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 22, 2002
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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) today announced that its
Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program. This
program allows the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of $150
million of its Common Stock from time-to-time.

The press release announcing the stock repurchase plan is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.



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

(c) Exhibit
99.1 Press release of the Company dated October 22, 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: October 22, 2002



                                      EXHIBIT INDEX


   Exhibit                    Description
- ------------     ------------------------------------
    99.01        Press Release dated October 22, 2002

                LABCORP ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

Burlington, NC, October 22, 2002 - Laboratory Corporation of America
- -Registered Trademark- Holdings (LabCorp -Registered Trademark-) (NYSE: LH)
today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase
program under which LabCorp may purchase up to an aggregate of $150,000,000 of
its Common Stock from time-to-time.

The purpose of LabCorp's stock repurchase program is consistent with its
goal of making prudent investments of the Company's cash resources.

Any purchases under LabCorp's stock repurchase program may be made from
time-to-time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions and
may be initiated and discontinued at any time.  As of October 21, 2002,
LabCorp had approximately 147.8 million common shares outstanding. Common
Stock acquired through the program will be available for general corporate
purposes. There are currently no specific plans for the shares which may be
purchased under the program.

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 combines 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, 2001 and subsequent SEC filings.