Business Segments Business Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	2015			2014			2013
Net revenues:
LCD	$	6,199.3		$	5,838.0		$	5,669.4
CDD	2,306.4			173.6			138.9
Total net revenues	$	8,505.7		$	6,011.6		$	5,808.3
Operating earnings (loss):
LCD	$	1,061.4		$	982.3		$	1,061.8
CDD	71.9			40.7			37.9
General corporate expenses	(130.4		)	(112.6		)	(108.8		)
Total operating income	1,002.9			910.4			990.9
Non-operating expenses, net	(270.8		)	(83.7		)	(75.3		)
Earnings before income taxes	732.1			826.7			915.6
Provision for income taxes	294.1			314.1			340.2
Net earnings	438.0			512.6			575.4
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1.1		)	(1.4		)	(1.6		)
Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$	436.9		$	511.2		$	573.8

	2015		2014		2013
Depreciation and amortization
LCD	$	245.8	$	184.8	$	176.3
CDD	184.4		5.3		4.1
General corporate	4.1		44.2		42.1
Total depreciation and amortization	$	434.3	$	234.3	$	222.5

	LCD		CDD		Total
Geographic distribution of net revenues
US	$	5,847.3	$	1,156.0	$	7,003.3
Canada	290.4		—		290.4
United Kingdom	46.2		235.5		281.7
Switzerland	—		359.7		359.7
Other	15.4		555.2		570.6
Total net revenues	$	6,199.3	$	2,306.4	$	8,505.7

	LCD		CDD		Total
Geographic distribution of property, plant and equipment, net
U.S.	$	724.1	$	687.8	$	1,411.9
Canada	45.1		—		45.1
U.K.	3.2		133.0		136.2
Switzerland	—		86.4		86.4
Other	3.3		64.5		67.8
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	775.7	$	971.7	$	1,747.4