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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Goodwill, Balance at beginning of period $ 6,032us-gaap_Goodwill $ 5,649us-gaap_Goodwill $ 5,649us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill acquired during the period 1us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod   383us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Reclassification to assets held for sale (47)dgx_GoodwillReclassifiedToNonCurrentAssetsHeldForSale   0dgx_GoodwillReclassifiedToNonCurrentAssetsHeldForSale
Goodwill, Balance at end of period 5,986us-gaap_Goodwill   6,032us-gaap_Goodwill
Intangible assets, Cost 1,469us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill   1,487us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization (428)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization   (416)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 1,041us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill   1,071us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Amortization expense 21us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 22us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets  
Remainder of 2015 59us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear    
Future Amortization Expense, 2016 71us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths    
Future Amortization Expense, 2017 67us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo    
Future Amortization Expense, 2018 63us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree    
Future Amortization Expense, 2019 62us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour    
Future Amortization Expense, 2020 62us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive    
Future Amortization Expense, Thereafter 412us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive    
Future Amortization Expense, Total 796dgx_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsEstimatedAmortizationExpenseTotal    
Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Tradenames [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets, Cost 244us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
  244us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 244us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
  244us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization - Other [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets, Cost 1us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsNotSubjectToAmortizationMember
  1us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsNotSubjectToAmortizationMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 1us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsNotSubjectToAmortizationMember
  1us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsNotSubjectToAmortizationMember
Customer-related intangibles [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Weighted Average Amortization Period 19 years    
Intangible assets, Cost 922us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
  929us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization (265)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
  (259)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 657us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
  670us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Non-compete agreements [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Weighted Average Amortization Period 5 years    
Intangible assets, Cost 43us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
  43us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization (40)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
  (37)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 3us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
  6us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Technology [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Weighted Average Amortization Period 14 years    
Intangible assets, Cost 117us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnpatentedTechnologyMember
  118us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnpatentedTechnologyMember
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization (40)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnpatentedTechnologyMember
  (38)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnpatentedTechnologyMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 77us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnpatentedTechnologyMember
  80us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnpatentedTechnologyMember
Other [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Weighted Average Amortization Period 8 years    
Intangible assets, Cost 142us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationMember
  152us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationMember
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization (83)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationMember
  (82)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 59us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationMember
  70us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_OtherIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationMember
Total Amortizing Intangible Assets [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Weighted Average Amortization Period 17 years    
Intangible assets, Cost 1,224us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_TotalAmortizingIntangibleAssetsMember
  1,242us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_TotalAmortizingIntangibleAssetsMember
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization (428)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_TotalAmortizingIntangibleAssetsMember
  (416)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_TotalAmortizingIntangibleAssetsMember
Amortizing intangible assets, Net 796us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_TotalAmortizingIntangibleAssetsMember
  826us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dgx_TotalAmortizingIntangibleAssetsMember
Solstas, Summit Health, and Steward [Member]      
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes     103us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= dgx_SolstasSummitHealthandStewardMember
Intangible assets     $ 270us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= dgx_SolstasSummitHealthandStewardMember