SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): January 27, 2004


                         Commission file number 1-12215


                         Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
                               One Malcolm Avenue
                               Teterboro, NJ 07608
                                 (201) 393-5000


                                    Delaware
                            (State of Incorporation)


                                   16-1387862
                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)









Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

c. Exhibit

   99.1 Press release of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated dated January 27, 2004
        announcing, among other things, its results for the quarter and year
        ended December 31, 2003.

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 9, "Regulation FD
Disclosure" and Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial Condition." On
January 27, 2004, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated issued a press release
announcing, among other things, its results for the quarter and year
ended December 31, 2003. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.












                                    Signature


         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.


                                         January 27, 2004


                                         QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED



                                         By: /s/ Robert A. Hagemann
                                             ------------------------------
                                                 Robert A. Hagemann
                                                 Senior Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer