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

December 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

On December 17, 2003, Laboratory Corporation of America -Registered Trademark-
Holdings (LabCorp -Registered Trademark-)(NYSE:LH) announced that its Board
of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program.  This program allows
the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of $250 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 December 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
          ------------------------------------------
                        (Registrant)

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


Date: December 17, 2003


                                       EXHIBIT INDEX


   Exhibit                  Description
- ------------    -------------------------------------

   99.1         Press Release dated December 17, 2003

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
          Pamela Sherry
          Investor@labcorp.com

          Shareholder Direct: 800-LAB-0401
          www.labcorp.com

LABCORP-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-ANNOUNCES
STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

Burlington, NC, December 17, 2003 - 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 $250,000,000
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 December 16, 2003,
LabCorp had approximately 148.9 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.

Laboratory Corporation of America-Registered Trademark- Holdings is a pioneer
in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the first in its industry to
embrace genomic testing. With annual revenues of $2.5 billion in 2002, over
24,000 employees nationwide, and more than 200,000 clients, LabCorp offers over
4,000 clinical assays ranging from blood analyses to HIV and genomic testing.
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, NC; National Genetics Institute, Inc. in Los Angeles,
CA; ViroMed Laboratories, Inc. based in Minneapolis, MN; The Center for
Esoteric Testing in Burlington, NC; and DIANON Systems, Inc. based in
Stratford, CT.  LabCorp clients include physicians, government agencies,
managed care organizations, hospitals, clinical labs, and pharmaceutical
companies. To learn more about our growing organization, visit our web site
at: www.LabCorp.com.

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.  Actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these
forward-looking statements. 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, 2002 and subsequent SEC filings.