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

                                March 1, 2005
                             ------------------
                     (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)            (Zip Code)

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

                                    N/A
                  ---------------------------------------
        (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Long-Term Incentives for Executive Management

       On February 23, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company approved the Executive Compensation Plan for 2005 (the
"Plan"). The Plan includes the granting of stock options, restricted stock and
performance shares under the Company's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

       On March 1, 2005, the Plan was made effective and the following actions
were made with respect to the long-term incentive grants (stock options grants
were made pursuant to a stock option grant agreement which was previously
filed with the SEC) of the Company's named officers (as defined in Regulation
S-K Item 402(a)(3)) and significant awards to other Executive Officers:


                                       2005 Long-Term compensation Awards
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                         Restricted        Performance
                                           Stock               Share
Executive Officer                       Awards($) (1)      Awards(#) (2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas P. Mac Mahon
  Chairman and Chief
  Executive Officer .................   $1,929,967            120,900
Richard L. Novak
  Executive Vice President
  And Chief Operating Officer .......      633,345             39,675
Bradford T. Smith
  Executive Vice President,
  Chief Legal Officer and
  Secretary .........................      514,818             32,250
Wesley R. Elingburg
  Executive Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer
  And Treasurer .....................      191,560             12,000
Myla P. Lai-Goldman
  Executive Vice President,
  Chief Scientific Officer
  And Medical Director ..............      402,276             24,300
David P. King
  Executive Vice President,
  Strategic Planning and
  Corporate Development .............      402,276             24,300
William B. Haas
  Executive Vice President,
  Sales and Marketing ...............      402,276             24,300

- ----------------
(1)  The Restricted Stock Awards vest in equal one-third increments over a
     three year period, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of
     grant. These awards are valued at the date of the grant.

(2)  If the performance targets, as determined by the Compensation Committee
     on February 23, 2005 are met, the Performance Share Awards will vest 30
     days following the availability of audited financial statements for the
     3-year period ending December 31, 2007. Performance targets will be based
     on the Company's growth in sales and in earnings per share.



ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)  Exhibits

       Exhibit           Description
      ---------         ---------------------------------------------
        99.1             Form of Restricted Stock Agreement
        99.2             Form of Performance Award Agreement


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: March 7, 2005



                              EXHIBIT INDEX


       Exhibit           Description
      ---------         ---------------------------------------------
        99.1             Form of Restricted Stock Agreement
        99.2             Form of Performance Award Agreement

EXHIBIT 99.1

                          RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT dated as of March 1, 2005 (the "Date of Grant") between
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and    (the "Employee").

                            W I T N E S S E T H
In consideration of mutual promises and covenants made herein and the mutual
benefits to be derived herefrom, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined herein, bolded terms used herein
     shall have the meaning set forth in the Laboratory Corporation of
     America Holdings 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

2.   Grant of Restricted Shares.

     (a)  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and to the provisions
          of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Employee that number
          of shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share ("Common
          Stock") of the Company, set forth on Annex A attached hereto,
          subject to the restrictions set forth herein (the "Restricted
          Shares").  Subject to Section 3, certificates evidencing the
          Restricted Shares shall be issued by the Company and registered
          in the name of the Employee on the stock transfer books of the
          Company.  However, certificates issued with respect to Restricted
          Shares shall be held by the Company in escrow under the terms
          hereof.  Such certificates shall bear the legend set forth in
          subsection (c) below or such other appropriate legend as the
          Committee shall determine, which legend shall be removed only if
          and when the Restricted Shares vest as provided herein, at which
          time the certificates shall be delivered to the Employee.  As a
          condition to the issuance of Shares hereunder, the Employee shall
          deliver to the Company the attached stock power duly endorsed in
          blank. Upon the issuance of Restricted Shares hereunder, the
          Employee shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Shares, and shall
          be entitled to receive, free of all restrictions, ordinary cash
          dividends paid on the Restricted Shares. The Employee's right to
          receive any extraordinary dividends or other distributions, and any
          dividends or distributions in any form other than cash, with respect
          to Restricted Shares prior to their becoming non-forfeitable shall
          be at the sole discretion of the Committee, but in the event of any
          such extraordinary event, dividend, or distribution, the Committee
          shall take such action as is appropriate to preserve the value of,
          and prevent the unintended enhancement of the value of, the
          Restricted Shares.

