CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 7,382,562	[1]	$ 7,391,932	[1]	$ 7,260,120
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services	4,364,699		4,362,928		4,275,535
Selling, general and administrative	1,745,200		1,743,089		1,658,842
Amortization of intangible assets	74,748		61,183		33,113
Other operating (income) expense, net	(2,882)		238,091		9,047
Total operating costs and expenses	6,181,765		6,405,291		5,976,537
Operating income	1,200,797		986,641		1,283,583
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(164,689)		(169,614)		(143,467)
Equity earnings in unconsolidated joint ventures	25,625		28,954		29,557
Other income, net	6,662		2,813		5,311
Total non-operating expenses, net	(132,402)		(137,847)		(108,599)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	1,068,395		848,794		1,174,984
Income tax expense	401,897		354,702		430,127
Income from continuing operations	666,498	[1]	494,092	[1]	744,857
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(74,364)	[1]	11,558	[1]	12,160
Net income	592,134	[1]	505,650	[1]	757,017
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	36,413	[1]	35,083	[1]	36,123
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	555,721	[1]	470,567	[1]	720,894
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	630,085	[1]	459,009	[1]	708,734
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(74,364)		11,558		12,160
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 555,721	[1]	$ 470,567	[1]	$ 720,894
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 3.96	[1]	$ 2.88	[1]	$ 4.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per basic share	$ (0.47)	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.07
Net income	$ 3.49	[1]	$ 2.95	[1]	$ 4.08
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$ 3.92	[1]	$ 2.85	[1]	$ 3.98
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$ (0.46)	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.07
Net income	$ 3.46	[1]	$ 2.92	[1]	$ 4.05
Dividends per common share	$ 0.81		$ 0.47		$ 0.40

[1] During the third quarter of 2006, the Company completed its wind down of NID and classified the operations of NID as discontinued operations. Results of operations have been prepared to report the results of HemoCue, OralDNA and NID as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 18).