



      UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                   WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                              
                          FORM 8-K
                              
                       CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934

                        JULY 20, 1998
                       --------------
              (Date of earliest event reported)


         LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
         ------------------------------------------
   (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   DELAWARE              1-11353             13-3757370
   --------              -------             ----------
(State or other         (Commission         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of         File Number)         Identification
incorporation)                               Number)


   358 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 27215
   -------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices)
                              
                        336-229-1127
                        ------------
    (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
                              
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

On July 20, 1998, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
(the "Company") issued a press release announcing that the 
Antivirogram-TM- and the VircoGEN-TM-, two new diagnostic 
testing procedures enabling physicians to evaluate resistance 
of HIV to antiretroviral drugs, are now available for commercial 
use exclusively from the Company's facilities in the U.S.  
These new testing systems are an important advance in optimizing 
treatment choices in the fight against HIV/AIDS.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
        INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

 (c)  Exhibit
      20  Press release of the Company dated July 20, 1998.

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                         SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.

          LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
          ------------------------------------------
                         (Registrant)

               By:/s/ Bradford T. Smith
                  -------------------------------
                      Bradford T. Smith
                      Executive Vice President,
                      General Counsel, Secretary
                      and Compliance Officer



Date: August 17, 1998

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