<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001520897</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001022079</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-12215</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>500 PLAZA DRIVE</com:street1>
        <com:city>SECAUCUS</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>07094</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>9735202700</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Doherty Catherine T.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>5558</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>1146115.18</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>109866320</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/05/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/23/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5558</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/23/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Catherine T. Doherty</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>500 Plaza Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Secaucus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07094</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/13/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>26165</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>5393815.32</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Catherine T. Doherty</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>500 Plaza Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Secaucus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07094</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/19/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1433</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>293521.39</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Catherine T. Doherty</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>500 Plaza Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Secaucus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>07094</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/03/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>632</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>131285.36</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/05/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>11/14/2025</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>/s/ Daniel Tucci, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Catherine Doherty</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
