Edgar Filing: QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
Commission file number 001-12215

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

Three Giralda Farms
Madison, NJ 07940
(973) 520-2700

Delaware
(State of Incorporation)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of October 18, 2010, there were 170,404,902 outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, $.01 par value.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


		Page
Item 1.	Financial Statements

	Index to consolidated financial statements filed as part of this report:

	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009	2

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009	3

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009	4

	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009	5

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	6

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	25

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

	See Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”	33

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures

	Controls and Procedures	33

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009			2010			2009


Net revenues	$	1,864,655		$	1,897,146		$	5,544,885		$	5,606,970


Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services		1,091,465			1,097,535			3,236,809			3,251,236
Selling, general and administrative		426,562			441,569			1,276,707			1,314,626
Amortization of intangible assets		9,915			9,154			28,544			27,536
Other operating (income) expense, net		(154	)		608			1,502			(15,146	)

Total operating costs and expenses		1,527,788			1,548,866			4,543,562			4,578,252


Operating income		336,867			348,280			1,001,323			1,028,718

Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(36,200	)		(33,065	)		(108,522	)		(109,319	)
Equity earnings in unconsolidated joint ventures		7,201			8,572			22,550			25,524
Other income (expense), net		3,150			2,450			2,043			(9,354	)

Total non-operating expenses, net		(25,849	)		(22,043	)		(83,929	)		(93,149	)


Income from continuing operations before taxes		311,018			326,237			917,394			935,569
Income tax expense		102,902			125,145			333,931			358,869

Income from continuing operations		208,116			201,092			583,463			576,700
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(360	)		543			(678	)		(1,040	)

Net income		207,756			201,635			582,785			575,660
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		9,681			9,416			27,647			28,139

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	198,075		$	192,219		$	555,138		$	547,521


Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	198,435		$	191,676		$	555,816		$	548,561
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(360	)		543			(678	)		(1,040	)

Net income	$	198,075		$	192,219		$	555,138		$	547,521


Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	1.14		$	1.03		$	3.12		$	2.93
(Loss) income from discontinued operations		—			—			—			(0.01	)

Net income	$	1.14		$	1.03		$	3.12		$	2.92


Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	1.13		$	1.02		$	3.09		$	2.91
(Loss) income from discontinued operations		—			—			—			(0.01	)

Net income	$	1.13		$	1.02		$	3.09		$	2.90


Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		173,229			185,124			177,456			186,587
Diluted		174,315			187,164			179,153			188,288

Dividends per common share	$	0.10		$	0.10		$	0.30		$	0.30

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND DECEMBER 31, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)


	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009

	(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	369,261		$	534,256
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $232,394 and $238,206 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		884,094			827,343
Inventories		73,188			91,386
Deferred income taxes		131,069			131,800
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		95,102			94,640

Total current assets		1,552,714			1,679,425
Property, plant and equipment, net		812,371			825,946
Goodwill, net		5,100,389			5,083,944
Intangible assets, net		806,077			823,665
Other assets		187,787			150,663

Total assets	$	8,459,338		$	8,563,643


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	816,806		$	888,705
Current portion of long-term debt		331,526			170,507

Total current liabilities		1,148,332			1,059,212
Long-term debt		2,835,937			2,936,792
Other liabilities		594,364			556,175
Stockholders’ equity:
Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600,000 shares authorized at both September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009; 214,171 shares and 214,110 shares issued at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		2,142			2,141
Additional paid-in capital		2,305,520			2,302,368
Retained earnings		3,718,829			3,216,639
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		6,276			(20,961	)
Treasury stock, at cost; 43,804 shares and 30,817 shares at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		(2,175,402	)		(1,510,548	)

Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity		3,857,365			3,989,639
Noncontrolling interests		23,340			21,825

Total stockholders’ equity		3,880,705			4,011,464

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	8,459,338		$	8,563,643

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(unaudited)
(in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	582,785		$	575,660
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		190,444			193,662
Provision for doubtful accounts		222,882			249,332
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision		(4,673	)		58,948
Stock-based compensation expense		45,042			53,330
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements		(24	)		(3,190	)
Other, net		14,322			10,899
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(279,879	)		(304,046	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(26,646	)		68,818
Settlement and other special charges		—			(314,386	)
Income taxes payable		19,095			13,317
Other assets and liabilities, net		15,110			34,755

Net cash provided by operating activities		778,458			637,099


Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(16,603	)
Capital expenditures		(136,291	)		(117,033	)
Increase in investments and other assets		(3,543	)		(6,557	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(139,834	)		(140,193	)


Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings		—			510,000
Repayments of debt		(2,578	)		(617,806	)
Purchases of treasury stock		(750,000	)		(349,991	)
Exercise of stock options		40,787			46,576
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements		24			3,190
Dividends paid		(54,217	)		(56,226	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(25,568	)		(23,036	)
Other financing activities		(12,067	)		(16,526	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(803,619	)		(503,819	)


Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(164,995	)		(6,913	)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		534,256			253,946


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	369,261		$	247,033

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
(unaudited)
(in thousands)


				Quest Diagnostics Stockholders’ Equity

	Shares of Common Stock Outstand- ing			Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Compre- hensive Income (Loss)			Treasury Stock, at Cost			Compre- hensive Income			Non- controlling Interests			Total Stock- holders’ Equity

Balance, December 31, 2009		183,293		$	2,141		$	2,302,368		$	3,216,639		$	(20,961	)	$	(1,510,548	)				$	21,825		$	4,011,464
Net income											555,138								$	555,138			27,647			582,785
Currency translation														24,321						24,321						24,321
Market valuation, net of tax expense of $(1,517)														2,373						2,373						2,373
Deferred loss, less reclassifications														543						543						543

Comprehensive income																			$	582,375

Dividends declared											(52,948	)														(52,948	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests																							(25,568	)		(25,568	)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans		993			2			(24,782	)								39,790									15,010
Stock-based compensation expense								42,389									2,653									45,042
Exercise of stock options		1,048						(11,530	)								52,317									40,787
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans		(274	)		(1	)		(5,600	)								(9,614	)								(15,215	)
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans								2,675																		2,675
Purchases of treasury stock		(14,693	)														(750,000	)								(750,000	)
Other																							(564	)		(564	)

Balance, September 30, 2010		170,367		$	2,142		$	2,305,520		$	3,718,829		$	6,276		$	(2,175,402	)				$	23,340		$	3,880,705


				Quest Diagnostics Stockholders’ Equity

	Shares of Common Stock Outstand- ing			Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Compre- hensive Loss			Treasury Stock, at Cost			Compre- hensive Income			Non- controlling Interests			Total Stock- holders’ Equity

Balance, December 31, 2008		190,374		$	2,141		$	2,262,065		$	2,561,679		$	(68,068	)	$	(1,152,921	)				$	20,238		$	3,625,134
Net income											547,521								$	547,521			28,139			575,660
Currency translation														59,009						59,009						59,009
Market valuation, net of tax benefit of $190														290						290						290
Deferred loss, less reclassifications														(5,163	)					(5,163	)					(5,163	)

Comprehensive income																			$	601,657

Dividends declared											(55,779	)														(55,779	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests																							(23,036	)		(23,036	)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans		594						1,063									13,301									14,364
Stock-based compensation expense								40,228									13,102									53,330
Exercise of stock options		1,422						(21,681	)								68,257									46,576
Shares to cover employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under benefit plans		(130	)					(1,902	)								(3,996	)								(5,898	)
Tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plans								3,611																		3,611
Purchase of treasury stock		(7,469	)														(349,991	)								(349,991	)

*Balance, September 30, 2009*		184,791		$	2,141		$	2,283,384		$	3,053,421		$	(13,932	)	$	(1,412,248	)				$	25,341		$	3,938,107

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)


1.	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Background

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its subsidiaries (“Quest Diagnostics” or the “Company”) is the world’s leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable patients, physicians and others to make decisions to improve health. Quest Diagnostics offers patients and physicians the broadest access to diagnostic laboratory services through the Company’s nationwide network of laboratories and patient service centers. The Company provides interpretive consultation through the largest medical and scientific staff in the industry, with approximately 900 M.D.s and Ph.D.s primarily located in the United States. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of clinical testing, including gene-based testing and other esoteric testing, anatomic pathology services and testing for drugs-of-abuse, and the leading provider of risk assessment services for the life insurance industry. The Company is also a leading provider of testing for clinical trials. The Company’s diagnostics products business manufactures and markets diagnostic test kits and specialized point-of-care testing. Quest Diagnostics empowers healthcare organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art information technology solutions that can improve patient care and medical practice.