     (b)  In order to comply with any applicable securities laws, the Company
          may require the Employee (i) to furnish evidence satisfactory to the
          Company (including a written and signed representation letter) to
          the effect that the Restricted Shares were acquired for investment
          only and not for resale or distribution and (ii) to agree that the
          Restricted Shares shall only be sold by the Employee following
          registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
          pursuant to an exemption therefrom.

     (c)  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, any certificate issued
          in respect of the Restricted Shares prior to the lapse of any
          outstanding restrictions relating thereto shall bear the following
          legend:

          This certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are
          subject to the terms and conditions, including the forfeiture
          provisions and restrictions against transfer (the "Restrictions"),
          contained in the Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
          2000 Stock Incentive Plan and an agreement entered into between the
          registered owner and the Company.  Any attempt to dispose of these
          shares in contravention of the applicable restrictions, including by
          way of sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or
          otherwise, shall be null and void and without effect.


3.  Vesting.

     (a)  Subject to Sections 4 and 5 hereof, the restrictions on transfer of
          the Restricted Shares shall lapse and the Restricted Shares shall
          become vested and non-forfeitable on the third anniversary of the
          Date of Grant.

     (b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Restricted Shares shall become
          vested and non-forfeitable as follows: One-third (1/3) of the shares
          will vest on March 1, 2006, an additional one-third (1/3) of such
          shares will vest on March 1, 2007, and the remaining one-third (1/3)
          shares will vest on March 1, 2008, in each case subject to the prior
          expiration or sooner termination of the Restricted Shares.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing calculations, any fractional shares will be
     disregarded.

4.  Termination of Employment.

Except as provided in Section 5 hereof, Restricted Shares shall not vest unless
the Employee is then in the employ of (i) the Company or an Affiliate
Corporation, and unless the Employee has remained continuously so employed
since the date of grant of the Restricted Shares.  In the event that the
employment of the Employee shall terminate (other than by reason of death,
Disability or Retirement), all unvested Restricted Shares shall be forfeited.

5.  Acceleration of Benefits upon Death, Disability or Retirement of Employee
or Change in Control.

If (i) the Employee shall die while employed by the Company or an Affiliate
Corporation thereof, (ii) the Employee's employment shall terminate by reason
of Disability or Retirement, or (iii) there is a Change in Control, all
Restricted Shares granted to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement which
are unvested shall become immediately vested and non-forfeitable.

6.  Non-transferability of Restricted Shares.

The Restricted Shares are non-transferable and may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, disposed of, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the Employee,
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution until such
Restricted Shares become non-forfeitable in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement.  Any Employee's successor (a "Successor") shall take rights
herein granted subject to the terms and conditions hereof.  No such transfer
of the Restricted Shares to any Successor shall be effective to bind the
Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice
thereof and a copy of such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to
establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by such Successor
of the terms and conditions hereof.

7.  No Right to Continued Employment.

Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Employee any right
to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its affiliate corporations
or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any such affiliate
corporation to terminate such employment at any time.

8.  Taxes and Withholding.

The Employee shall pay to the Company promptly upon request, and in any event
at the time the Employee recognizes taxable income in respect of the
Restricted Shares, an amount equal to the taxes the Company determines it is
required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the Restricted
Shares.  Such payment shall be made in the form of cash, shares of Common
Stock already owned or otherwise issuable upon the lapse of restrictions, or
in a combination of such methods, as irrevocably elected by the Employee prior
to the applicable tax due date with respect to such Restricted Shares.  The
Employee shall promptly notify the Company of any election made pursuant of
Section 83(b) of the Code.

9.  Effect of Certain Changes.

     (a)  If there is any change in the number of outstanding shares of
          Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
          recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares, merger,
          consolidation, liquidation, split-up, spin-off or other similar
          change in capitalization, any distribution to shareholders,
          including a rights offering, other than cash in dividends, or any
          like change, the number of Restricted Shares covered by this
          Agreement shall be proportionately adjusted by the Committee to
          reflect any such change or distribution provided, however, that
          any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be
          eliminated.

