| DGX_cash-flow_Annual_As_Originally_Reported |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
TTM |
| Cash Flow from Operating Activities, Indirect |
1175000000 |
1200000000 |
1243000000 |
2005000000 |
2233000000 |
1924000000 |
| Net Cash Flow from Continuing Operating Activities, Indirect |
1175000000 |
1200000000 |
1243000000 |
2005000000 |
2233000000 |
1924000000 |
| Cash Generated from Operating Activities |
1175000000 |
1200000000 |
1243000000 |
2005000000 |
2233000000 |
1924000000 |
| Income/Loss before Non-Cash Adjustment |
824000000 |
788000000 |
906000000 |
1499000000 |
2080000000 |
1563000000 |
| Total Adjustments for Non-Cash Items |
667000000 |
461000000 |
302000000 |
484000000 |
66000000 |
490000000 |
| Depreciation, Amortization and Depletion, Non-Cash Adjustment |
270000000 |
309000000 |
329000000 |
361000000 |
408000000 |
420000000 |
| Depreciation and Amortization, Non-Cash Adjustment |
270000000 |
309000000 |
329000000 |
361000000 |
408000000 |
420000000 |
| Stock-Based Compensation, Non-Cash Adjustment |
79000000 |
61000000 |
56000000 |
97000000 |
79000000 |
77000000 |
| Deferred Taxes, Non-Cash Adjustment |
9000000 |
73000000 |
15000000 |
85000000 |
-57000000 |
12000000 |
| Other Provisions, Non-Cash Adjustment |
315000000 |
6000000 |
11000000 |
19000000 |
4000000 |
3000000 |
| Irregular Income/Loss, Non-Cash Adjustment |
0 |
4000000 |
-70000000 |
3000000 |
-305000000 |
| Gain/Loss on Disposals, Non-Cash Adjustment |
0 |
4000000 |
-70000000 |
3000000 |
-305000000 |
| Gain/Loss on Disposal/Sale of Fixed Assets, Non-Cash Adjustment |
|
| -70000000 |
3000000 |
9000000 |
| Gain/Loss on Disposal/Sale of Business, Non-Cash Adjustment |
0 |
4000000 |
|
| -314000000 |
| Gain/Loss on Disposal/Sale of Other Assets, Non-Cash Adjustment |
| Gain/Loss on Extinguishment of Debt, Non-Cash Adjustment |
| 0 |
| Write Down and Write off of Other Assets, Non-Cash Adjustment |
| Other Non-Cash Items |
-6000000 |
8000000 |
-39000000 |
-81000000 |
-63000000 |
-31000000 |
| Excess Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Compensation, Non-Cash Adjustment |
| Net Investment Income/Loss, Non-Cash Adjustment |
| Share of Profit/Loss from Associates, Joint Ventures and other Equity Investments, Non-Cash Adjustment |
| Changes in Operating Capital |
-316000000 |
-49000000 |
35000000 |
22000000 |
87000000 |
-129000000 |
| Change in Trade and Other Receivables |
-298000000 |
-65000000 |
-63000000 |
-455000000 |
81000000 |
-34000000 |
| Change in Trade/Accounts Receivable |
-298000000 |
-65000000 |
-63000000 |
-455000000 |
81000000 |
-34000000 |
| Change in Payables and Accrued Expenses |
8000000 |
-15000000 |
102000000 |
474000000 |
15000000 |
-76000000 |
| Change in Trade and Other Payables |
8000000 |
-15000000 |
102000000 |
474000000 |
15000000 |
-76000000 |
| Change in Trade/Accounts Payable |
-8000000 |
-19000000 |
73000000 |
452000000 |
35000000 |
33000000 |
| Change in Taxes Payable |
16000000 |
4000000 |
29000000 |
22000000 |
-20000000 |
-109000000 |
| Change in Other Operating Capital |
-26000000 |
31000000 |
-4000000 |
3000000 |
-9000000 |
-19000000 |
| Cash Flow from Investing Activities |
-805000000 |
-801000000 |
-411000000 |
-772000000 |
21000000 |
-574000000 |
| Cash Flow from Continuing Investing Activities |
-805000000 |
-801000000 |
-411000000 |
-772000000 |
21000000 |
-574000000 |
| Capital Expenditure, Reported |
-252000000 |
-383000000 |
-400000000 |
-418000000 |
