EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 104	$ 116
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	20
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	104	136
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	1	1
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and diluted	$ 103	$ 115
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	144	158
Stock options and performance share units	1	1
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	145	159
Income from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 0.72	$ 0.73
Income from discontinued operations, per basic share	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net income , per basic share	$ 0.72	$ 0.86
Income from continuing operations, per diluted share	$ 0.71	$ 0.72
Income from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net income, per diluted share	$ 0.71	$ 0.85
Stock options and performance share units not included due to their antidilutive effect	6	2