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TAXES ON INCOME (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Income (loss) from continuing operations - domestic $ 836us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic $ 1,300us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic $ 1,100us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic
Income (loss) from continuing operations - foreign 13us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 19us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 18us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign
Current federal income tax expense 204us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 417us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 332us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
Current state and local income tax expense 34us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 59us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 61us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
Current foreign income tax expense 3us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 4us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 3us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit
Defered federal income tax expense (benefit) 28us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 27us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 13us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred state and local income tax expense (benefit) (6)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (6)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (6)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred foreign income tax expense (benefit) (1)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (1)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (1)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total 262us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 500us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 402us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Tax provision at statutory rate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit 3.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 2.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 3.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Impact of foreign operations (0.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (0.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (0.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Tax credits (0.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits (0.40%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits (0.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits
Adjustments to unrecognized tax positions (the net benefit mainly results from favorable resolution of certain tax contingencies) (4.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies 1.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies 1.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies
Non-deductible expenses, primarily meals and entertainment expenses 0.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense 0.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense 0.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense
Impact of noncontrolling interests (1.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense (1.00%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense (1.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense
Other, net (0.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (0.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Effective tax rate 30.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 37.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 37.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Accounts receivable reserves current DTA 91dgx_CurrentDeferredTaxAssetsAccountsReceivableReserves 85dgx_CurrentDeferredTaxAssetsAccountsReceivableReserves  
Liabilities not currently deductible current DTA 78us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities 63us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities  
Total current deferred tax assets 169us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent 148us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent  
Liabilities not currently deductible non-current DTA 138dgx_LiabilitiesNotCurrentlyDeductibleNonCurrentDta 144dgx_LiabilitiesNotCurrentlyDeductibleNonCurrentDta  
Stock-based compensation 42us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost 43us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost  
Capitalized R&D expense 3us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInProcessResearchAndDevelopment 6us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInProcessResearchAndDevelopment  
Net operating loss carryfowards, net of valuation allowance 165dgx_NetOperatingLossCarryfowardsNetOfValuationAllowance 114dgx_NetOperatingLossCarryfowardsNetOfValuationAllowance  
Non-current deferred tax liability - depreciation and amortization (519)dgx_NonCurrentDeferrdTaxLiabilityDepreciationAndAmortization (475)dgx_NonCurrentDeferrdTaxLiabilityDepreciationAndAmortization  
Total non-current deferred tax liabilities, net (171)dgx_NoncurrentDeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet (168)dgx_NoncurrentDeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet  
Total non-current deferred tax assets 33us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent 24us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent  
Total non-current deferred tax liabilities 204us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent 192us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent  
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards 242us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards 140us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards  
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance 60us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 34us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance  
Income taxes payable 110us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxes 157us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxes  
Prepaid taxes 44us-gaap_PrepaidTaxes    
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning balance 168us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 199us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 195us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Additions for tax positions of current year 17us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 11us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 12us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Additions for tax positions of prior years 1us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 12us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 10us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Reductions for changes in judgment (56)dgx_ReductionsForChangesInJudgment (23)dgx_ReductionsForChangesInJudgment (2)dgx_ReductionsForChangesInJudgment
Reductions for expirations of statutes of limitations (6)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations (2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations (6)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Reductions for settlements (2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities (29)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities (10)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance 122us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 168us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 199us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate 98us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate    
Significant change in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible, estimated range of change, upper bound 58us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBound    
Unrecognized tax Benefits, interest on income taxes expense (1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense 3us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense 3us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest on income taxes accrued 12us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued 13us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued  
Domestic Country [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards - foreign 326us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
   
Net operating loss carryforwards - expiration dates Dec. 31, 2033    
Foreign Country [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards - foreign 44us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
   
Net operating loss carryforwards - expiration dates Dec. 31, 2022    
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination 2009    
Tax years subject to examination 2012    
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Tax years subject to examination 2014    
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards - foreign $ 1,400us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
   
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Tax years subject to examination 2005    
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Tax years subject to examination 2014