<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950117-06-000841
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060216
<ITEMS>5.02
<FILING-DATE>20060222
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060222
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC
<CIK>0001022079
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8071
<IRS-NUMBER>161387862
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12215
<FILM-NUMBER>06636389
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE MALCOLM AVE
<CITY>TETERBORO
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07608
<PHONE>2013935000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE MALCOLM AVE
<CITY>TETERBORO
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07601
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CORNING CLINICAL LABORATORIES INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19960903
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a41393.htm
<DESCRIPTION>QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED
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<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font SIZE=2>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font SIZE=2>WASHINGTON, DC 20549</font></p>



<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center; border-bottom:solid black 1px'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:8pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font SIZE=2>FORM 8-K</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><b><font size=2>CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF</font></b></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><B><font SIZE=2>THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></B></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 16, 2006</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>Commission file number 001-12215</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><b><font size=2>Quest Diagnostics Incorporated</font></b></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>1290 Wall Street West</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>Lyndhurst, NJ 07071</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>(201) 393-5000</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><b><font size=2>Delaware</font></b></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>(State of Incorporation)</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><b><font size=2>16-1387862</font></b></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;border-bottom:solid black 1px'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>
<br>
<HR noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2"><DIV STYLE="page-break-after:always"></DIV><pAGE>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr valign="top">
    <td width="8%"><b><font size=2>Item 5.02</font></b></td>
    <td><b><font size=2>Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election
      of Directors;<br>
      Appointment of Principal Officers </font></b></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-left:7.69%; text-indent:7.69%;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:12pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:7.69%;text-align:left;'><font size=2>On February 16, 2006, during a regularly scheduled and properly called meeting of the board of directors (the "Board") of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (the "Company"), Mr. James F. Flaherty III, a director of the Company, notified the Board&nbsp;of his decision not to stand for reelection as a director of the Company at the Company's 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  Mr. Flaherty's term as a director will expire on the date of the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which is currently scheduled for May 4, 2006.  Mr. Flaherty's decision was not the result of any disagreement with the Company. </font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<br>
<HR noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2"><DIV STYLE="page-break-after:always"></DIV><pAGE>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><b><font size=2>Signature</font></b></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:8.31%;text-align:left;'><font size=2>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>


<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="4"><font size=2>February 22, 2006</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="4"><font SIZE=2>QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="50%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="3%"><font size=2>By:</font></td>
    <td style='border-bottom:solid black 1px'>&nbsp;</td>
    <td style='border-bottom:solid black 1px'><font size=2>/s/ Leo C. Farrenkopf,
      Jr.</font></td>
    <td width="22%">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="3%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="22%"><font size=2>Leo C. Farrenkopf, Jr.<br>
      Assistant General Counsel and<br>
      Assistant Corporate Secretary </font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>    </font><font size=1>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p>


<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<hr size="2" noshade>
<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>



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