Exhibit 12.1

                         QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED
         COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND
                               PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
                      (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)



                                        FOR THE
                                          SIX
                                         MONTHS                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ENDED      -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                        JUNE 30,
                                           2003         2002          2001         2000         1999           1998
                                        ---------    -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          
Income before taxes,
  equity earnings and minority
  share of income ..................... $351,596     $ 539,177     $330,720     $204,002     $  20,473      $  61,070
Adjustments:
  Distributed income from less
      than 50% owned companies ........    7,490        17,034        3,620        2,952         1,740             --
  Fixed charges .......................   50,434        89,567      105,154      145,721        89,336         59,242
                                        --------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ----------     ----------
Earnings before taxes and fixed
  charges, as adjusted ................ $409,520     $ 645,778     $439,494     $352,675     $ 111,549      $ 120,312
                                        ========     =========     =========    =========    ==========     ==========

Fixed charges:
  Interest expense .................... $ 31,389     $  57,707     $ 77,840     $120,471     $  69,842      $  43,977
Portion of rent expense which
      represents interest factor ......   19,045        31,860       27,314       25,250        19,494         15,265
                                        --------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ----------     ----------
Total fixed charges ................... $ 50,434     $  89,567     $105,154     $145,721     $  89,336      $  59,242
                                        ========     =========     =========    =========    ==========     ==========

Preferred dividends:
  Preferred dividend requirements ..... $     --     $      --     $    118     $    118     $     118      $     118
  Ratio of pre-tax income to
      income (loss) before
      extraordinary loss...............      1.7           1.7          1.8          1.9         (11.3)           2.0
                                        --------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ----------     ----------

Pre-tax preferred dividend
      requirement .....................       --            --          212          225        (1,327)           235
Total fixed charges ...................   50,434        89,567      105,154      145,721        89,336         59,242
                                        --------     ---------     ---------    ---------    ----------     ----------

Fixed charges and pre-tax
      preferred dividend requirement .. $ 50,434     $  89,567     $105,366     $145,946     $  88,009      $  59,477
                                        ========     =========     =========    =========    ==========     ==========

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ....     8.1x          7.2x         4.2x         2.4x          1.2x           2.0x

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed
  charges and preferred dividends .....     8.1x          7.2x         4.2x         2.4x          1.3x           2.0x
)