     (b)  In the event of a change in the Common Stock as presently
          constituted, which is limited to a change of all of its authorized
          shares with par value into the same number of shares with different
          par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any such
          change shall be deemed to be Common Stock within the meaning of this
          Agreement and the Plan.

     (c)  To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or
          securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be made by the
          Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final,
          binding and conclusive.

10.  Other Restrictions.

The vesting of each Restricted Share shall be subject to the requirement that,
if at any time the Committee shall determine that (i) the listing,
registration or qualification of the shares of Common Stock subject or related
thereto upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or
(ii) the consent or approval of any government regulatory body, or (iii) an
agreement by the Employee with respect to the disposition of shares of Common
Stock is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, such
vesting or the delivery or purchase of shares pursuant thereto, then in any
such event, such vesting shall not be effective unless such listing,
registration, qualification, consent, approval or agreement shall have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

11.  Notices.

Any notices to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing
and addressed to the Company at 430 South Spring Street, Burlington, North
Carolina 27215, Attention: Corporate Secretary and to the Employee at the
address set forth on Annex A, or at such other address as either party may
hereafter designate in writing to the other.

12.  Effect of Agreement.

Except as otherwise provided hereunder, this Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of any successor or successors of the Company.


13.  Laws Applicable to Construction.

This Agreement has been granted, executed and delivered in the State of New
York, and the interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, as applied to
contracts executed in and performed wholly within the State of New York.

14.  Conflicts and Interpretation.

If there is any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, or if there is
any ambiguity in this Agreement, any term which is not defined in this
Agreement, or any matter as to which this Agreement is silent, in any such
case the Plan shall govern including, without limitation, the provisions
thereof pursuant to which the Committee has the power, among others, to (i)
interpret the Plan, (ii) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan and (iii) make all other determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

15.  Headings.

The headings of Sections herein are included solely for convenience or
reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.

16.  Amendment.

This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any manner except by
an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.  The waiver by either
party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or
be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any
subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

17.  Gross Up for Excise Tax.

In the event that the Employee becomes entitled by reason of a Change in
Control to the accelerated vesting of the Restricted Shares, if the Employee
will be subject to the excise tax (the "Excise Tax") under Section 4999 of the
Code, the Company shall pay to the Employee as additional compensation an
amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") as calculated under the Plan, and subject to
adjustment under procedures described in the Plan.


       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
on its behalf by a duly authorized officer and the Employee has hereunto set
his/her hand, effective as of the day and year first above written.

                                 LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS

                                 By: ______________________________________
                                     Thomas P. Mac Mahon, Chairman and CEO



                                 EMPLOYEE

                                 By: ______________________________________
                                       



Annex A to Restricted Stock Agreement Employee Name and Address:

, Employee Social Security Number: Number and Type of Award: restricted shares Vesting: 1/3 on March 1, 2006 1/3 on March 1, 2007 1/3 on March 1, 2008

STOCK POWER FORM

EXHIBIT 99.2



                        PERFORMANCE AWARD AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT dated as of the  day of   (the "Date of
Grant") between Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and    (the
"Employee").

                            W I T N E S S E T H

In consideration of mutual promises and covenants made herein and the mutual
benefits to be derived herefrom, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.  Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined herein, bolded terms used herein
    shall have the meaning set forth in the Laboratory Corporation of America
    Holdings 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

2.  Grant of Performance Award Shares.

     (a)  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and to the provisions
          of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Employee the right to
          buy shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share ("Common
          Stock") of the Company, set forth on Annex A attached hereto,
          subject to the vesting conditions set forth herein (the
          "Performance Shares").

     (b)  Employee shall be entitled to receive, free of all restrictions,
          ordinary dividends paid on the Performance Shares. The Employee's
          right to receive any extraordinary dividends or other
          distributions, and any dividends or distributions in any form other
          than cash, with respect to Performance Shares prior to their
          becoming non-forfeitable shall be at the sole discretion of the
          Committee, but in the event of any such extraordinary event,
          dividend, or distribution, the Committee shall take such action as
          is appropriate to preserve the value of, and prevent the unintended
          enhancement of the value of, the Performance Shares.

