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<CONFORMED-NAME>LABORATORY CORP OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
<CIK>0000920148
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8071
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<STREET1>358 S MAIN ST
<STREET2>4225 EXECUTIVE SQ STE 800
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<STATE>NC
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<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>NATIONAL HEALTH LABORATORIES HOLDINGS INC
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      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
                       August 24, 2000
                     ------------------
              (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)

<PAGE>


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

  On  August  24, 2000, Laboratory Corporation  of  America-
Registered Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp-Registered Trademark-
)  announced  that  it  has  signed  a  multi-year  national
contract with Nashville-based HealthTrust Purchasing  Group,
L.P.  (HPG),  one of the country's largest group  purchasing
organizations.   The  agreement  renews  LabCorp's  existing
reference  laboratory relationship with  HCA-The  Healthcare
Company  and  recent  spinoffs  Triad  Hospitals,  Inc.  and
LifePoint  Hospitals, Inc.  It also extends LabCorp's  total
service   offerings   to   all  HPG  members.    HealthTrust
Purchasing   Group,  L.P.  membership  includes   hospitals,
surgery  centers,  clinics, physicians, integrated  delivery
networks, and affiliate members.

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

 (c)  Exhibit
      20  Press release of the Company dated
          August 24, 2000.

<PAGE>

                         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: September 1, 2000

<PAGE>
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<TEXT>


Laboratory Corporation of America-Registered Trademark-Holdings
358 South Main Street
Burlington, NC   27215
Telephone:  336-584-5171


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  336-436-4855                  Shareholder Direct: 800-LAB-0401
          Pamela Sherry                                     www.labcorp.com


 LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- SIGNS
 GROUP PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH HEALTHTRUST PURCHASING GROUP, L.P.

Burlington, NC, August 24, 2000 - Laboratory Corporation of
America-Registered Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp-Registered
Trademark-) (NYSE: LH) today announced that it has signed a
multi-year national contract with Nashville-based HealthTrust
Purchasing Group, L.P. (HPG), one of the country's largest
group purchasing organizations. The agreement renews LabCorp's
existing reference laboratory relationship with HCA-The
Healthcare Company and recent spinoffs Triad Hospitals, Inc.
and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. It also extends LabCorp's total
service offerings to all HPG members. HealthTrust Purchasing
Group, L.P. membership includes hospitals, surgery centers,
clinics, physicians, integrated delivery networks, and
affiliate members.

"We are pleased with this significant new business opportunity
to offer our full range of laboratory services to this
considerable organization of health care providers," noted
Stevan R. Stark, executive vice president of marketing and
sales for LabCorp. "Our service history with HCA and other
recent HPG members has been very favorable, and our capability
to offer direct electronic connectivity to streamline ordering
and result delivery remains an important LabCorp strength in
meeting the testing and information needs of all HPG members."

Laboratory   Corporation   of   America-Registered   Trademark-
Holdings (LabCorp-Registered Trademark-) is a national clinical
laboratory with annual revenues of $1.7 billion in 1999.   With
18,000  employees  and  over 100,000  clients  nationwide,  the
company  offers  more than 2,000 clinical  tests  ranging  from
simple  blood  analyses to sophisticated molecular diagnostics.
LabCorp  leverages its expertise in innovative clinical testing
technology  with three Centers of Excellence.

<PAGE>
The  Center  for Molecular  Biology  and  Pathology, in Research
Triangle  Park (RTP),  North  Carolina, develops applications
for  polymerase chain  reaction  (PCR) technology. Its Center
for  Occupational Testing  in  RTP is one of the world's largest
substance  abuse testing  facilities,  and the Center for  Esoteric
Testing  in Burlington,  North  Carolina, performs the  largest
volume  of specialty  testing in the network.  LabCorp's  clients
include physicians,   state  and  federal  government,   managed
care organizations, hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical  and  Fortune
1000 companies, and other clinical laboratories.

Each of the above forward-looking statements is subject to
change based on various important factors, including without
limitation, competitive actions in the marketplace and adverse
actions of governmental and other third-party payors.  Further
information on potential factors that could affect LabCorp's
financial results is included in the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1999 and subsequent SEC filings.


                              ###
_______________________________
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