UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 17, 2003
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(Date of earliest event reported)


LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   DELAWARE                1-11353             13-3757370
 --------------          -----------         --------------
(State or other         (Commission          (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of         File Number)         Identification
incorporation)                                   Number)


358 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 27215
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(Address of principal executive offices)

336-229-1127
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered Trademark-Holdings
(LabCorp -Registered Trademark-)(NYSE:LH) announced that it has
completed its previously announced acquisition of DIANON Systems Inc.,
a leading U.S. provider of anatomic pathology and oncology testing
services.  LabCorp acquired all of the outstanding shares of DIANON,
financing the transaction by using a $350 million bridge loan and
borrowings of $248.4 million under its $350 million revolver.  LabCorp
anticipates that the acquisition will be accretive to LabCorp's 2003
diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.05 and expects to
realize an estimated $35 million in annual cost savings synergies by
year-end 2005.









ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
        INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

(c) Exhibit
20  Press release of the Company dated January 17, 2003.




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

          LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
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                        (Registrant)

               By:/s/ BRADFORD T. SMITH
                      --------------------------------
                      Bradford T. Smith
                      Executive Vice President
                      and Secretary


Date: January 17, 2003