CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 1,899	$ 1,863
Operating costs and expenses and other operating income:
Cost of services	1,165	1,144
Selling, general and administrative	437	442
Amortization expense	17	19
Other operating income, net	1	1
Total operating costs and expenses, net	1,620	1,606
Operating income	279	257
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(36)	(36)
Other income (expense), net	3	(49)
Total non-operating expenses, net	(33)	(85)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method investees	246	172
Income tax expense	(78)	(67)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes	7	10
Net income	175	115
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	12
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 164	$ 103
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders:
Basic (per share)	$ 1.19	$ 0.72
Diluted (per share)	$ 1.16	$ 0.71
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in Shares)	137	143
Diluted (in Shares)	141	144
Dividends per common share	$ 0.45	$ 0.40