CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 1,746	$ 1,787
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services	1,101	1,092
Selling, general and administrative	415	448
Amortization of intangible assets	22	19
Other operating expense, net	0	1
Total operating costs and expenses	1,538	1,560
Operating income	208	227
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(39)	(40)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees	6	6
Other income, net	1	4
Total non-operating expenses, net	(32)	(30)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	176	197
Income tax expense	65	73
Income from continuing operations	111	124
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income	111	144
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	8
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	104	136
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	104	116
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 104	$ 136
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.72	$ 0.73
Income from discontinued operations, per basic share	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net income	$ 0.72	$ 0.86
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.71	$ 0.72
Income from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net income	$ 0.71	$ 0.85
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	144	158
Diluted	145	159
Dividends per common share	$ 0.33	$ 0.30