CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 7,146	[1]	$ 7,383	[1]	$ 7,392
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services	4,326		4,365		4,363
Selling, general and administrative	1,704		1,745		1,743
Amortization of intangible assets	79		75		61
Gain on sale of royalty rights	(474)		0		0
Other operating expense (income), net	36		(3)		238
Total operating costs and expenses	5,671		6,182		6,405
Operating income	1,475		1,201		987
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(159)		(165)		(170)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees	24		26		29
Other income, net	8		6		3
Total non-operating expenses, net	(127)		(133)		(138)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	1,348		1,068		849
Income tax expense	500		402		355
Income from continuing operations	848	[1]	666	[1]	494
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	35	[1]	(74)	[1]	12
Net income	883	[1]	592	[1]	506
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	34	[1]	36	[1]	35
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	849	[1]	556	[1]	471
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	814	[1]	630	[1]	459
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	35		(74)		12
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 849	[1]	$ 556	[1]	$ 471
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 5.35	[1]	$ 3.96	[1]	$ 2.88
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per basic share	$ 0.23	[1]	$ (0.47)	[1]	$ 0.07
Net income	$ 5.58	[1]	$ 3.49	[1]	$ 2.95
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$ 5.31	[1]	$ 3.92	[1]	$ 2.85
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$ 0.23	[1]	$ (0.46)	[1]	$ 0.07
Net income	$ 5.54	[1]	$ 3.46	[1]	$ 2.92
Dividends per common share	$ 1.20		$ 0.81		$ 0.47

[1] In December 2012, the Company committed to a plan to sell HemoCue and completed the sale of OralDNA. 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 19).