

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT:    PAMELA SHERRY
                                        TELEPHONE:  336-584-5171, EXT. 4855

    LABCORP -REGISTERED TRADEMARK- ANNOUNCES SALE OF VETERINARY LABORATORY
                   BUSINESS TO VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA
                                       
        DIVESTITURE CONSISTENT WITH LABCORP'S STRATEGIC PLAN FOR GROWTH

BURLINGTON, NC, MARCH 5, 1998 - Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered
Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp -Registered Trademark- ) (NYSE:  LH) announced
today that it has sold certain assets of its veterinary testing business to
Antech Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Veterinary Centers of America, Inc.
(NASDAQ: VCAI).  Antech Diagnostics, based in Irvine, California, operates a
national network of veterinary diagnostic laboratories.  Under the agreement,
which will become effective March 1, 1998, LabCorp will retain the animal
studies portion of the business for clinical trials testing, one of LabCorp's
targeted opportunities for growth.  Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The sale of the veterinary business is consistent with our strategy to
evaluate all business activities and reposition resources to optimize growth
and profitability," said Thomas P. Mac Mahon, LabCorp's Chief Executive
Officer. "Our fundamental business objective is strengthening core businesses
and leveraging our unique capabilities in growth areas such as clinical
trials, occupational testing services, molecular diagnostics and genetic
testing.  The divestiture of the veterinary business will allow us to refocus
valuable resources on those areas which enhance our position as a leader in
the industry."

Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered Trademark-  Holdings (LabCorp -
Registered Trademark-) is a national clinical laboratory organization with
annualized revenues of $1.5 billion in 1997.  The Company operates primary
testing facilities nationally, offering more than 1,700 different clinical
assays, from routine blood analyses to more sophisticated technologies.
LabCorp performs diagnostic tests for physicians, managed care organizations,
hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, industrial companies and other
clinical laboratories.

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