-403000000 |
-372000000 |
| Purchase/Sale and Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
|
| 91000000 |
3000000 |
3000000 |
| Sale and Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment |
|
| 91000000 |
3000000 |
3000000 |
| Purchase/Sale of Business, Net |
-555000000 |
-419000000 |
-58000000 |
-330000000 |
-331000000 |
-206000000 |
| Purchase/Acquisition of Business |
-581000000 |
-421000000 |
-58000000 |
-330000000 |
-331000000 |
-206000000 |
| Sale of Business |
26000000 |
2000000 |
| Purchase/Sale of Equity Investments |
0 |
|
|
| 755000000 |
| Sale of Joint Venture/Associate |
|
|
|
| 755000000 |
| Purchase of Joint Venture/Associate |
0 |
| Purchase/Sale of Investments, Net |
2000000 |
1000000 |
-44000000 |
-27000000 |
-3000000 |
-754000000 |
| Purchase of Investments |
|
|
|
| -3000000 |
| Sale of Investments |
2000000 |
1000000 |
| Purchase/Sale of Intangibles, Net |
| Sale of Intangibles |
| Cash Flow from Financing Activities |
-592000000 |
-401000000 |
225000000 |
-1267000000 |
-2540000000 |
-1120000000 |
| Cash Flow from Continuing Financing Activities |
-592000000 |
-401000000 |
225000000 |
-1267000000 |
-2540000000 |
-1120000000 |
| Issuance of/Payments for Common Stock, Net |
-465000000 |
-322000000 |
-353000000 |
-325000000 |
-2199000000 |
-862000000 |
| Payments for Common Stock |
-465000000 |
-322000000 |
-353000000 |
-325000000 |
-2199000000 |
-862000000 |
| Issuance of/Repayments for Debt, Net |
23000000 |
124000000 |
832000000 |
-805000000 |
-2000000 |
-2000000 |
| Issuance of/Repayments for Long Term Debt, Net |
23000000 |
124000000 |
832000000 |
-805000000 |
-2000000 |
-2000000 |
| Proceeds from Issuance of Long Term Debt |
205000000 |
2090000000 |
2281000000 |
749000000 |
0 |
| Repayments for Long Term Debt |
-182000000 |
-1966000000 |
-1449000000 |
-1554000000 |
-2000000 |
-2000000 |
| Cash Dividends and Interest Paid |
-247000000 |
-266000000 |
-286000000 |
-297000000 |
-309000000 |
-305000000 |
| Cash Dividends Paid |
-247000000 |
-266000000 |
-286000000 |
-297000000 |
-309000000 |
-305000000 |
| Common Stock Dividends Paid |
-247000000 |
-266000000 |
-286000000 |
-297000000 |
| Cash Dividends Paid to Non-Controlling/Minority Interests |
-51000000 |
-54000000 |
-54000000 |
-58000000 |
-99000000 |
-82000000 |
| Proceeds from Issuance/Exercising of Stock Options/Warrants |
130000000 |
99000000 |
119000000 |
189000000 |
129000000 |
129000000 |
| Other Financing Cash Flow |
37000000 |
23000000 |
-17000000 |
29000000 |
-60000000 |
2000000 |
| Net Movement in Non-Controlling/Minority Interest |
4000000 |
16000000 |
| 0 |
| Excess Tax Benefit from Share-Based Compensation, Financing Activities |
-23000000 |
-21000000 |
-16000000 |
| Issue and Financing Costs |
| 0 |
| Debt Issuance Costs |
| 0 |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period |
137000000 |
135000000 |
1192000000 |
1158000000 |
872000000 |
790000000 |
| Change in Cash |
-222000000 |
-2000000 |
1057000000 |
-34000000 |
-286000000 |
230000000 |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period |
359000000 |
137000000 |
135000000 |
1192000000 |
1158000000 |
560000000 |
| Other Changes |
| Cash Flow Supplemental Section |
| Change in Cash as Reported, Supplemental |
-222000000 |
-2000000 |
1057000000 |
-34000000 |
-286000000 |
230000000 |
| Income Tax Paid, Supplemental |
-243000000 |
| Interest Paid, Supplemental |
-159000000 |
| Fiscal year ends in Dec 31 | USD |