Name:	lh_CapitationRevenuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of Canadian provinces where the Company provides clinical laboratory testing services.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_ClinicalLaboratoryTestingServicesNumberOfCanadianProvinces
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of states where the Company provides clinical laboratory testing services.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_ClinicalLaboratoryTestingServicesNumberOfStates
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Gross receivable balance due from Medicare and Medicaid programs.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_ConcentrationRiskAccountsReceivableMedicareAndMedicaid
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the maximum ownership percentage of cost-method investments held by the Company. Generally, such investments do not have readily determinable fair values and are not required to be accounted for by the equity method. The carrying amount of such securities equates to cost, adjusted for other-than-temporary impairment.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_CostMethodInvestmentsMaximumOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

For tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained on audit by the taxing authority, the entity recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that it believes exceeds a minimum likelihood of being recognized. This element represents the minimum percentage of likelihood that a tax benefit will be realized that the entity uses to assess if a benefit should be recognized.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_IncomeTaxBenefitMinimumCertaintyPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of revenue recognized in the period derived directly from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_MedicareMedicaidRevenuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The minimum number of employees currently working for the Company.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_NumberOfEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The minimum number of patient service centers currently included in the Company's network.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_NumberOfPatientServiceCenters
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The minimum number of patient specimens processed by the Company daily.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_NumberOfPatientSpecimens
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of primary laboratories included in the Company's network.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_NumberOfPrimaryLaboratories
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Capitalized software costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the underlying system.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLifeSoftwareAverage
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
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Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash equivalents may be reported as cash equivalents, while legally restricted equivalents held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular equivalents are not generally reported as part of unrestricted cash equivalents.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 8, 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

Name:	us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of cash as of the balance sheet date that is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CashUninsuredAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The maximum useful life of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6904245&loc=d3e15217-109273

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6904245&loc=d3e15300-109273

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6904245&loc=d3e15211-109273

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsefulLifeMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The minimum useful life of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.