2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair statement of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Except as otherwise disclosed, all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The interim consolidated financial statements have been compiled without audit. Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The year-end balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of December 31, 2009, but does not include all the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts in the statement of cash flows to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Earnings Per Share

The Company’s unvested restricted common stock and unvested restricted stock units that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities and, therefore, are included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share using the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and performance share units granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan and its Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Long-Term Incentive Plan.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

New Accounting Standards

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the consolidation of variable interest entities (“VIE”). This standard provides a new approach for determining which entity should consolidate a VIE, how and when to reconsider the consolidation or deconsolidation of a VIE and requires disclosures about an entity’s significant judgments and assumptions used in its decision to consolidate or not consolidate a VIE. Under this standard, the new consolidation model is a more qualitative assessment of power and economics that considers which entity has the power to direct the activities that “most significantly impact” the VIE’ s economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to, the VIE. The adoption of this standard on January 1, 2010 was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the accounting for revenue in arrangements with multiple deliverables including how the arrangement consideration is allocated among delivered and undelivered items of the arrangement. Among the amendments, this standard eliminates the use of the residual method for allocating arrangement consideration and requires an entity to allocate the overall consideration to each deliverable based on an estimated selling price of each individual deliverable in the arrangement in the absence of having vendor-specific objective evidence or other third party evidence of fair value of the undelivered items. This standard also provides further guidance on how to determine a separate unit of accounting in a multiple-deliverable revenue arrangement and expands the disclosure requirements about the judgments made in applying the estimated selling price method and how those judgments affect the timing or amount of revenue recognition. This standard will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. This standard clarifies the existing accounting guidance such that tangible products that contain both software and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality, shall be excluded from the scope of the software revenue recognition accounting standards. Accordingly, sales of these products may fall within the scope of other revenue recognition accounting standards or may now be within the scope of this standard and may require an allocation of the arrangement consideration for each element of the arrangement. This standard will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the disclosures about an entity’s use of fair value measurements. Among these amendments, entities will be required to provide enhanced disclosures about transfers into and out of the Level 1 (fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities) and Level 2 (fair value determined based on significant other observable inputs) classifications, provide separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements relating to the tabular reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of the Level 3 (fair value determined based on significant unobservable inputs) classification and provide greater disaggregation for each class of assets and liabilities that use fair value measurements. Except for the detailed Level 3 roll-forward disclosures, the new standard was effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2009. The adoption of this accounting standards amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The requirement to provide detailed disclosures about the purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll-forward activity for Level 3 fair value measurements is effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2010. The Company does not expect that the adoption of these new disclosure requirements will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the accounting for, and disclosure of, subsequent events in an entity’s consolidated financial statements. This standard amends the authoritative guidance for subsequent events that was previously issued and among other things exempts Securities and Exchange Commission registrants from the requirement to disclose the date through which it has evaluated subsequent events for either original or restated financial statements. This standard does not apply to subsequent events or transactions that are

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

within the scope of other applicable GAAP that provides different guidance on the accounting treatment for subsequent events or transactions. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the accounting for insurance recoveries. This standard clarifies that a healthcare entity may not net insurance recoveries against related professional claim liabilities in its balance sheet. In addition, this standard also requires that claim liabilities be determined without consideration of insurance recoveries. This standard will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the financial statement disclosure of the amount of charity care provided by a healthcare entity. This standard requires that the cost of performing services be used as the measurement basis for charity care disclosures. This standard will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


3.	EARNINGS PER SHARE

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share was as follows (in thousands, except per share data):


	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009		2010			2009

Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	198,435		$	191,676	$	555,816		$	548,561
(Loss) income from discontinued operations		(360	)		543		(678	)		(1,040	)

Net income available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders	$	198,075		$	192,219	$	555,138		$	547,521


Income from continuing operations	$	198,435		$	191,676	$	555,816		$	548,561
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities		957			682		2,545			1,576

Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders – basic and diluted	$	197,478		$	190,994	$	553,271		$	546,985


Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		173,229			185,124		177,456			186,587

Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units		1,086			2,040		1,697			1,701

Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted		174,315			187,164		179,153			188,288


Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	1.14		$	1.03	$	3.12		$	2.93
(Loss) income from discontinued operations		—			—		—			(0.01	)

Net income	$	1.14		$	1.03	$	3.12		$	2.92


Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	1.13		$	1.02	$	3.09		$	2.91
(Loss) income from discontinued operations		—			—		—			(0.01	)

Net income	$	1.13		$	1.02	$	3.09		$	2.90

Stock options and performance share units of 3.3 million shares and 3.0 million shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, were not included due to their antidilutive effect.

Stock options and performance share units of 3.2 million shares and 4.3 million shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, were not included due to their antidilutive effect.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)


4.	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company determines fair value measurements used in its consolidated financial statements based upon the exit price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants exclusive of any transaction costs, as determined by either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability. Absent a principal market to measure fair value, the Company has used the most advantageous market, which is the market in which the Company would receive the highest selling price for the asset or pay the lowest price to settle the liability, after considering transaction costs. However, when using the most advantageous market, transaction costs are only considered to determine which market is the most advantageous and these costs are then excluded when applying a fair value measurement.

Inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values are classified based on a three-level hierarchy. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

The following table provides a summary of the recognized assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


			Basis of Fair Value Measurements

			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs

September 30, 2010			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Assets:
Trading securities	$	35,240	$	35,240	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swaps		30,688		—		30,688		—
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies		19,256		—		19,256		—
Available-for-sale equity securities		3,892		—		—		3,892
Foreign currency forward contracts		5,781		—		5,781		—

Total	$	94,857	$	35,240	$	55,725	$	3,892


Liabilities:
Deferred compensation liabilities	$	56,695	$	—	$	56,695	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts		522		—		522		—

Total	$	57,217	$	—	$	57,217	$	—

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)


			Basis of Fair Value Measurements

			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets / Liabilities		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs

December 31, 2009			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Assets:
Trading securities	$	33,871	$	33,871	$	—	$	—
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies		15,873		—		15,873		—
Foreign currency forward contracts		2,357		—		2,357		—

Total	$	52,101	$	33,871	$	18,230	$	—


Liabilities:
Deferred compensation liabilities	$	53,919	$	—	$	53,919	$	—
Interest rate swaps		14,398		—		14,398		—
Foreign currency forward contracts		311		—		311		—

Total	$	68,628	$	—	$	68,628	$	—

The Company offers certain employees the opportunity to participate in a supplemental deferred compensation plan. A participant’s deferrals, together with Company matching credits, are invested in a variety of participant-directed stock and bond mutual funds that are classified as trading securities. Changes in the fair value of these securities are measured using quoted prices in active markets based on the market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held exclusive of any transaction costs. A corresponding adjustment for changes in fair value of the trading securities is also reflected in the changes in fair value of the deferred compensation obligation. The deferred compensation liabilities are classified within Level 2 because their inputs are derived principally from observable market data by correlation to the trading securities.

The Company offers certain employees the opportunity to participate in a non-qualified deferred compensation program. A participant’s deferrals, together with Company matching credits, are “invested” at the direction of the employee in a hypothetical portfolio of investments which are tracked by an administrator. The Company purchases life insurance policies, with the Company named as beneficiary of the policies, for the purpose of funding the program’s liability. Changes in the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies are based upon earnings and changes in the value of the underlying investments. Changes in the fair value of the deferred compensation obligation are derived using quoted prices in active markets based on the market price per unit multiplied by the number of units. The cash surrender value and the deferred compensation obligations are classified within Level 2 because their inputs are derived principally from observable market data by correlation to the hypothetical investments.

The fair value measurements of foreign currency forward contracts are obtained from a third-party pricing service and are based on market prices in actual transactions and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The fair value measurements of the Company’s interest rate swaps are model-derived valuations as of a given date in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets including certain financial information and certain assumptions regarding past, present and future market conditions. The Company does not believe that the changes in the fair values of its foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps will materially differ from the amounts that could be realized upon settlement or maturity or that the changes in fair value will have a material effect on its results of operations, liquidity and capital resources.

Investments in available-for-sale equity securities consist of the revaluation of an existing investment in unregistered common shares of a publicly-held company. This investment is classified within Level 3 because the unregistered securities contain restrictions on their sale and, therefore, the fair value measurement reflects a discount for the effect of the restriction.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

In the second quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a charge of $7.0 million associated with the write-down of an investment due to the uncertainty of recoverability from an other-than-temporary impairment loss. A fair value measurement, using significant unobservable inputs, has been applied to this asset on a non-recurring basis.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value based on the short maturities of these instruments. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $3.4 and $3.3 billion, respectively, using quoted market prices and yields for the same or similar types of borrowings, taking into account the underlying terms of the debt instruments. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value of the debt by $203 million and $151 million, respectively.


5.	GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The changes in goodwill, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009 are as follows:


	September 30, 2010		December 31, 2009


Balance at beginning of period	$	5,083,944	$	5,054,926
Goodwill acquired during the year		—		25,973
Other purchase accounting adjustments		246		(21,195	)
Increase related to foreign currency translation		16,199		24,240

Balance at end of period	$	5,100,389	$	5,083,944

Approximately 90% of the Company’s goodwill as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was associated with its clinical testing business.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, goodwill acquired during the year was associated with several immaterial acquisitions. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, other purchase accounting adjustments were primarily related to a milestone payment on an acquisition from 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, other purchase accounting adjustments were primarily related to a payment received from an escrow fund established at the time of an acquisition in 2007.

Intangible assets at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following:


	Weighted Average Amortization Period	September 30, 2010							December 31, 2009

		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Amortizing intangible assets:
Customer-related intangibles	19 years	$	602,908	$	(153,386	)	$	449,522	$	600,460	$	(129,994	)	$	470,466
Non-compete agreements	5 years		54,869		(51,612	)		3,257		54,854		(50,252	)		4,602
Other	10 years		75,288		(23,826	)		51,462		68,896		(18,867	)		50,029

Total	18 years		733,065		(228,824	)		504,241		724,210		(199,113	)		525,097

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
Tradenames			301,836		—			301,836		298,568		—			298,568


Total intangible assets		$	1,034,901	$	(228,824	)	$	806,077	$	1,022,778	$	(199,113	)	$	823,665

Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $9.9 million and $9.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, amortization expense related to intangible assets was $28.5 million and $27.5 million, respectively.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter as of September 30, 2010 is as follows:


Fiscal Year Ending December 31,


Remainder of 2010	$	10,381
2011		41,174
2012		39,056
2013		37,121
2014		36,529
2015		35,491
Thereafter		304,489

Total	$	504,241


6.	FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to market risks for changes in interest rates and foreign currencies. This strategy includes the use of interest rate swap agreements, forward starting interest rate swap agreements and foreign currency forward contracts to manage its exposure to movements in interest and currency rates. The Company has established policies and procedures for risk assessment and the approval, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instrument activities. These policies prohibit holding or issuing derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features or requirements to post collateral.

A summary of the fair values of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets is stated in the table below:


	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009

	Balance Sheet Classification	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Classification	Fair Value


Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Asset Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps	Other assets	$	30,688		$	—


Liability Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps		$	—	Other liabilities	$	14,398

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Asset Derivatives:

Foreign currency forward contracts	Other current assets	$	5,781	Other current assets	$	2,357


Liability Derivatives:

Foreign currency forward contracts	Other current liabilities	$	522	Other current liabilities	$	311


Total Net Derivatives Asset		$	35,947		$	—

Total Net Derivatives Liability		$	—		$	12,352

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

Interest Rate Risk

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its cash and cash equivalents and its debt obligations. Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents may fluctuate as interest rates change, however, due to their relatively short maturities, the Company does not hedge these assets and the impact of interest rate risk is not material. The Company’s debt obligations consist of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt instruments. The Company’s primary objective is to achieve the lowest overall cost of funding while managing the variability in cash outflows within an acceptable range. In order to achieve these objectives, the Company has entered into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the periodic exchange of payments without the exchange of underlying principal or notional amounts. Net payments are recognized as an adjustment to interest expense.

The Company formally documents its hedge relationships, including identifying the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. On the date the derivative is entered into, the Company designates the type of derivative as a fair value hedge or cash flow hedge, and accounts for the derivative in accordance with its designation as prescribed by the FASB standards on accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities. At inception and at least quarterly thereafter, the Company formally assesses whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. All components of each derivative financial instrument’s gain or loss are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

In November 2009, the Company entered into various fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements (the “Fixed-to-Variable Interest Rate Swap Agreements”) which have a notional amount totaling $350 million and a variable interest rate based on one-month LIBOR plus 1.33%. These derivative financial instruments are accounted for as fair value hedges of a portion of our Senior Notes due 2020 and effectively convert that portion of the debt into variable interest rate debt. Accordingly, the Company recognizes the changes in the fair value of both the Fixed-to-Variable Interest Rate Swap Agreements and the underlying debt obligation in “other income (expense), net” as equal and offsetting gains and losses. The fair value of the Fixed-to-Variable Interest Rate Swap Agreements was an asset of $30.7 million at September 30, 2010 and a liability of $14.4 million, at December 31, 2009. Since inception, the fair value hedges were effective; therefore, there is no impact on earnings for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010 as a result of hedge ineffectiveness.

In previous years, the Company entered into various forward starting interest rate swap agreements and treasury-lock agreements that were accounted for as cash flow hedges. The effective portions of the changes in fair value of these derivatives represent deferred gains or losses that are recorded in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).” These deferred gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the statement of operations in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings, which is when the Company recognizes interest expense on the hedged cash flows. The total loss, net of tax benefit, recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on these cash flow hedges as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $6.8 million and $7.3 million, respectively. The net amount of deferred gains and losses on cash flow hedges that is expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings within the next 12 months is $1.1 million.

Foreign Currency Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk for changes in foreign exchange rates primarily under certain intercompany receivables and payables. Foreign exchange forward contracts are used to mitigate the exposure of the eventual net cash inflows or outflows resulting from these intercompany transactions. The objective is to hedge a portion of the forecasted foreign currency risk over a rolling 12-month time horizon to mitigate the eventual impacts of changes in foreign exchange rates on the cash flows of the intercompany transactions. As of September 30, 2010, the gross notional amount of foreign currency forward contracts in U.S. dollars was $56.8 million and principally consists of contracts in Swedish krona and British pounds. Notional amounts represent the face amount of contractual arrangements and the basis on which currencies are exchanged and are not a measure of market or credit risk exposure. The Company does not designate these derivative instruments as hedges under current accounting standards unless the benefits of doing so are material. The Company’s foreign exchange exposure is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

condition or results of operations. The Company does not hedge its net investment in non-U.S. subsidiaries because it views those investments as long-term in nature.


7.	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Components of Comprehensive Income

The market valuation adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 represents unrealized holding gains on investments, net of taxes. The deferred loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily represents deferred losses on the Company’s interest rate swap and forward starting interest rate swap agreements, net of amounts reclassified to interest expense. Foreign currency translation adjustments are not adjusted for income taxes since they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries.

The market valuation adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 represents the reversal of prior period unrealized holding losses for investments, net of taxes, where the decline in fair value was deemed to be other than temporary and the resulting loss was recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. The deferred loss primarily represents deferred losses on the Company’s interest rate swap and forward starting interest rate swap agreements, net of amounts reclassified to interest expense. Foreign currency translation adjustments are not adjusted for income taxes since they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries.

Comprehensive Income

For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, total comprehensive income was $253 million and $234 million, respectively.

Dividend Program

During each of the quarters of 2010 and 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share.

Share Repurchase Plan

In January 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase an additional $750 million of the Company’s common stock. The share repurchase authorization had no set expiration or termination date.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 7.0 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $46.64 per share for a total of $324 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 14.7 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $51.04 per share for $750 million, including 4.5 million shares purchased in the first quarter at an average price per share of $56.21 for $251 million under an accelerated share repurchase transaction (“ASR”) with a bank.

Under the ASR, in January 2010, the Company repurchased 4.5 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock for an initial purchase price of $56.05 per share. The purchase price of these shares was subject to an adjustment based on the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during a period following execution of the agreement. The total cost of the initial purchase was $250 million. The purchase price adjustment was settled in the first quarter of 2010 and resulted in an additional cash payment of $0.7 million, for a final purchase price of $251 million, or $56.21 per share.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company reissued 0.1 million shares and 1.7 million shares, respectively, for employee benefit plans. At September 30, 2010, previous share repurchase authorizations were fully utilized.

On October 20, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized $250 million of additional share repurchases, which have no set expiration or termination date.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 1.8 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $54.10 per share for a total of $100 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 7.5 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $46.86 per share for $350 million, including 4.5 million shares repurchased from SB Holdings Capital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc., at an average price of $44.33 per share for $200 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company reissued 1.0 million shares and 1.9 million shares, respectively, for employee benefit plans.


8.	SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009			2010			2009


Depreciation expense	$	54,222		$	54,461		$	161,900		$	166,126

Interest expense		(36,472	)		(34,758	)		(109,642	)		(111,562	)
Interest income		272			1,693			1,120			2,243

Interest expense, net		(36,200	)		(33,065	)		(108,522	)		(109,319	)

Interest paid		62,131			42,052			118,546			118,909
Income taxes paid		127,298			115,603			324,416			283,103

Assets acquired under capital leases		12,018			2,847			16,230			2,847


9.	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company has a line of credit with a financial institution totaling $85 million for the issuance of letters of credit (the “Letter of Credit Line”). The Letter of Credit Line, which was renewed during the third quarter of 2010, matures on November 19, 2011 and is guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic, wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).

In support of its risk management program, to ensure the Company’s performance or payment to third parties, $72 million in letters of credit were outstanding at September 30, 2010. The letters of credit primarily represent collateral for current and future automobile liability and workers’ compensation loss payments. In addition, $6 million of bank guarantees were outstanding at September 30, 2010 in support of certain foreign operations.

Contingent Lease Obligations

The Company is subject to contingent obligations under certain leases and other instruments incurred in connection with real estate activities and other operations associated with LabOne, Inc., which the Company acquired in 2005, and certain of its predecessor companies. No liability has been recorded for any of these potential contingent obligations. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

Legal Matters

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings. Some of the proceedings against the Company involve claims that are substantial in amount.

In 2006 and 2008, the Company and several of its subsidiaries received subpoenas from the California Attorney General’s Office seeking documents relating to the Company’s billings to MediCal, the California Medicaid program. The Company cooperated with the government’s requests. Subsequently, the State of California intervened as plaintiff in a civil lawsuit, California ex rel. Hunter Laboratories, LLC v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated., et al. (the “California Lawsuit”), filed in California Superior Court against a number of clinical laboratories, including the Company and several of its subsidiaries.The complaint was originally filed by a competitor laboratory in California under the whistleblower provisions of the California False Claims Act. The complaint was unsealed on March 20, 2009.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

The complaint alleges that, among other things, the Company overcharged MediCal for testing services and violated the California False Claims Act. Violations of this statute and related regulations could lead to an injunction, fines or penalties, and exclusion from MediCal, as well as claims by third parties. The Company is engaged in discussions with the plaintiffs which could lead to an agreement to resolve some or all of the matters. However, there are no assurances that these discussions will lead to a resolution of the California Lawsuit. If the Company cannot resolve the California Lawsuit through these discussions, the Company will continue to vigorously defend itself.

Also, in the third quarter of 2010, the California Department of Health Care Services conducted an audit of the Company’s billing to MediCal. The Department contends that the Company’s billings are not consistent with applicable California regulations, as currently interpreted by the Department. While the Company believes it is in compliance in all material respects with California requirements applicable to billing for clinical laboratory testing, the Company entered into an interim agreement under which it has agreed to temporarily suspend billing MediCal for a period of up to six months, during which it continues to provide services, pending resolution of the California Lawsuit. An unfavorable outcome of the California Lawsuit could result in reduced reimbursement from the MediCal program. Annual revenue from the MediCal program in 2009 was approximately $66 million.

