XML 66 R54.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.2

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jul. 01, 2015
Schedule of Stockholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends per common share | $ 0.56 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.53 |  |  |
Share repurchase authorization remaining available | $ 1,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,200 |  |
Purchases of treasury stock, value |  |  |  |  | $ 50 |  |  | $ 75 | $ 150 |
Reissuance of shares for employee benefit plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.1 | 1.8 |
UMass Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Stockholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18.90%
Treasury Stock, at Cost [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Stockholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchases of treasury stock- shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Purchases of treasury stock, value |  |  |  |  | $ 50 |  |  | $ 75 | $ 150 |

X
- Definition [Line Items] for Schedule of Stockholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dgx_ScheduleofStockholdersEquityandRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | dgx_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of treasury shares or units reissued. Excludes reissuance of shares or units in treasury for award under share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesTreasuryStockReissued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Equity impact of the cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_OwnershipAxis=dgx_UMassJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |