	$ 0.30	$ 0.17	$ 0.60	$ 0.34