In 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, seeking business records including records regarding the Company’s relationship with health maintenance organizations, independent physician associations, group purchasing organizations, and preferred provider organizations relating back to 1995. The Company has cooperated with the investigation. Subsequently, in November 2009, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York partially unsealed a civil complaint, U. S. ex rel. Fair Laboratory Practices Associates v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, filed against the Company under the whistleblower provisions of the federal False Claims Act. The complaint alleges, among other things, violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the federal False Claims Act in connection with the Company’s pricing of laboratory services. The complaint seeks damages for alleged false claims associated with laboratory tests reimbursed by government payors, treble damages and civil penalties.

In June 2009, a shareholder plaintiff filed a purported derivative action in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, on behalf of the Company against certain present and former directors and officers of the Company based on, among other things, their alleged breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the manufacture, marketing, sale and billing related to certain test kits manufactured by NID. The complaint includes claims for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty and waste of corporate assets and seeks, among other things, damages and remission of compensation received by the individual defendants.

In April 2010, a putative class action was filed against the Company and NID in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of entities that allegedly purchased or paid for certain of NID’s test kits. The complaint alleges that certain of NID’s test kits were defective and that defendants, among other things, violated RICO and state consumer protection laws. The complaint alleges an unspecified amount of damages.

In August 2010, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, on behalf of the Company against the directors and certain present officers of the Company. The complaint alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with, among other things, alleged overcharges by the Company to MediCal for testing services, and seeks unspecified compensatory damages and equitable relief.

In addition, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries have received subpoenas from state agencies in five states and from the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which seek documents relating to the Company’s billing practices. The Company is cooperating with the requests.

The federal or state governments may bring claims based on new theories as to the Company’s practices which management believes to be in compliance with law. In addition, certain federal and state statutes, including the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act, allow private individuals to bring lawsuits against healthcare companies on

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

behalf of government or private payers. The Company is aware of certain pending individual or class action lawsuits, and has received several subpoenas, related to billing practices filed under the qui tam provisions of the Civil False Claims Act and/or other federal and state statutes, regulations or other laws. The Company understands that there may be other pending qui tam claims brought by former employees or other “whistle blowers” as to which the Company cannot determine the extent of any potential liability.

Several of these matters are in their early stages of development and involve responding to and cooperating with various government investigations and related subpoenas. While the Company believes that at least a reasonable possibility exists that losses may have been incurred, based on the nature and status of the investigations, the losses are either currently not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated.

Management has established reserves in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the matters discussed above. Such reserves totaled approximately $10 million as of September 30, 2010. Management cannot predict the outcome of such matters. Although management does not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of such matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, the outcome may be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in the period in which the impact of such matters is determined or paid.

As a general matter, providers of clinical testing services may be subject to lawsuits alleging negligence or other similar legal claims. These suits could involve claims for substantial damages. Any professional liability litigation could also have an adverse impact on the Company’s client base and reputation. The Company maintains various liability insurance coverages for, among other things, claims that could result from providing, or failing to provide, clinical testing services, including inaccurate testing results, and other exposures. The Company’s insurance coverage limits its maximum exposure on individual claims; however, the Company is essentially self-insured for a significant portion of these claims. Reserves for such matters are established by considering actuarially determined losses based upon the Company’s historical and projected loss experience. Management believes that present insurance coverage and reserves are sufficient to cover currently estimated exposures. Management cannot predict the outcome of any claims made against the Company. Although management does not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings or claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, the outcome may be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in the period in which the impact of such claims is determined or paid.


10.	DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

During the fourth quarter of 2005, NID instituted its second voluntary product hold within a six-month period due to quality issues, which adversely impacted the operating performance of NID. As a result, the Company evaluated a number of strategic options for NID. On April 19, 2006, the Company decided to discontinue NID’s operations. During the third quarter of 2006, the Company completed its wind down of NID and classified the operations of NID as discontinued operations. Results of operations for NID have been reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and related disclosures for all periods presented.

During the third quarter of 2007, the government and the Company began settlement discussions with respect to the government’s investigation involving NID and the Company. Based on the status of settlement discussions, during 2007 the Company established a reserve, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, reflected in discontinued operations, of $241 million in connection with these claims.

During the third quarter of 2008, the Company and NID reached an agreement in principle with the United States Attorney’s Office to settle the federal government investigation involving NID and the Company regarding NID test kits and tests performed using those test kits. As a result of the agreement in principle in 2008, the Company recorded charges of $75 million in discontinued operations to increase its reserve for the settlement and related matters.

On April 15, 2009, the Company finalized the resolution of the federal government investigation related to NID and entered into a final settlement agreement with the federal government. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company paid $268 million to settle the civil allegations. The Company also entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement with the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, NID pled guilty to a single count of felony misbranding and paid a $40 million fine. These second quarter payments totaling

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

$308 million, which had been previously reserved, were funded out of cash on-hand and available credit facilities. During the third quarter of 2009, the Company finalized separate settlement agreements with certain states and paid approximately $6 million, which had been previously reserved for.

Summarized financial information for the discontinued operations of NID is set forth below:


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009			2010			2009


Net revenues	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		3			642			298			(2,030	)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(363	)		(99	)		(976	)		990

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	(360	)	$	543		$	(678	)	$	(1,040	)

The remaining balance sheet information related to NID was not material at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.


11.	BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Clinical testing is an essential element in the delivery of healthcare services. Physicians use clinical tests to assist in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of diseases and other medical conditions. Clinical testing is generally categorized as clinical laboratory testing and anatomic pathology services. Clinical laboratory testing is performed on whole blood, serum, plasma and other body fluids, such as urine, and specimens such as microbiology samples. Anatomic pathology services are principally for the detection of cancer and are performed on tissues, such as biopsies, and other samples, such as human cells. Customers of the clinical testing business include patients, physicians, hospitals, employers, governmental institutions and other commercial clinical laboratories. The clinical testing business accounted for greater than 90% of net revenues from continuing operations in 2010 and 2009.

All other operating segments include the Company’s non-clinical testing businesses and consist of its risk assessment services, clinical trials testing, healthcare information technology and diagnostics products businesses. The Company’s risk assessment business provides underwriting support services to the life insurance industry including teleunderwriting, paramedical examinations, laboratory testing and medical record retrieval. The Company’s clinical trials testing business provides clinical testing performed in connection with clinical research trials on new drugs and vaccines. The Company’s healthcare information technology business is a developer and integrator of clinical connectivity and data management solutions for healthcare organizations, physicians and clinicians. The Company’s diagnostics products business manufactures and markets diagnostic test kits.

On April 19, 2006, the Company decided to discontinue NID’s operations and results of operations for NID have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 10).

At September 30, 2010, substantially all of the Company’s services are provided within the United States, and substantially all of the Company’s assets are located within the United States.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

The following table is a summary of segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Segment asset information is not presented since it is not used by the chief operating decision maker at the operating segment level. Operating earnings (loss) of each segment represents net revenues less directly identifiable expenses to arrive at operating income for the segment. General management and administrative corporate expenses, including amortization of intangible assets, are included in general corporate expenses below. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those of the Company as set forth in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 2 to the interim consolidated financial statements.


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009			2010			2009

Net revenues:
Clinical laboratory testing business	$	1,708,051		$	1,736,846		$	5,080,230		$	5,142,770
All other operating segments		156,604			160,300			464,655			464,200

Total net revenues	$	1,864,655		$	1,897,146		$	5,544,885		$	5,606,970


Operating earnings (loss):
Clinical laboratory testing business	$	369,168		$	386,129		$	1,101,733		$	1,123,064
All other operating segments		16,008			14,690			33,065			48,041
General corporate expenses		(48,309	)		(52,539	)		(133,475	)		(142,387	)

Total operating income		336,867			348,280			1,001,323			1,028,718
Non-operating expenses, net		(25,849	)		(22,043	)		(83,929	)		(93,149	)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes		311,018			326,237			917,394			935,569
Income tax expense		102,902			125,145			333,931			358,869

Income from continuing operations		208,116			201,092			583,463			576,700
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(360	)		543			(678	)		(1,040	)

Net income		207,756			201,635			582,785			575,660
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		9,681			9,416			27,647			28,139

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	198,075		$	192,219		$	555,138		$	547,521


12.	SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company’s Senior Notes due 2010, Senior Notes due 2011, Senior Notes due 2015, Senior Notes due 2017, Senior Notes due 2020, Senior Notes due 2037 and Senior Notes due 2040 are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors. With the exception of Quest Diagnostics Receivables Incorporated (“QDRI”) (see paragraph below), the non-guarantor subsidiaries are primarily foreign subsidiaries and less than wholly-owned subsidiaries.

In conjunction with the Company’s secured receivables credit facility, the Company maintains a wholly-owned non-guarantor subsidiary, QDRI. The Company and certain of its Subsidiary Guarantors transfer certain domestic receivables to QDRI. QDRI utilizes the transferred receivables to collateralize borrowings under the Company’s secured receivables credit facility. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors provide collection services to QDRI. QDRI uses cash collections principally to purchase new receivables from the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

The following condensed consolidating financial data illustrates the composition of the combined guarantors. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the parent using the equity method for purposes of the supplemental consolidating presentation. Earnings (losses) of subsidiaries are therefore reflected in the parent’s investment accounts and earnings. The principal elimination entries relate to investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010


	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated


Net revenues	$	209,156		$	1,540,714		$	186,307		$	(71,522	)	$	1,864,655

Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services		133,527			894,001			63,937			—			1,091,465
Selling, general and administrative		32,043			307,533			94,515			(7,529	)		426,562
Amortization of intangible assets		618			7,597			1,700			—			9,915
Royalty (income) expense		(105,055	)		105,055			—			—			—
Other operating expense (income), net		1,499			73			(1,726	)		—			(154	)

Total operating costs and expenses		62,632			1,314,259			158,426			(7,529	)		1,527,788

Operating income		146,524			226,455			27,881			(63,993	)		336,867
Non-operating (expense) income, net		(33,314	)		(58,341	)		1,813			63,993			(25,849	)

Income from continuing operations before taxes		113,210			168,114			29,694			—			311,018
Income tax expense		29,294			66,251			7,357			—			102,902

Income from continuing operations		83,916			101,863			22,337			—			208,116
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		—			(360	)		—			—			(360	)
Equity earnings from subsidiaries		114,159			—			—			(114,159	)		—

Net income		198,075			101,503			22,337			(114,159	)		207,756
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			9,681			—			9,681

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	198,075		$	101,503		$	12,656		$	(114,159	)	$	198,075

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009


	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated


Net revenues	$	221,069		$	1,564,664		$	199,184		$	(87,771	)	$	1,897,146

Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services		136,429			898,670			62,436			—			1,097,535
Selling, general and administrative		42,703			309,432			97,066			(7,632	)		441,569
Amortization of intangible assets		6			7,493			1,655			—			9,154
Royalty (income) expense		(104,189	)		104,189			—			—			—
Other operating expense (income), net		2,413			(171	)		(1,634	)		—			608

Total operating costs and expenses		77,362			1,319,613			159,523			(7,632	)		1,548,866

Operating income		143,707			245,051			39,661			(80,139	)		348,280
Non-operating (expense) income, net		(35,505	)		(72,793	)		6,116			80,139			(22,043	)

Income from continuing operations before taxes		108,202			172,258			45,777			—			326,237
Income tax expense		42,605			68,367			14,173			—			125,145

Income from continuing operations		65,597			103,891			31,604			—			201,092
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes		—			543			—			—			543
Equity earnings from subsidiaries		126,622			—			—			(126,622	)		—

Net income		192,219			104,434			31,604			(126,622	)		201,635
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			9,416			—			9,416

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	192,219		$	104,434		$	22,188		$	(126,622	)	$	192,219

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010


	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated


Net revenues	$	638,796		$	4,564,026		$	560,016		$	(217,953	)	$	5,544,885

Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services		385,350			2,660,571			190,888			—			3,236,809
Selling, general and administrative		76,394			934,116			288,619			(22,422	)		1,276,707
Amortization of intangible assets		653			22,829			5,062			—			28,544
Royalty (income) expense		(311,863	)		311,863			—			—			—
Other operating expense (income), net		1,178			539			(215	)		—			1,502

Total operating costs and expenses		151,712			3,929,918			484,354			(22,422	)		4,543,562

Operating income		487,084			634,108			75,662			(195,531	)		1,001,323
Non-operating (expense) income, net		(103,847	)		(179,726	)		4,113			195,531			(83,929	)

Income from continuing operations before taxes		383,237			454,382			79,775			—			917,394
Income tax expense		133,356			179,329			21,246			—			333,931

Income from continuing operations		249,881			275,053			58,529			—			583,463
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		—			(678	)		—			—			(678	)
Equity earnings from subsidiaries		305,257			—			—			(305,257	)		—

Net income		555,138			274,375			58,529			(305,257	)		582,785
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			27,647			—			27,647

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	555,138		$	274,375		$	30,882		$	(305,257	)	$	555,138

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009


	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated


Net revenues	$	661,755		$	4,620,999		$	569,549		$	(245,333	)	$	5,606,970

Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of services		407,797			2,661,689			181,750			—			3,251,236
Selling, general and administrative		127,079			925,773			284,380			(22,606	)		1,314,626
Amortization of intangible assets		53			23,118			4,365			—			27,536
Royalty (income) expense		(304,646	)		304,646			—			—			—
Other operating income, net		(13,783	)		(355	)		(1,008	)		—			(15,146	)

Total operating costs and expenses		216,500			3,914,871			469,487			(22,606	)		4,578,252

Operating income		445,255			706,128			100,062			(222,727	)		1,028,718
Non-operating (expense) income, net		(126,140	)		(203,038	)		13,302			222,727			(93,149	)

Income from continuing operations before taxes		319,115			503,090			113,364			—			935,569
Income tax expense		124,964			200,649			33,256			—			358,869

Income from continuing operations		194,151			302,441			80,108			—			576,700
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		—			(1,040	)		—			—			(1,040	)
Equity earnings from subsidiaries		353,370			—			—			(353,370	)		—

Net income		547,521			301,401			80,108			(353,370	)		575,660
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			28,139			—			28,139

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	547,521		$	301,401		$	51,969		$	(353,370	)	$	547,521

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
September 30, 2010


	Parent		Subsidiary Guarantors		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	321,426	$	191	$	47,644		$	—		$	369,261
Accounts receivable, net		26,969		134,181		722,944			—			884,094
Other current assets		59,699		157,187		98,173			(15,700	)		299,359

Total current assets		408,094		291,559		868,761			(15,700	)		1,552,714
Property, plant and equipment, net		167,068		610,018		35,285			—			812,371
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		155,509		5,286,954		464,003			—			5,906,466
Intercompany receivable (payable)		171,176		192,419		(363,595	)		—			—
Investment in subsidiaries		6,114,094		—		—			(6,114,094	)		—
Other assets		225,034		9,149		56,045			(102,441	)		187,787

Total assets	$	7,240,975	$	6,390,099	$	1,060,499		$	(6,232,235	)	$	8,459,338


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	564,953	$	210,302	$	57,251		$	(15,700	)	$	816,806
Current portion of long-term debt		187,088		142,507		1,931			—			331,526

Total current liabilities		752,041		352,809		59,182			(15,700	)		1,148,332
Long-term debt		2,499,169		15,699		321,069			—			2,835,937
Other liabilities		132,400		516,235		48,170			(102,441	)		594,364
Stockholders’ equity:
Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity		3,857,365		5,505,356		608,738			(6,114,094	)		3,857,365
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		23,340			—			23,340

Total stockholders’ equity		3,857,365		5,505,356		632,078			(6,114,094	)		3,880,705

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	7,240,975	$	6,390,099	$	1,060,499		$	(6,232,235	)	$	8,459,338

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2009


	Parent		Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	464,958	$	17,457		$	51,841		$	—		$	534,256
Accounts receivable, net		3,461		156,102			667,780			—			827,343
Other current assets		64,354		169,233			99,109			(14,870	)		317,826

Total current assets		532,773		342,792			818,730			(14,870	)		1,679,425
Property, plant and equipment, net		181,790		607,951			36,205			—			825,946
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		153,145		5,308,433			446,031			—			5,907,609
Intercompany receivable (payable)		471,421		(137,227	)		(334,194	)		—			—
Investment in subsidiaries		5,790,333		—			—			(5,790,333	)		—
Other assets		194,990		11,428			49,970			(105,725	)		150,663

Total assets	$	7,324,452	$	6,133,377		$	1,016,742		$	(5,910,928	)	$	8,563,643


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	641,964	$	239,417		$	22,194		$	(14,870	)	$	888,705
Current portion of long-term debt		165,661		2,436			2,410			—			170,507

Total current liabilities		807,625		241,853			24,604			(14,870	)		1,059,212
Long-term debt		2,430,806		146,556			359,430			—			2,936,792
Other liabilities		96,382		513,987			51,531			(105,725	)		556,175
Stockholders’ equity:
Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity		3,989,639		5,230,981			559,352			(5,790,333	)		3,989,639
Noncontrolling interests		—		—			21,825			—			21,825

Total stockholders’ equity		3,989,639		5,230,981			581,177			(5,790,333	)		4,011,464

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	7,324,452	$	6,133,377		$	1,016,742		$	(5,910,928	)	$	8,563,643

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010


	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated


Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	555,138		$	274,375		$	58,529		$	(305,257	)	$	582,785
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		37,183			140,870			12,391			—			190,444
Provision for doubtful accounts		4,171			39,116			179,595			—			222,882
Other, net		(259,463	)		15,487			(6,614	)		305,257			54,667
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		274,106			(355,766	)		(190,660	)		—			(272,320	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		611,135			114,082			53,241			—			778,458
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		20,930			(106,411	)		(3,852	)		(50,501	)		(139,834	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(775,597	)		(24,937	)		(53,586	)		50,501			(803,619	)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents.		(143,532	)		(17,266	)		(4,197	)		—			(164,995	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		464,958			17,457			51,841			—			534,256

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	321,426		$	191		$	47,644		$	—		$	369,261

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009


	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated


Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	547,521		$	301,401		$	80,108		$	(353,370	)	$	575,660
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		42,052			140,045			11,565			—			193,662
Provision for doubtful accounts		4,611			52,120			192,601			—			249,332
Other, net		(297,431	)		63,012			1,036			353,370			119,987
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		146,776			(422,743	)		(225,575	)		—			(501,542	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		443,529			133,835			59,735			—			637,099
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		60,295			(118,614	)		18,218			(100,092	)		(140,193	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(549,846	)		(1,758	)		(52,307	)		100,092			(503,819	)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents.		(46,022	)		13,463			25,646			—			(6,913	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		218,565			6,715			28,666			—			253,946

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	172,543		$	20,178		$	54,312		$	—		$	247,033

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Healthcare Reform

In March 2010, U.S. federal legislation was enacted which is likely to have a significant impact on, among other things, access to and the cost of healthcare in the United States. The legislation provides for extensive health insurance reforms and expands coverage to approximately 32 million Americans, which will result in expanded access to healthcare. In addition, the legislation eliminates patient cost-sharing for certain prevention and wellness benefits for plans that are not “grandfathered”. We believe these changes will benefit our industry by leading to increased utilization of our services.

