XML 21 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
DEBT (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Apr. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, face amount $ 1,200us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount   $ 1,200us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Unamortized discount 18us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount   18us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Debt issuance cost 11us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts    
Subsequent Event [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Pre tax losses on extinguishment of debt   64us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Other Income (Expense), Net [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Pre tax losses on extinguishment of debt 79us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= dgx_OtherIncomeExpenseNetMember
   
2.50% Senior Notes due March 2020 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, face amount 300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
  300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 2.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
  2.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
Unamortized discount 1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
  1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_TwoPointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2020Member
3.50% Senior Notes due March 2025 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, face amount 600us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2025Member
  600us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2025Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 3.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2025Member
  3.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointFiveZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2025Member
4.70% Senior Notes due March 2045 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, face amount 300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2045Member
  300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2045Member
Debt instrument, interest rate 4.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2045Member
  4.70%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FourPointSevenZeroPercentSeniorNotesdueMarch2045Member
6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037 and 5.75% Senior Notes due January 2040 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Extinguishment of debt, amount     250us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixpointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesdueJuly2037and5.75SeniorNotesdueJanuary2040Member
6.95% Senior Notes Due 2037 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, interest rate 6.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
  6.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
Extinguishment of debt, amount     176us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
5.75% Senior Notes Due 2040 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, interest rate 5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
  5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
Extinguishment of debt, amount     74us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
3.20% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, interest rate 3.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
  3.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
3.20% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt instrument, interest rate   3.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Extinguishment of debt, amount   $ 150us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember