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

OCTOBER 16, 2000
- ------------------
(Date of earliest event reported)


LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
- ------------------------------------------
(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
- -------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)

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




ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

   On October 16, 2000, Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered
Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp -Registered Trademark-) announced today
that Roche Holdings, Inc. (Roche), a subsidiary of Hoffmann-La Roche of
Switzerland and the current owner of 44% of LabCorp's common stock, on
October 13, 2000 sold 3,625,000 shares of LabCorp in a SEC-registered
public offering through underwriters led by Credit Suisse First Boston.

   The offering also included 150,000 shares sold by two LabCorp
officers.  If the underwriters exercise the option to purchase an
additional 375,000 shares from Roche to cover over-allotments, Roche's
holding would be reduced to approximately 32%.


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

 (c)  Exhibit
      20  Press release of the Company dated
          October 16, 2000.



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
          ------------------------------------------
                        (Registrant)

               By:/s/ BRADFORD T.SMITH
                  ------------------------------
                      Bradford T. Smith
                      Executive Vice President,
                      General Counsel, Secretary
                      and Compliance Officer



Date: October 16, 2000

Laboratory Corporation of America-Registered Trademark- Holdings
358 South Main Street
Burlington, NC   27215
Telephone:  336-584-5171
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  336-436-4855     Shareholder Direct:   800-LAB-0401
Pamela Sherry     www.labcorp.com



ROCHE HOLDINGS, INC. COMPLETES SALE OF
3.625 MILLION SHARES OF LABCORP-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-  COMMON
STOCK



Burlington, NC, October 16, 2000 - Laboratory Corporation of America -
Registered Trademark- Holdings (NYSE: LH) (LabCorp-Registered
Trademark-) announced today that Roche Holdings, Inc. (Roche), a
subsidiary of Hoffmann-La Roche of Switzerland and the current owner of
44% of LabCorp's common stock, on October 13, 2000 sold 3,625,000 hares
of LabCorp in a SEC-registered public offering through underwriters led
by Credit Suisse First Boston.

The offering also included 150,000 shares sold by two LabCorp officers.
If the underwriters exercise the option to purchase an additional
75,000 shares from Roche to cover over-allotments, Roche's holding
would be reduced to approximately 32%.

LabCorp is a national clinical laboratory with annual revenues of $1.7
billion in 1999. Its clients include physicians, state and federal
overnment, managed care organizations, hospitals, clinics,
pharmaceutical and Fortune 1000 companies, and other clinical
laboratories.



###


2