Name:	lh_CombinedContractualValueOfNoncontrollingInterestPuts
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of revenue from external customers attributed to an individual foreign country from which revenue is material. An entity also may provide subtotals of geographic information about groups of countries. Amount in Canadian dollars.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasRevenueFromExternalCustomersAttributedToIndividualForeignCountriesAmountCanadianDollars
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Purchase price (in Canadian dollars) of additional partnership units in Ontario, Canada joint venture, as outlined in the partnership agreement.

No definition available.

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

Purchase Price of Additonal Units in Canadian Joint Venture, Excluding Adjustments

No definition available.

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

Change in additional paid-in capital as a result of the initial difference between the value of the put and the underlying noncontrolling interest being recorded as additional noncontrolling interest and as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.

No definition available.

Name:	lh_ValueOfNoncontrollingInterestPut
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

No definition available.