These benefits are expected to be partially offset by provisions of the legislation aimed at reducing the overall cost of healthcare. Impacting laboratories specifically, the legislation provides for annual reductions in the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule of 1.75% for five years beginning in 2011 and includes a productivity adjustment which reduces the CPI market basket update beginning in 2011. In 2009, approximately 12% of our consolidated revenues were reimbursed by Medicare under the clinical laboratory fee schedule. The legislation also imposes an excise tax on the seller for the sale of certain medical devices in the United States, including those purchased and used by laboratories, beginning in 2013.

In addition, the legislation is focused on reducing the growth of healthcare costs. The legislation establishes the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which will be responsible, beginning in 2014, annually to submit proposals aimed at reducing Medicare cost growth while preserving quality. These proposals automatically will be implemented unless Congress enacts alternative proposals that achieve the same savings targets. Further, the legislation calls for a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation that will examine alternative payment methodologies and conduct demonstration programs.

We believe that the legislation will be a net positive for our industry over the long term due to expanded coverage and the elimination of patient cost-sharing for certain prevention and wellness benefits, and that we are well positioned to respond to the evolving healthcare environment and related market forces.

In addition to the healthcare reform legislation, in June 2010, the President signed into law an extension to delay until November 30, 2010 a potential 21.2% decrease in the Medicare fee schedule for pathology and other physician services performed for patients and billed under Part B of the Medicare program. It is currently not clear if legislation will be passed to permanently eliminate this potential fee decrease. In 2009, approximately 3% of our consolidated revenues were reimbursed based on this fee schedule.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions and select accounting policies that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

While many operational aspects of our business are subject to complex federal, state and local regulations, the accounting for our business is generally straightforward, with net revenues primarily recognized upon completion of the testing process. Our revenues are primarily comprised of a high volume of relatively low dollar transactions, and about one-half of total operating costs and expenses consist of employee compensation and benefits. Due to the nature of our business, several of our accounting policies involve significant estimates and judgments. These accounting policies have been described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Results of Operations

Our clinical testing business currently represents our one reportable business segment. In both 2010 and 2009, our clinical testing business accounted for greater than 90% of net revenues. Our other operating segments consist of our risk assessment services, clinical trials testing, healthcare information technology, and diagnostic products businesses. Our business segment information is disclosed in Note 11 to the interim consolidated financial statements.

Our businesses are subject to or impacted by extensive and frequently changing laws and regulations, including inspections and audits by governmental agencies, in the United States (at both the federal and state levels) and the other jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Although we believe that we are in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that a regulatory agency would not reach a different conclusion. Any noncompliance by us with applicable laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, these laws and regulations may be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority in a manner that could require us to make changes in our operations, including our pricing and/or billing practices. See Note 9 to the interim consolidated financial statements for a discussion of certain legal matters which could affect our results of operations.

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared with Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Continuing Operations

Income from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $198 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, compared to $192 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, in 2009. Income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $556 million, or $3.09 per diluted share, compared to $549 million, or $2.91 per diluted share, in 2009. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 reflect lower revenues, compared to the prior year period, primarily driven by the performance of our clinical testing business and has served to reduce income from continuing operations before taxes below the prior year levels. Actions we have taken to adjust our cost structure, reduced costs for performance-based compensation, improved experience associated with professional liability claims and continued progress in reducing bad debt expense have served to partially mitigate the impact to earnings from the lower revenues. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 include a benefit of $0.08 per diluted share, primarily associated with the favorable resolution of certain tax contingencies. Lower outstanding share counts, resulting from share repurchases, contributed to the earnings per share improvement for both periods.

Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 include a first quarter charge of $17.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, principally associated with workforce reductions. Of these costs, $4.5 million and $12.8 million, respectively, were included in cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, we estimate that the impact of severe weather in the first quarter of 2010 adversely affected the comparison of operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 to the prior year period by $14.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.

Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 include a $15.5 million gain, or $0.05 per diluted share, associated with an insurance settlement for storm related losses, partially offset by $7.6 million in charges, or $0.02 per diluted share, associated with the early extinguishment of debt and a $7.0 million charge, or $0.02 per diluted share, associated with the write-down of an investment.

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $1.9 billion and reflect a decrease of 1.7% from the prior year level. Net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $5.5 billion and reflect a decrease of 1.1% from the prior year level.

For the third quarter of 2010, revenues for our clinical testing business, which accounts for over 90% of our net revenues, decreased by 1.7% compared to the prior year. Clinical testing volume, measured by the number of requisitions, decreased 0.3% for the quarter. We believe that clinical testing volume continued to be adversely affected by a general slowdown in physician office visits compared to the prior year. However, the third quarter 2010 volume comparison reflects some improvement from the first and second quarters of 2010, which were below the prior year periods by 2.6% (1.6% below adjusted for weather) and 1.3%, respectively. Revenue per requisition decreased 1.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Revenue per requisition continued to benefit from an increased mix of gene-based and esoteric testing and an increase in the number of tests ordered per requisition. However, this benefit has been offset by the 1.9% Medicare fee schedule decrease, which went into effect on January 1, 2010 and served to reduce revenue per requisition by 0.4%; changes in business and payer mix, including an increase in lower priced drugs-of-abuse testing,

and a reduction in higher priced anatomic pathology testing; and pricing changes in connection with several large contract extensions entered into last year and in the first half of this year.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, revenues for our clinical testing business were 1.2% below the prior year level. Clinical testing volume, measured by the number of requisitions, decreased 1.4%. We believe that clinical testing volume was adversely affected by a general slowdown in physician office visits compared to the prior year, and severe weather in the first quarter of 2010. Revenue per requisition increased 0.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, with the increase primarily driven by an increased mix of gene-based and esoteric testing and an increase in the number of tests ordered by requisition, partially offset by the 1.9% Medicare fee schedule decrease, which went into effect on January 1, 2010 and served to reduce revenue per requisition by 0.4%; business and payer mix changes, including an increase in lower priced drugs-of-abuse testing and a decrease in higher priced anatomic pathology testing; and pricing changes in connection with several large contract extensions entered into last year and in the first half of this year.

Our businesses other than clinical laboratory testing accounted for approximately 8% of our net revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. These businesses contain most of our international operations and include our risk assessment services, clinical trials testing, healthcare information technology, and diagnostic products businesses. Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were 2.3% below the prior year period, principally due to the performance of our risk assessment business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, aggregate revenues for these businesses approximated the prior year level.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Total operating costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased $21.1 million, compared to the third quarter of 2009, and increased as a percentage of net revenues to 81.9% compared to 81.6% in 2009. Total operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 decreased by $34.7 million from the prior year period and increased as a percentage of net revenues to 81.9% compared to 81.7% in 2009.

Lower revenues in our clinical testing business, partially offset by actions we have taken to reduce our cost structure, reduced costs for performance-based compensation and continued progress in reducing bad debt expense served to increase total operating costs as a percentage of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Lower revenues in our clinical testing business, including the impact of severe weather in the first quarter of 2010, and charges associated with actions we have taken to adjust our cost structure, partially offset by reduced costs for performance-based compensation, improved experience associated with professional liability claims and continued progress in reducing bad debt expense served to increase total operating costs as a percentage of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. During the first quarter of 2010, we recorded $17.3 million of pre-tax charges, principally associated with workforce reductions, of which $4.5 million was recorded in cost of services and $12.8 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, operating costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 include a $15.5 million gain related to an insurance settlement for storm related losses, which served to decrease total operating costs as a percentage of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Also, year-over-year comparisons for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were favorably impacted by approximately $4.0 million associated with investment gains and losses on investments in our supplemental deferred compensation plans. Under our supplemental deferred compensation plans, employee compensation deferrals, together with Company matching contributions, are invested in a variety of investments held in trusts. Gains and losses associated with the investments are recorded in earnings within “other income (expense), net.” A corresponding and offsetting adjustment is also recorded to the deferred compensation obligation to reflect investment gains and losses earned by the employee. Such adjustments to the deferred compensation obligation are recorded in earnings principally within “selling, general and administrative expenses” and offset the amount of investment gains and losses recorded in “other income (expense), net.” Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 included an increase in operating costs of $3.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively, representing an increase in the deferred compensation obligation to reflect investment gains earned by employees participating in our deferred compensation plans. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 included an increase in operating costs of $3.8 million and $6.4 million, respectively, representing an increase in the deferred compensation obligation to reflect investment gains earned by employees participating in our deferred compensation plans.

