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JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIPS AND EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Joint venture partnerships and equity method investments, condensed unconsolidated financial information      
Current assets $ 66.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets $ 43.4us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets  
Other assets 43.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets 40.9us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets  
Total assets 109.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets 84.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets  
Current liabilities 28.2us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities 21.9us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities  
Other liabilities 1.4us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities 1.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities  
Total liabilities 29.6us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilities 23.2us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilities  
Partners' equity 79.7us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationEquityOrCapital 61.1us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationEquityOrCapital  
Total liabilities and partners’ equity 109.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilitiesAndEquity 84.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilitiesAndEquity  
Joint venture partnerships and equity method investments, condensed unconsolidated financial information, Income Statement      
Net sales 283.8us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue 255.2us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue 249.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue
Gross profit 81.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss 84.1us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss 86.4us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss
Net earnings 31.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss 37.7us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss 42.2us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
The value of the Company's recorded investment in the Alberta partnership assigned to Canadian licenses 41.3lh_CanadianLicensesAlbertaCanada    
Milwaukee, Wisconsin [Member]      
Investments in unconsolidated joint venture partnerships and equity method investments Financial Statement, Reported Amounts      
Net Investment 20.5us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_MilwaukeeWisconsinMember
   
Interest Owned 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_MilwaukeeWisconsinMember
   
Alberta, Canada [Member]      
Investments in unconsolidated joint venture partnerships and equity method investments Financial Statement, Reported Amounts      
Net Investment 55.2us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_AlbertaCanadaMember
   
Interest Owned 43.37%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_AlbertaCanadaMember
   
Charlotte, North Carolina [Member]      
Investments in unconsolidated joint venture partnerships and equity method investments Financial Statement, Reported Amounts      
Net Investment 6.9us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_CharlotteNorthCarolinaMember
   
Florence, South Carolina [Member]      
Investments in unconsolidated joint venture partnerships and equity method investments Financial Statement, Reported Amounts      
Net Investment $ 10.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_FlorenceSouthCarolinaMember
   
Interest Owned 49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= lh_FlorenceSouthCarolinaMember