     (c)  The purchase price for each Performance Share shall be the par
          value per share of Common Stock, or $0.10 per share (the "Purchase
          Price").  The Purchase Price for the Performance Shares shall be
          deemed paid by Employee's services to the Company.

3.  Vesting.

     (a)  Subject to Sections 4 and 5 hereof, a percentage of the
          Performance Shares ("Earnout") shall become vested and non-
          forfeitable on the 30th day following the availability of audited
          financial statements with respect to the 3-year period ending
          December 31, 2007 if the Company shall have achieved the Compounded
          Annual Growth Rate for EPS and Sales targets as follows:


                                EPS Growth             Sales Growth
                              Goal   Earnout          Goal   Earnout
                             ----------------        ----------------
                 Superior     12.5%    175%            7.0%    175%
                 Target       10.0%    100%            5.0%    100%
                 Threshold     7.5%     50%            3.5%     50%


          (i)    The Compensation Committee establishes the Target number of
                 Performance Shares to award, representing the 100% Earnout
                 level.

          (ii)   70% of the calculated Performance Shares will be earned
                 based on EPS Growth targets and the remaining 30% from the
                 Sales Growth targets;

          (iii)  The number of Performance Shares that may be earned can
                 range from 0% (performance for EPS and Sales Growth do not
                 meet Threshold Goals) to 175% (performance for of EPS and
                 Sales Growth meet or exceed Superior Goals) Target;

          (iv)   If the actual growth percentage falls in between any of the
                 goal amounts listed in the above table, the Earnout amounts
                 shall be pro-rated accordingly;

          (v)    The EPS Growth Goal excludes the impact of items such as
                 share repurchases; share issuances related to employee
                 compensation; restricted stock, stock option, performance
                 award or Employee Stock Purchase Program expensing after
                 December 31, 2004; and any accounting changes to convertible
                 debt (LYONs) (e.g., assumes a constant diluted weighted
                 average share base of 137.366 million for the 3-year period
                 ending December 31, 2007);

          (vi)   The Compounded Annual Growth Rate shall be calculated as
                 follows:

            [(December 31, 2007 Amount / December 31, 2004 Amount)^(1/3)] - 1

          (vii)  The Compensation Committee will determine the final number of
                 shares earned on or around February 2008 and may, under normal
                 circumstances and in its sole discretion, modify the number of
                 shares earned by up to +/- 25% within the 0 and 175% range; and

          (viii) The Compensation Committee will determine, in its sole
                 discretion, whether and to what extent the performance goals
                 set forth in this Section 3 have been satisfied.

       Notwithstanding the foregoing calculations, any fractional shares will
       be disregarded.

4.  Termination of Employment.

Except as provided in Section 5 hereof, Performance Shares shall not vest
unless the Employee is then in the employ of (i) the Company or an Affiliate
Corporation, and unless the Employee has remained continuously so employed
since the date of grant of the Performance Shares or (ii) the Employee has
entered into and is in compliance with the Senior Executive Transition
Agreement.  In the event that the employment of the Employee shall terminate
(other than by reason of death, Disability or Retirement), all unvested
Performance Shares shall be forfeited, except in the event the Employee has
entered into and Senior Executive Transition Agreement with the Company.

5.  Acceleration of Benefits upon Death, Disability or Retirement of Employee
or Change in Control.

If (i) the Employee shall die while employed by the Company or an Affiliate
Corporation thereof, (ii) the Employee's employment shall terminate by reason
of Disability or Retirement, or (iii) there is a Change in Control, all
Performance Shares granted to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement which
are unvested shall become immediately vested and non-forfeitable.

6.  Non-transferability of Performance Shares.

The Performance Shares are non-transferable and may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, disposed of, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the Employee,
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution until such
Performance Shares become non-forfeitable in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement.  Any Employee's successor (a "Successor") shall take
rights herein granted subject to the terms and conditions hereof.  No such
transfer of the Performance Shares to any Successor shall be effective to
bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written
notice thereof and a copy of such evidence as the Committee may deem
necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by
such Successor of the terms and conditions hereof.

7.  No Right to Continued Employment.

Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Employee any
right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its affiliate
corporations or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any
such affiliate corporation to terminate such employment at any time.


