LabCorp(R) Scheduled to Present at the Merrill Lynch Health Services Investor Conference

BURLINGTON, N.C., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Laboratory Corporation of America(R) Holdings (NYSE: LH) (LabCorp(R)) today announced that Bradford T. Smith, executive vice president of public affairs and licensing, is scheduled to speak at the Merrill Lynch Health Services Investor Conference in New York on December 3, 2002 at 11:25 a.m. Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available via the company website at www.labcorp.com. A replay of the audio webcast will begin within 24 hours following the actual presentation and will be available through December 17, 2002.

The first national clinical laboratory to fully embrace genomic testing, Laboratory Corporation of America(R) Holdings (LabCorp(R)) has been a pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies. As a national laboratory with annual revenues of $2.2 billion in 2001 and over 25,000 employees, the company offers more than 4,000 clinical tests ranging from routine blood analyses to sophisticated molecular diagnostics. Serving more than 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. 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, 2001 and subsequent SEC filings.

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SOURCE Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

-0- 12/02/2002

/CONTACT: Pamela Sherry of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, +1-336-436-4855, or Shareholder Direct, +1-800-LAB-0401/