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DEBT (Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt $ 3,762us-gaap_LongTermDebt   $ 3,332us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Less: current portion of long-term debt 518us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent   212us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Total long-term debt, net of current portion 3,244us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent   3,120us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FloatingRateSeniorNotesDue2014Member
  200us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FloatingRateSeniorNotesDue2014Member
5.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2015Member
  500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2015Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 5.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2015Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Nov. 01, 2015    
3.20% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 304us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
  307us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 3.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Apr. 01, 2016    
6.40% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 375us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointFourPercentSeniorNotesDue2017Member
  375us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointFourPercentSeniorNotesDue2017Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 6.40%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointFourPercentSeniorNotesDue2017Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Jul. 01, 2017    
2.70% Senior Notes due April 2019 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 300us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointSevenPercentSeniorNotesDue2019Member
  0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointSevenPercentSeniorNotesDue2019Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 2.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointSevenPercentSeniorNotesDue2019Member
2.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointSevenPercentSeniorNotesDue2019Member
 
Debt instrument, maturity date Apr. 01, 2019    
4.75% Senior Notes due January 2020 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 524us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2020Member
  520us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2020Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 4.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2020Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Jan. 30, 2020    
4.70% Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 549us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdue2021Member
  533us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdue2021Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 4.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdue2021Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Apr. 01, 2021    
4.25% Senior Notes due April 2024 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 311us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourpointtwofivepercentSeniorNotesDue2024Member
  0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourpointtwofivepercentSeniorNotesDue2024Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 4.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourpointtwofivepercentSeniorNotesDue2024Member
4.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourpointtwofivepercentSeniorNotesDue2024Member
 
Debt instrument, maturity date Apr. 01, 2024    
6.95% Senior Notes Due 2037 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 421us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
  421us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 6.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Jul. 01, 2037    
5.75% Senior Notes Due 2040 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total long-term debt 439us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
  439us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
   
Debt instrument, maturity date Jan. 30, 2040    
Other Long-term Debt [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Other $ 39us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_OtherLongTermDebtMember
  $ 37us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_OtherLongTermDebtMember