8.  Taxes and Withholding.

The Employee shall pay to the Company promptly upon request, and in any event
at the time the Employee recognizes taxable income in respect of the
Performance Shares, an amount equal to the taxes the Company determines it is
required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the
Performance Shares.  Such payment shall be made in the form of cash, shares
of Common Stock already owned or otherwise issuable upon the lapse of
restrictions, or in a combination of such methods, as irrevocably elected by
the Employee prior to the applicable tax due date with respect to such
Performance Shares. In the event that an acceptable arrangement for
satisfying any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of
vesting in Performance Shares, the Company will have the right to cause an
immediate forfeiture of shares of Common Stock subject to the Performance
Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement in an amount equal to the
withholding or other taxes due.

9.  Effect of Certain Changes.

     (a)  If there is any change in the number of outstanding shares of Common
          Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization,
          combination, exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, liquidation,
          split-up, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization, any
          distribution to shareholders, including a rights offering, other than
          cash in dividends, or any like change, the number of Performance
          Shares covered by this Agreement shall be proportionately adjusted by
          the Committee to reflect any such change or distribution provided,
          however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment
          shall be eliminated.

     (b)  In the event of a change in the Common Stock as presently
          constituted, which is limited to a change of all of its authorized
          shares with par value into the same number of shares with different
          par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any such
          change shall be deemed to be Common Stock within the meaning of this
          Agreement and the Plan.

     (c)  To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or
          securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be made by the
          Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final,
          binding and conclusive.

10.  Other Restrictions.

The vesting of each Performance Share shall be subject to the requirement
that, if at any time the Committee shall determine that (i) the listing,
registration or qualification of the shares of Common Stock subject or
related thereto upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal
law, or (ii) the consent or approval of any government regulatory body, or
(iii) an agreement by the Employee with respect to the disposition of shares
of Common Stock is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with, such vesting or the delivery or purchase of shares pursuant thereto,
then in any such event, such vesting shall not be effective unless such
listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or agreement shall
have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the
Committee.

11.  Notices.

Any notices to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing
and addressed to the Company at 430 South Spring Street, Burlington, North
Carolina 27215, Attention: Corporate Secretary and to the Employee at the
address set forth on Annex A, or at such other address as either party may
hereafter designate in writing to the other.

12.  Effect of Agreement.

Except as otherwise provided hereunder, this Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of any successor or successors of the Company.

13.  Laws Applicable to Construction.

This Agreement has been granted, executed and delivered in the State of New
York, and the interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, as applied to
contracts executed in and performed wholly within the State of New York.

14.  Conflicts and Interpretation.

If there is any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, or if there is
any ambiguity in this Agreement, any term which is not defined in this
Agreement, or any matter as to which this Agreement is silent, in any such
case the Plan shall govern including, without limitation, the provisions
thereof pursuant to which the Committee has the power, among others, to (i)
interpret the Plan, (ii) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan and (iii) make all other determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

15.  Headings.

The headings of Sections herein are included solely for convenience or
reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.

16.  Amendment.

This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any manner except by
an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.  The waiver by either
party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or
be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any
subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

17.  Gross Up for Excise Tax.

In the event that the Employee becomes entitled by reason of a Change in
Control to the accelerated vesting of the Performance Shares, if the Employee
will be subject to the excise tax (the "Excise Tax") under Section 4999 of
the Code, the Company shall pay to the Employee as additional compensation an
amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") as calculated under the Plan, and subject to
adjustment under procedures described in the Plan.


	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
on its behalf by a duly authorized officer and the Employee has hereunto set
his/her hand, effective as of the day and year first above written.

                                 LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS

                                 By:
                                    ----------------------------------------
                                    Thomas P. Mac Mahon, Chairman and CEO


                                 EMPLOYEE

                                 By:
                                    ----------------------------------------
                                      




Annex A to Performance Stock Agreement Employee Name and Address:

, Employee Social Security Number: Number and Type of Award: <#Performance_Shares> Performance shares Vesting: 0% to 175% for the period January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007, thirty days following the availability of audited financials, in accordance with the achievement goals as set forth in Section 3 of the Agreement.