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

           June 13, 2006           
(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 jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
         
358 SOUTH MAIN STREET,
BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
  27215   336-229-1127

 
 
 
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
  (Registrant's telephone number including area code)

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 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

On June 13, 2006, Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp®) (NYSE: LH), a national leader in esoteric testing, announced an important new relationship that will help it expand its opportunities to offer new genomic tests by partnering with Duke University to create the “Duke-LabCorp Scholars in Genomic Medicine” program.

Exhibits

99.1 Press Release dated June 13, 2006


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities 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)
 
 
Date: June 13, 2006  By:   /s/Bradford T. Smith    
    Bradford T. Smith, Executive Vice President
and Secretary 
 
       
 

 

Exhibit 99.1

Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings
358 South Main Street
Burlington, NC 27215
Telephone:(336) 584-5171

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Investor Contact: Scott Fleming - 336-436-4879
Media Contact: Pam Sherry - 336-436-4855
Shareholder Direct: (800)LAB-0401
Company Information: www.LabCorp.com

   LABCORP® AND DUKE UNIVERSITY COLLABORATE TO OFFER NEW
GENOMIC TESTS

Burlington, NC, June 13, 2006 — Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp®) (NYSE: LH), a national leader in esoteric testing, today announced an important new relationship that will help it expand its opportunities to offer new genomic tests by partnering with Duke University to create the “Duke-LabCorp Scholars in Genomic Medicine” program.

The new program, led by Geoffrey S. Ginsburg, M.D., Ph. D., of the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, will support advanced research studies in specified clinical testing applications in genomic medicine which are currently being identified. The goal of the collaboration is to develop a commercial partnership that enables the translation of important genomic tests into clinical practice as rapidly as possible.

“Duke is a preeminent university, and their program in genomic medicine is one of the best in the country,” said Myla P. Lai-Goldman, M.D., Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and Medical Director of LabCorp. “This collaboration supports our ever-growing menu of esoteric and genomic tests and underscores our commitment to work in a variety of ways with academia to bring forth new and relevant clinical tests.”

About Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy

The Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy (IGSP) is dedicated to the study of life through scientific inquiry involving interdisciplinary research in genome sciences and policy. The IGSP is a passionate supporter and facilitator of campus-wide research and scholarship that explore the impact of genome sciences on all aspects of life, human health and social policy.

Areas of Expertise: ethics, law and policy in genome sciences; genomic medicine; genome technology and its applications; computational genome sciences; and connecting genome sciences to society. For more information, visit their Web site at www.genome.duke.edu.

About LabCorp®

Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings, a S&P 500 company, is a pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the first in its industry to embrace genomic testing. With annual revenues of $3.3 billion in 2005, approximately 24,000 employees nationwide, and more than 220,000 clients, LabCorp offers clinical assays ranging from routine 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; DIANON Systems, Inc. based in Stratford, CT, US LABS based in Irvine, CA, and Esoterix and its Colorado Coagulation, Endocrine Sciences, and Cytometry Associates laboratories. 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, 2005, and subsequent SEC filings.