Cost of services, which includes the costs of obtaining, transporting and testing specimens, was 58.5% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010, increasing from 57.9% of net revenues in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, cost of services, as a percentage of net revenues, was 58.4%, increasing from 58.0% of net revenues in the prior year period. Lower revenues, and investments made in patient service centers and additional phlebotomists to increase service and convenience for patients in our clinical testing business, partially offset by reduced performance-based compensation and actions taken to reduce our cost structure, contributed to the increase in cost of services as a percentage of net revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily reflects lower revenues in our clinical testing business, including the impact of severe weather in the first quarter of 2010, and charges associated with workforce reductions in response to lower testing volume, partially offset by reduced performance-based compensation and actions taken to reduce our cost structure.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, which include the costs of the sales force, billing operations, bad debt expense, and general management and administrative support was 22.9% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 23.3% in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of net revenues, was 23.0% compared to 23.4% in the prior year period. The improvement in selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 primarily reflects the impact of actions we have taken to adjust our cost structure in response to lower testing volume, reduced performance-based compensation and improvements in bad debt expense, partially offset by the impact of reduced revenues. The improvement for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily reflects the impact of cost reduction measures to adjust our cost structure in response to lower testing volume, reduced performance-based compensation and improvements in bad debt expense, partially offset by charges associated with workforce reductions.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, bad debt expense was 4.0% compared to 4.4% of net revenues in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, bad debt expense was 4.0% compared to 4.4% of net revenues in the prior year period. Continued progress in our billing and collection processes has resulted in improvements in bad debt and the cost of our billing operation.

Other operating (income) expense, net represents miscellaneous income and expense items related to operating activities including gains and losses associated with the disposal of operating assets and provisions for restructurings and other special charges. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, other operating (income) expense, net includes a $15.5 million gain associated with an insurance settlement for storm related losses.

Operating Income

Operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $337 million, or 18.1% of net revenues, compared to $348 million, or 18.4% of net revenues, in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, operating income was $1.0 billion, or 18.1% of net revenues, compared to $1.0 billion, or 18.3% of net revenues, in the prior year period. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, the decrease in operating margin primarily reflects the impact of lower revenues in our clinical testing business, partially offset by actions we have taken to reduce our cost structure, reduced costs for performance-based compensation and continued progress in reducing bad debt expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the decrease in operating income, as a percentage of net revenues, primarily reflects the impact of lower revenues in our clinical testing business, including the estimated impact of severe weather in the first quarter of 2010, and charges associated with workforce reductions, partially offset by actions taken to adjust our cost structure, reduced performance-based compensation, improved experience associated with professional liability claims and lower bad debt expense. The estimated impact of severe weather combined with charges associated with actions we have taken to adjust our cost structure adversely impacted the year-over-year change in operating income as a percentage of net revenues by approximately 60 basis points compared to the prior year-to-date period. In addition, the year-over-year change in operating income as a percentage of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was also adversely impacted by a $15.5 million gain related to an insurance settlement for storm related losses, which served to increase operating income as a percentage of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Other Income (Expense)

Interest expense, net for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased $3.1 million compared to the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to higher outstanding debt in 2010 compared to the prior year period.

Other income (expense), net represents miscellaneous income and expense items related to non-operating activities, such as gains and losses associated with investments and other non-operating assets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, other income (expense), net reflects net gains of $3.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively, associated with investments held in trusts pursuant to our supplemental deferred compensation plans.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, other income (expense), net includes gains of $3.8 million and $6.4 million, respectively, associated with investments held in trusts pursuant to our supplemental deferred compensation plans. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, other income (expense), net includes a charge of $7.0 million associated with the write-down of an investment and a charge of $7.6 million associated with the early extinguishment of debt.

Income Tax Expense

The effective income tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were 33.1% and 38.4% respectively. The effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were 36.4% and 38.4%, respectively. The decrease in the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to the prior year, is primarily due to the favorable resolution of certain tax contingencies.

Discontinued Operations

Results from discontinued operations, net of taxes, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, were a loss of $0.4 million and income of $0.5 million, respectively, with no impact on diluted earnings per share. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes was $0.7 million with no impact on diluted earnings per share, and $1.0 million, or ($0.01) per diluted share, respectively. See Note 10 to the interim consolidated financial statements for further details.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We address our exposure to market risks, principally the market risk of changes in interest rates, through a controlled program of risk management that includes the use of derivative financial instruments. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. We believe that our exposures to foreign exchange impacts and changes in commodities prices are not material to our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the fair value of our debt was estimated at approximately $3.4 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, using quoted market prices and yields for the same or similar types of borrowings, taking into account the underlying terms of the debt instruments. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value of the debt by $203 million and $151 million, respectively. A hypothetical 10% increase in interest rates (representing 45 basis points at September 30, 2010 and 46 basis points at December 31, 2009) would potentially reduce the estimated fair value of our debt by $86 million and $96 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility, our secured receivables credit facility and our term loan due May 2012 are subject to variable interest rates. Interest on our secured receivables credit facility is based on rates that are intended to approximate commercial paper rates for highly-rated issuers. Interest rates on our senior unsecured revolving credit facility and term loan due May 2012 are subject to a pricing schedule that can fluctuate based on changes in our credit ratings. As such, our borrowing costs under these credit arrangements will be subject to both fluctuations in interest rates and changes in our credit ratings. As of September 30, 2010, the borrowing rates under these credit facilities were: for our secured receivables credit facility, 1.38%; for our senior unsecured credit facility, LIBOR plus 0.40%; and for our term loan due May 2012, LIBOR plus 0.40%. At September 30, 2010, the weighted average LIBOR was 0.26%. At September 30, 2010, there was $742 million outstanding under our term loan due May 2012, and no borrowings outstanding under our $750 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility or our $525 million secured receivables credit facility.

Our objective is to mitigate the variability in cash outflows that result from changes in interest rates by maintaining a balanced mix of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt obligations. In order to achieve these objectives, we have entered into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the periodic exchange of payments without the exchange of underlying principal or notional amounts. Net payments are recognized as an adjustment to interest expense.

In November 2009, we entered into various fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert a portion of our 4.75% Senior Notes due 2020 to variable-interest rate debt based on LIBOR plus 1.33%. At September 30, 2010, the interest rate swap agreements which expire in January 2020 have a notional amount totaling $350 million. The fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements are accounted for as fair value hedges of a portion of our outstanding 4.75% Senior Notes due 2020. Based on our net exposure to interest rate changes, a hypothetical 10% change in interest rates on our variable rate indebtedness (representing 3 basis points) would impact annual interest expense by $0.3 million, assuming no changes to the debt outstanding at September 30, 2010.

The fair value of the fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements at September 30, 2010 was an asset of $31 million. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates (representing 25 basis points) would potentially change the fair value of the asset of these instruments by approximately $8 million.

For details regarding our outstanding debt, see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. For details regarding our derivative financial instruments, see Note 6 to the interim consolidated financial statements.

Risk Associated with Investment Portfolio

Our investment portfolio includes equity investments in publicly held companies that are classified as available-for-sale securities and other strategic equity holdings in privately held companies. These securities are exposed to price fluctuations and are generally concentrated in the life sciences industry. The carrying values of our available-for-sale equity securities and privately held securities were $12.3 million at September 30, 2010.

We regularly evaluate the fair value measurements of our equity investments to determine if losses in value are other than temporary and if an impairment loss has been incurred. The evaluation considers if the security has the ability to recover and, if so, the estimated recovery period. Other factors that are considered in this evaluation include the amount of the other-than-temporary decline and its duration, the issuer’s financial condition and short-term prospects and whether the market decline was caused by overall economic conditions or conditions specific to the individual security.

We do not hedge our equity price risk. The impact of an adverse movement in equity prices on our holdings in privately held companies cannot be easily quantified, as our ability to realize returns on investments depends on, among other things, the enterprises’ ability to raise additional capital or derive cash inflows from continuing operations or through liquidity events such as initial public offerings, mergers or private sales.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2010 totaled $369 million compared to $534 million at December 31, 2009. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid short-term investments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, cash flows from operating activities of $778 million, together with cash on-hand, were used to fund investing and financing activities of $140 million and $804 million, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2009 totaled $247 million compared to $254 million at December 31, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, cash flows from operating activities of $637 million, together with cash on-hand, were used to fund investing and financing activities of $140 million and $504 million, respectively.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $778 million compared to $637 million in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, cash flows from operating activities includes payments primarily made in the second quarter of 2009 totaling $314 million in connection with the NID settlement (see Note 10 to the interim consolidated financial statements), or $239 million net of an associated reduction in estimated tax payments. After giving consideration to the settlement payments, net of the associated reduction in tax payments, underlying cash flows from operating activities decreased in comparison to the prior year level, primarily driven by the timing of variable compensation and accrued expenses. Days sales outstanding, a measure of billing and collection efficiency, were 43 days at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for both the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $140 million and consisted principally of capital expenditures.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $804 million, consisting primarily of purchases of treasury stock totaling $750 million, dividend payments of $54 million and distributions to noncontrolling interests of $26 million, partially offset by $41 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options, including related tax benefits. The $750 million of treasury stock purchases represents 14.7 million shares of our common stock purchased at an average price of $51.04 per share, including 4.5 million shares purchased in the first quarter at an average price of $56.21 for $251 million under an accelerated share repurchase transaction with a bank.

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $504 million, consisting primarily of purchases of treasury stock totaling $350 million, net debt reductions of $108 million, dividend payments of $56 million and distributions to noncontrolling interests of $23 million, partially offset by $50 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options, including related tax benefits. The $350 million of treasury stock purchases represents 7.5 million shares of our common stock purchased at an average price of $46.86 per share. The net reduction of debt of $108 million consists of $510 million of borrowings and $618 million of repayments. Borrowings under our secured receivables credit facility totaled $510 million and were used primarily to fund the NID settlement payments totaling $314 million and retire debt of $150 million in connection with our June 2009 debt tender. Debt repayments of $618 million consisted primarily of the repayment of $410 million on our secured receivables credit facility, $174 million of our 5.125% senior notes due 2010 and $26 million of our 7.50% senior notes due 2011.

