XML 54 R43.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

DEBT (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
May 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Unamortized discount |  |  |  |  | $ 13,000,000 |
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre tax losses on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | $ 48,000,000 | $ 144,000,000
3.45% Senior Notes due June 2026 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, face amount | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Unamortized discount | 1,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance cost | $ 4,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  |  |  | 3.45% |
6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037 and 5.75% Senior Notes due January 2040 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt, amount |  | $ 200,000,000 |  | $ 250,000,000 |  |
6.95% Senior Notes Due 2037 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt, amount |  | 73,000,000 |  | 176,000,000 |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  |  |  | 6.95% |
5.75% Senior Notes Due 2040 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt, amount |  | $ 127,000,000 |  | $ 74,000,000 |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  |  |  | 5.75% |
5.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  | 5.45% |  |  |
3.20% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt, amount |  |  | $ 150,000,000 |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  |  |  | 3.20% |
6.40% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  | 6.40% |  |  |

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gross amount of debt extinguished. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_ThreePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesdueJune2026Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_SixpointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesdueJuly2037and5.75SeniorNotesdueJanuary2040Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_SixPointNineFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2037Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2040Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_FivePointFourFivePercentSeniorNotesDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_ThreePointTwoZeroPercentSeniorNotesDue2016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dgx_SixPointFourPercentSeniorNotesDue2017Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |