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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	3 Months Ended
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	Mar. 31, 2014
Description of Business (Abstract)
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Background Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its subsidiaries ("Quest Diagnostics" or the "Company") is the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services ("DIS") providing insights that empower and enable patients, physicians, hospitals, integrated delivery networks, health plans, employers and others to make better healthcare decisions. The Company offers the broadest access in the United States to DIS through its nationwide network of laboratories and Company-owned patient service centers and the Company is the leading provider of DIS, including routine testing, esoteric or gene-based testing and anatomic pathology testing. The Company provides interpretive consultation through the largest medical and scientific staff in the industry, with hundreds of M.D.s and Ph.D.s, primarily located in the United States, many of whom are recognized leaders in their fields. The Company's Diagnostic Solutions ("DS") businesses offer a variety of solutions for life insurers, healthcare providers and others. The Company is the leading provider of risk assessment services for the life insurance industry. In addition, the Company is a leading provider of testing for clinical trials. The Company's diagnostics products business manufactures and markets diagnostic products. In addition, the Company offers healthcare organizations and clinicians robust information technology solutions.