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

February 26, 2002
- ------------------
(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

Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered Trademark-Holdings
(LabCorp -Registered Trademark-)(NYSE:LH) announced that it has signed
an expanded agreement with Aetna Inc. to provide clinical laboratory
testing and certain additional services to Aetna's Commercial HMO and
Quality Point-of-Service members in New York and New Jersey.  LabCorp
will also continue to provide these services to members of Aetna's PPO
and indemnity plans nationally.



"This agreement is significant for LabCorp because we are now a
provider for all Aetna products in New York and New Jersey," said
Stevan R. Stark, executive vice president for sales and marketing at
LabCorp.  "Now, Aetna's participating physicians in these states may
send all their clinical laboratory work to LabCorp, giving those
physicians who prefer using a single laboratory greater choice in
selecting a full service laboratory provider.  This type of agreement
is an important part of LabCorp's ongoing strategy to continually
expand its relationships with large managed care providers."


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

(c) Exhibit
20  Press release of the Company dated February 26, 2002.




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
                      and Secretary


Date: February 26, 2002

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

LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA-REGISTERED
TRADEMARK- SIGNS EXPANDED AGREEMENT WITH AETNA

Burlington, NC, February 26, 2002 - Laboratory Corporation of
America-Registered Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp-Registered
Trademark-) (NYSE: LH) today announced that it has signed an expanded
agreement with Aetna Inc. to provide clinical laboratory testing and
certain additional services to Aetna's Commercial HMO and Quality
Point-of-Service members in New York and New Jersey. LabCorp will
also continue to provide these services to members of Aetna's PPO and
indemnity plans nationally.

"This agreement is significant for LabCorp because we are now a provider
for all Aetna products in New York and New Jersey," said Stevan R.
Stark, executive vice president for sales and marketing at LabCorp.  "Now,
Aetna's participating physicians in these states may send all their clinical
laboratory work to LabCorp, giving those physicians who prefer using a
single laboratory greater choice in selecting a full service laboratory
provider.  This type of agreement is an important part of LabCorp's
ongoing strategy to continually expand its relationships with large
managed care providers."

The first national clinical laboratory to fully embrace genomic testing,
Laboratory Corporation of America-Registered Trademark- Holdings
(LabCorp-Registered Trademark-) has been a pioneer in commercializing
new diagnostic technologies.  As a national laboratory with annual
revenues of $2.2 billion in 2001 and over 19,000 employees, the Company
offers more than 4,000 clinical tests ranging from routine analyses to
sophisticated molecular diagnostics. Serving over 200,000 clients
nationwide, LabCorp leverages its expertise in innovative clinical testing
technology with its Centers of Excellence. The Center for Molecular
Biology and Pathology, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, offers
state-of-the-art molecular gene-based testing in infectious disease,
oncology and genetics. Its National Genetics Institute in Los Angeles is an
industry leader in developing novel, highly sensitive polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) methods for testing hepatitis C and other blood borne
infectious agents. LabCorp's Minneapolis-based ViroMed offers
molecular microbial testing using real-time PCR platforms, while its
Center for Esoteric Testing in Burlington, North Carolina, performs the
largest volume of specialty testing in the network.  LabCorp's clients
include physicians, state and federal government, managed care
organizations, hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical and Fortune 1000
companies, and other clinical laboratories.

Each of the above forward-looking statements is subject to change based on
various important factors, including without limitation, competitive actions
in the marketplace and adverse actions of governmental and other third-
party payors.  Further information on potential factors that could affect
LabCorp's financial results is included in the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000 and subsequent SEC filings, and will be
available in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, when
filed.


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