Co-defendant's apportioned responsibility

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- Definition

Company's responsibility

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- Definition

Loss Contingency Damages Awarded Gross

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Loss Contingency Damages Awarded Net

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Loss contingency reduced damages awarded gross

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Loss contingency reduced damages awarded net

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Number of Recipients

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Payment reduction by Assembly Bill No. 97

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Percent of lowest maximum (cap on payments) established under federal Medicare program

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- Definition

The amount of the litigation reserve previously recorded in connection with the California False Claims Act lawsuit.

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Proposed Damages per Violation

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Reduction for Plaintiff Negligence

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process.

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The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

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No definition available.

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Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

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Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

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-Paragraph 9

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Aug. 24, 2012 Recipients
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expense in connection with the California False Claims Act lawsuit			$ 34,500,000
Previously recorded litigation reserve in connection with the California False Claims Act lawsuit			15,000,000
Litigation Settlement, Gross		49.5us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Payment reduction by Assembly Bill No. 97	10.00%lh_PaymentreductionbyAssemblyBillNo.97
Percent of lowest maximum (cap on payments)	80.00%lh_Percentoflowestmaximumcaponpayments
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	50,000,000
Loss Contingency Damages Awarded Gross	20,800,000lh_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedGross
Number of Recipients				39lh_NumberOfRecipients
Proposed damages per violation				0.0005lh_ProposedDamagesPerViolation
Loss Contingency Damages Awarded Net	15,800,000lh_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedNet
Reduction for Plaintiff Negligence	25.00%lh_ReductionforPlaintiffNegligence
Company's apportioned responsibility	50.00%lh_Companysapportionedresponsibility
Co-defendant's apportioned responsibility	50.00%
Loss contingency reduced damages awarded gross	5,000,000
Loss contingency reduced damages awarded net	4,400,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 42,500,000
Tri-State Clinical Laboratory Services, LLC [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage, parent			50.00%
Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Proposed damages per violation	0.00
Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Proposed damages per violation	0.00