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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KLrLZ+0dSUNiIsyHUbTbjJIK0D6CzfaLUuvmeYuwktjgYEhO86h4/PZCBWrzSPVd
 4+iN8kgvFLdLyw+lEwX21g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-008031.txt : 20030618
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-008031.hdr.sgml : 20030618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030618164927
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-008031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030618

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GILLINGS DENNIS B PH D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000939158

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23520
		FILM NUMBER:		03749051

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4709 CREEKSTONE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9199412002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919623
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				561714315
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4709 CREEKSTONE DR
		STREET 2:		RIVERBIRCH BLDG STE 200
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8411
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9199982000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4709 CREEKSTONE DR
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8411
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000919623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QTRN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000939158</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GILLINGS DENNIS B PH D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-03-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value>E</value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>13.053</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>161531.948</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><di
rectOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by QTRN ESOP Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>79011</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-16</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>79011</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>79011</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On March 20, 2003, 13.053 shares were allocated to the reporting person's account under the Quintiles Transnational Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">In addition to the shares owned indirectly by the reporting person in the Quintiles Transnational Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the reporting person has the following holdings:  5,749,384 shares of common stock are owned directly by reporting person; 13,343 shares of common stock are owned indirectly by reporting person's daughter; 14,200 shares of common stock are own
ed indirectly by GFEF; 240,000 shares of common stock are owned indirectly by Limited Partnership; and 259,278 shares of common stock are owned indirectly by reporting person's spouse.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares owned by spouse.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Options vest 25% on 06/16/2004, 50% on 06/16/2005, 75% on 06/16/2006, and 100% on 06/16/2007.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/Tammy B. Stogner
By:  Tammy B. Stogner, Attorney in Fact
For:  Dennis B. Gillings</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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