Dividend Program

During each of the quarters of 2010 and 2009, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share. On August 11, 2010, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend per common share of $0.10, paid on October 19, 2010. We expect to fund future dividend payments with cash flows from operations, and do not expect the dividend to have a material impact on our ability to finance future growth.

Share Repurchase Plan

In January 2010, our Board of Directors authorized $750 million of additional share repurchases. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we repurchased 7.0 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $46.64 per share for $324 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we repurchased 14.7 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $51.04 per share for $750 million, including 4.5 million shares purchased in the first quarter at an average price of $56.21 per share for $251 million under an accelerated share repurchase transaction with a bank. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we reissued 0.1 million shares and 1.7 million shares, respectively, for employee benefit plans. Since its inception in May 2003, we have repurchased approximately 74 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $47.13 for $3.5 billion under our share repurchase program. At September 30, 2010, our share repurchase authorization was fully utilized.

On October 20, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized $250 million of additional share repurchases, which have no set expiration or termination date.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes certain of our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2010:


	Payments due by period

	(in thousands)
Contractual Obligations	Total		Remainder of 2010		1-3 years		3-5 years		After 5 years


Outstanding debt	$	3,116,802	$	165,534	$	901,268	$	—	$	2,050,000
Capital lease obligations		39,114		1,470		12,706		11,270		13,668
Interest payments on outstanding debt		1,660,331		32,396		231,512		322,211		1,074,212
Operating leases		667,239		50,114		281,989		147,952		187,184
Purchase obligations		102,248		13,680		67,890		17,175		3,503

Total contractual obligations	$	5,585,734	$	263,194	$	1,495,365	$	498,608	$	3,328,567

Interest payments on our outstanding debt have been calculated after giving effect to our interest rate swap agreements, using the interest rates as of September 30, 2010 applied to the September 30, 2010 balances, which are assumed to remain outstanding through their maturity dates.

A full description of the terms of our indebtedness and related debt service requirements and our future payments under certain of our contractual obligations is contained in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. A full discussion and analysis regarding our minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases and noncancelable commitments to purchase products or services at December 31, 2009 is contained in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As of September 30, 2010, our total liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $156 million, which were excluded from the table above. We believe it is reasonably possible that our liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by $21 million within the next twelve months, primarily as a result of the expiration of statues of limitations, settlements and/or the conclusion of tax examinations on certain tax positions. For the remainder, we cannot make reasonably reliable estimates of the timing of the future payments of these liabilities. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding our contingent tax liability reserves.

Our credit agreements and our term loan due May 2012 contain various covenants and conditions, including the maintenance of certain financial ratios, that could impact our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness. As of September 30, 2010, we were in compliance with the various financial covenants included in our credit agreements and we do not expect these covenants to adversely impact our ability to execute our growth strategy or conduct normal business operations.

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

We have investments in unconsolidated joint ventures in Phoenix, Arizona; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Dayton, Ohio, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. We believe that our transactions with our joint ventures are conducted in all material respects at arm’s length, reflecting current market conditions and pricing. Total net revenues of our unconsolidated joint ventures equal less than 6% of our consolidated net revenues. Total assets associated with our unconsolidated joint ventures are less than 2% of our consolidated total assets. We have no material unconditional obligations or guarantees to, or in support of, our unconsolidated joint ventures and their operations.

Requirements and Capital Resources

We estimate that we will invest approximately $200 million during 2010 for capital expenditures, including assets under capitalized leases, to support and expand our existing operations, principally related to investments in information technology, equipment, and facility upgrades.

As of September 30, 2010, $1.3 billion of borrowing capacity was available under our existing credit facilities, consisting of $525 million available under our secured receivables credit facility and $750 million available under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility. Our secured receivables credit facility matures on December 10, 2010. We expect to replace or extend the facility upon its maturity. If we are unable to replace or extend our current secured receivables credit facility, we may need to utilize our senior unsecured revolving credit facility or seek additional financing through other financing arrangements.

We believe the banks participating in our various credit facilities are predominantly highly-rated banks, and that the amounts under the credit facilities are currently available to us. Should one or several banks no longer participate in either of our credit facilities, we would not expect it to impact our ability to fund operations.

We believe that cash and cash equivalents on-hand and cash from operations, together with our borrowing capacity under our credit facilities, will provide sufficient financial flexibility to meet seasonal working capital requirements and to fund capital expenditures, debt service requirements and other obligations, cash dividends on common shares, share repurchases and additional growth opportunities for the foreseeable future. We believe that our credit profile should provide us with access to additional financing, if necessary, to fund growth opportunities that cannot be funded from existing sources.

New Accounting Standards

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the accounting for revenue in arrangements with multiple deliverables, and an amendment to the accounting standards related to certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. In January 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the disclosures about an entity’s use of fair value measurements. In August 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting standards related to the accounting for insurance recoveries, and an amendment to the accounting standards related to the financial statement disclosure of the amount of charity care provided by a healthcare entity. The impact of these accounting standards is discussed in Note 2 to the interim consolidated financial statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements and disclosures in this document are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan” or “continue”. These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could significantly cause our plans and expectations, including actual results, to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers and strategic partners and other factors discussed in “Business,” “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results,” “Legal Proceedings,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and “Risk Factors” in our 2010 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other items throughout the 2009 Form 10-K and our 2010 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

See Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.

During the third quarter of 2010, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See Note 9 to the interim consolidated financial statements for information regarding the status of legal proceedings involving the Company.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, investors should consider the following risk factor before deciding to invest in any securities issued by the Company.

U.S. healthcare reform legislation may result in significant change, and our business could be adversely impacted if we fail to adapt.

Government oversight of and attention to the healthcare industry in the United States is significant and increasing. In March 2010, U.S. federal legislation was enacted to reform healthcare. The legislation provides for reductions in the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule of 1.75% for five years beginning in 2011 and also includes a productivity adjustment which reduces the CPI market basket update beginning in 2011. In 2009, approximately 12% of our consolidated revenues were reimbursed by Medicare under the clinical laboratory fee schedule. The legislation imposes an excise tax on the seller for the sale of certain medical devices in the United States, including those purchased and used by laboratories, beginning in 2013. The legislation establishes the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which will be responsible, beginning in 2014, annually to submit proposals aimed at reducing Medicare cost growth while preserving quality. These proposals automatically will be implemented unless Congress enacts alternative proposals that achieve the same savings targets. Further, the legislation calls for a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation that will examine alternative payment methodologies and conduct demonstration programs. The legislation provides for extensive health insurance reforms, including the elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions and other limitations on coverage, fixed percentages on medical loss ratios, expansion in Medicaid and other programs, employer mandates, individual mandates, creation of state and regional health insurance exchanges, and tax subsidies for individuals to help cover the cost of individual insurance coverage. The legislation also permits the establishment of accountable care organizations, a new healthcare delivery model. While the ultimate impact of the legislation on the healthcare industry is unknown, it is likely to be extensive and may result in significant change. Our failure to adapt to these changes could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of the Company of its common stock during the third quarter of 2010.


ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in thousands)

July 1, 2010 – July 31, 2010
Share Repurchase Program (A)		2,298,000	$	46.00		2,298,000	$	218,578
Employee Transactions (B)		128	$	49.44		N/A		N/A
August 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010
Share Repurchase Program (A)		3,535,524	$	47.16		3,535,524	$	51,828
Employee Transactions (B)		1,152	$	47.43		N/A		N/A
September 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010
Share Repurchase Program (A)		1,118,525	$	46.29		1,118,525	$	50
Employee Transactions (B)		950	$	47.36		N/A		N/A
Total
Share Repurchase Program (A)		6,952,049	$	46.64		6,952,049	$	50
Employee Transactions (B)		2,230	$	47.52		N/A		N/A


	(A)	In January 2010, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase an additional $750 million of the Company’s common stock. Since the share repurchase program’s inception in May 2003, our Board of Directors has authorized $3.5 billion of share repurchases of our common stock through September 30, 2010. At September 30, 2010, we utilized our entire share repurchase authorization through that date. On October 20, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized $250 million of additional share repurchases, which have no set expiration or termination date.

	(B)	Includes: (1) shares delivered or attested to in satisfaction of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations by holders of stock options (granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan and its Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Long-Term Incentive Plan, collectively the “Stock Compensation Plans”) who exercised options; (2) restricted common shares withheld (under the terms of grants under the Stock Compensation Plans) to offset tax withholding obligations that occur upon vesting and release of the restricted common shares; and (3) shares withheld (under the terms of grants under the Stock Compensation Plans) to offset tax withholding obligations that occur upon the delivery of common shares underlying restricted stock units and performance share units.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits:


	31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	101.INS	dgx-20100930.xml

	101.SCH	dgx-20100930.xsd

	101.CAL	dgx-20100930_cal.xml

	101.DEF	dgx-20100930_def.xml

	101.LAB	dgx-20100930_lab.xml

	101.PRE	dgx-20100930_pre.xml

	101.REF	dgx-20100930_ref.xml

Signatures

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, thereunto duly authorized.

October 26, 2010
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated


By	/s/ Surya N. Mohapatra

	Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D.
	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

By	/s/ Robert A. Hagemann

	Robert A. Hagemann
	Senior Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer