The story
1971-2000
In 1971, Revlon acquired DCL BioMedical, a clinical laboratory business founded in 1968. In 1974, it changed its name to National Health Laboratories Incorporated. By 1977, it operated clinical testing laboratories in 13 cities and maintained auxiliary service centers and satellite laboratories in 15 other cities. In 1978, it acquired American Biomedical Corporation, giving it operations in the Southwestern United States and data processing technology. In 1985, Revlon was acquired by Ronald Perelman. Revlon divested its other businesses and a major stake in the company was acquired by MacAndrews & Forbes.
In 1988, National Health Laboratories became a public company via an initial public offering on the NASDAQ exchange.
In 1989, the company generated revenue of about US$400 million, with about US$70 million in earnings.
In the early 1990s, worries about malpractice lawsuits led doctors to conduct more clinical testing before diagnosing, which increased business for the company.
In 1990, the company's revenues reached US$500 million, with over US$70 million in earnings.
In 1991, National Health Laboratories moved its listing from the NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange.
In June 1992, the company offered to acquire Damon Corporation for $260 million in cash and stock. However, the company was outbid by Corning Inc., which acquired Damon for $370 million.
By 1993, the company had 22 major laboratories.
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On March 8, 1994, National Health Laboratories Inc. reorganized as a holding company, National Health Laboratories Holdings Inc.
In 1994, National Health Laboratories acquired Allied Clinical Laboratories. The acquisition price was reduced to $204 million after federal officials issued subpoenas in an investigation of Medicare billing practices.
In April 1995, Hoffmann-La Roche, a division of Roche, contributed Roche Biomedical Laboratories, Inc. and US$186.7 million in cash to National Health Laboratories Holdings, in exchange for 49.9% of the combined company. Perelman received about US$100 million from the deal, which made the new company the largest blood-testing company in the United States. The company changed its name to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and relocated its headquarters to Burlington, North Carolina.
In July 1998, Labcorp acquired the Michigan-based laboratory division of Universal Standard Healthcare (UHCI) and made an equity investment in the company. Labcorp also became UHCI's clinical laboratory long-term testing provider but terminated this agreement in March 1999.
2000s
In June 2000, Labcorp acquired the laboratory testing business of Pathology Medical Laboratories.
In May 2001, Labcorp acquired Path Lab Holdings, the largest regional laboratory in New England.
In June 2001, it acquired ViroMed, which specialized on clinical diagnostic testing in virology, molecular biology, serology, microbiology, mycology and mycobacteriology, as well as in tissue and eye bank testing. In 2013, it closed the Viromed facility in Minnetonka, Minnesota and laid off 79 workers.
In December 2001, Labcorp became the exclusive marketer for genomics and proteomics tests for breast cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, and hypertension made by Myriad Genetics.
In March 2002, Roche sold its remaining interest in the company.
In May 2002, Labcorp acquired Dynacare, a Canadian medical laboratory services company, for $480 million.
In January 2003, Labcorp acquired Dianon, a provider of oncology and genomic diagnostic testing services, for $598 million in cash.
In February 2005, the company acquired US Pathology Labs Inc., a provider of anatomical pathology and oncology testing services, for $155 million.
In March 2005, Labcorp acquired Esoterix, a provider of specialty reference testing, for approximately $150 million in cash from Behrman Capital.
In November 2006, Labcorp acquired Litholink, a kidney stone analysis laboratory.
In January 2008, Labcorp acquired Tandem Labs, a contract research organization specializing in advanced mass spectrometry, immunoanalytical support, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
In June 2009, Labcorp acquired Monogram Biosciences, a diagnostic lab specializing in HIV resistance testing, for approximately $155 million including debt.
2010s
In September 2010, Labcorp acquired Genzyme Genetics, formerly a division of Genzyme Corporation, with 9 testing laboratories and approximately 1,900 employees, for $925 million in cash.
In February 2011, Labcorp acquired the assets of bankrupt Westcliff Medical Laboratory. The FTC challenged the acquisition but lost in court.
In June 2011, Labcorp acquired Canadian central labs partner Clearstone from Czura Thornton, adding laboratories in China, France, Singapore and Canada, and the central laboratory protocol management system APOLLO CLPM.
In November 2011, Labcorp acquired more than 90% of the shares of DNA testing company Orchid Cellmark for $85 million. To receive approval of the transaction from the Federal Trade Commission, Labcorp sold parts of Orchid's DNA paternity testing business to DNA Diagnostics Center.
In May 2012, Labcorp Clinical Trials sold its European biological sampling kit building operation located in Hamburg to Marken.
In August 2012, Labcorp acquired testing lab Medtox Scientific for $241 million.
In September 2013, Labcorp acquired MuirLab, the clinical laboratory outreach business of John Muir Health.
In November 2014, Labcorp acquired LipoScience, a developer of diagnostic tests based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measuring heart disease risk, for $85 million.
In December 2014, Labcorp acquired Bode Technology Group, a provider of forensic DNA analysis, DNA collection products, and relationship testing and the largest DNA forensic testing company in the U.S., from SolutionPoint International.
In February 2015, Labcorp acquired Covance for $6.1 billion.
In October 2015, Labcorp acquired Safe Foods International Holdings and its two operating companies, International Food Network and The National Food Laboratory, expanding its capabilities in food and beverage product-development and product-integrity.
In March 2016, Labcorp acquired Pathology Inc., a provider of reproductive donor testing as well as anatomic, molecular and digital pathology services focused on women's health.
In September 2016, Labcorp acquired Sequenom for $371 million including debt, expanding its operations in Europe and Asia.
In October 2016, Labcorp acquired ClearPath Diagnostics, a provider of laboratory diagnostic services in the Northeastern United States, from Shore Capital Partners.
In May 2017, Labcorp acquired Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories from Providence Health & Services and Catholic Health Initiatives.
In September 2017, Labcorp acquired Chiltern, a contract research organization (CRO), for $1.2 billion, and contributed it to Covance.
In 2019, Labcorp acquired Wellness Corporate Solutions, a workplace wellness company.
2020s
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was one of the major developers and processors of COVID-19 testing. In March 2020, Labcorp received emergency use authorization from the FDA for a test for SARS-CoV-2. In April 2020, the company developed the first COVID-19 test in which people were able to collect a sample at home. In July 2020, the company was processing 165,000 COVID-19 tests per day.
In December 2021, the company acquired Toxikon, a contract research organization developing non-clinical testing services.
In February 2022, the company acquired Personal Genome Diagnostics and its liquid biopsy and tissue-based genomic product, for $450 million in cash plus a possible earn-out of an additional $125 million.
Also in February 2022, Labcorp entered into agreements with Ascension, one of the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health systems, to manage Ascension's hospital-based laboratories in ten states and purchase assets of the health system's outreach laboratory business.
In June 2023, Labcorp completed the corporate spin-off of Fortrea.
In August 2024, Labcorp acquired the assets of bankrupt Invitae for $234 million.
In December 2025, Labcorp acquired the ambulatory lab businesses from Community Health Services (CHS) in 13 states for $194 million.
In January 2026, it was announced that Labcorp had sold select assets of its early development medical device testing business to NAMSA, a medical device testing, clinical research, and regulatory consulting company. The transaction transferred Labcorp’s US-based biocompatibility, analytical testing, microbiological, and preclinical research services to NAMSA, enabling Labcorp to concentrate on its core preclinical drug development and chemical testing activities.
In March 2026, Labcorp acquired select assets of Crouse Health, including assuming operations of Lab Alliance's 12 patient service centers.
From Wikipedia’s article on Labcorp, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7