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

           Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 8, 2005
                                     
                                  LabOne, Inc.
                      ------------------------------------
                          (Exact name of registrant as
                            specified in its charter)

              Missouri               0-16946             43-1039532
        ---------------------     -------------       -----------------
         (State or other           (Commission       (I. R. S. Employer
         jurisdiction              File Number)      Identification No.)
         of incorporation) 



                  10101 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219
                  -------------------------------------- -----
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  913-888-1770
                                                        --------------
                                   

                                 Not Applicable
         --------------------------------------------------------------
 (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) 
[X] 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))


                                      -1-


Item 1.01  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Merger Agreement
----------------

     Before the opening of trading on August 8, 2005, the Company issued a press
release announcing that it had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement"), dated as of August 8, 2005, by and among the Company, Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated ("Quest") and Fountain, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Quest ("Merger Sub"),  pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge (the "Merger")
with  and  into  the  Company,  with the  Company  continuing  as the  surviving
corporation.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated herein by reference.

     Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each
outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the
"Shares"),  other  than  any  shares  owned  by  the  Company  or by  any of its
subsidiaries  and any shares owned by Quest or Merger Sub or any shares owned by
any  shareholders  who are  entitled to and who  properly  exercise  dissenters'
rights under Missouri law, will be converted into the right to receive $43.90 in
cash,  without  interest.  As  described  below,  it  is  anticipated  that  all
outstanding  options to purchase shares of common stock outstanding  immediately
prior to the effectiveness of the Merger will be canceled and converted into the
right to receive $43.90 per share of common stock  underlying  such options less
the  exercise  price  thereof,  without  interest,  subject  to  applicable  tax
withholding.  Upon consummation of the Merger, the holders of the Company's 3.5%
Convertible  Senior  Debentures (the  "Debentures")  in the aggregate  principal
amount of $103.5 million will have the right to receive such  principal  amount,
plus a specified  premium and accrued  interest,  in an aggregate cash amount of
approximately $132 million.

     Consummation  of the Merger is subject to customary  conditions,  including
(i) approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of the Company's  outstanding
common stock,  (ii) absence of any law or order  prohibiting the closing,  (iii)
expiration or termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino  waiting period, (iv) subject
to certain exceptions,  the accuracy of the representations and warranties,  and
(v)  material  compliance  of the other party with its  covenants.  The Company,
Quest and Merger Sub have each agreed,  subject to certain  limitations,  to use
their  reasonable  best  efforts to take  actions  required in  connection  with
obtaining such approvals.

     The  Merger  Agreement  contains  certain  termination  rights for both the
Company and Quest,  and further  provides that,  upon  termination of the Merger
Agreement under specified  circumstances  (including  entering into a definitive
agreement with a third party for a substantially  superior  offer),  the Company
may be required to pay Quest a termination fee of $26,500,000.

     A copy of the Merger  Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and
incorporated  herein by reference.  The foregoing  description of the Merger
Agreement  is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference to the full text of the
Merger Agreement.

Amendment to Rights Agreement
-----------------------------

     The Company amended its Rights Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2000, as
amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2001,
and  Amendment  No. 2 to the Rights  Agreement,  dated as of April 20, 2005 (the
"Rights Agreement") with American Stock

                                      -2-




Transfer & Trust Company ("AST") to provide, among other things, that the rights
granted pursuant to the Rights Agreement will not become exercisable as a result
of the approval,  execution, delivery or performance of the Merger Agreement and
the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the Merger  Agreement.  A
copy of this  Amendment  No. 3 to the Rights  Agreement  is  attached  hereto as
Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Amendments to Long-Term Incentive Plans and Outstanding Stock Option Agreements
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     1.   1987 Long-Term Incentive Plan
          -----------------------------

     On August 5, 2005, the Executive  Compensation  Committee  ("Committee") of
the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to outstanding stock
option  agreements  under the Company's  1987  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan ("1987
Plan") to  authorize  the  Committee  to take  certain  actions  with respect to
outstanding  stock options under the 1987 Plan in connection with certain change
of control  transactions,  such as the Merger.  The form of the amendment to the
outstanding  stock  option  agreements  is attached  hereto as Exhibit  10.1 and
incorporated  herein by  reference.  The  Company  is  seeking to enter into the
proposed  amendment with the optionees under the 1987 Plan, which consist of one
executive officer, W. Thomas Grant II, and two other employees.

      2.   1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan
           -----------------------------

     On August 5, 2005, the Committee approved an amendment to outstanding stock
option  agreements  under the Company's  1997  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan ("1997
Plan") to provide that stock  options  subject to such  agreements  shall become
fully  exercisable  upon  consummation  of a merger of the Company  with another
corporation  rather  than  upon  shareholder  approval  of  such a  merger.  The
amendment  is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  10.2 and  incorporated  herein  by
reference.  In addition, the Committee also approved an Amendment No. 1 to Stock
Option Agreement,  containing the amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit
10.3 and  incorporated  herein by  reference,  to be entered  into  between  the
Company and  executive  officers of the Company with stock  options that are not
fully vested under the 1997 Plan. Although the Company intends to enter into the
Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option  Agreement only with  executive  officers of the
Company,  the  amendment  approved by the Committee  applies to all  outstanding
stock option agreements under the 1997 Plan.

      3.   2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan-Bonus Replacement Stock Option Program
           --------------------------------------------------------------------

     On August 5, 2005,  the Committee  approved  amendments to Section 2.5.9 of
the Bonus Replacement Stock Option Program of the 2001 Long-Term  Incentive Plan
("2001 Plan"), and each outstanding stock option agreement pursuant to the Bonus
Replacement Stock Option Program. The Committee has amended Section 2.5.9 of the
Plan and the outstanding stock option agreements to provide that acceleration of
vesting,  exercise and termination of stock options under such provisions  shall
be subject to the condition  that the corporate  transaction  occur and shall be
effective immediately prior to effectiveness of such corporate transaction.  The
amendment to Section  2.5.9 of the 2001 Plan is attached  hereto as Exhibit 10.4
and incorporated herein by reference, and the amendment to Section 2.5.9 of each
outstanding stock option agreement under the Bonus

                                      -3-




Replacement  Stock  Option  Program  is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  10.5 and
incorporated herein by reference.

     On August 5, 2005, the Committee also amended each outstanding stock option
agreement under the Bonus  Replacement Stock Option Program to add a new Section
2.5.9A,  which  provides  that in the event the option is exercised  pursuant to
Section  2.5.9 in  connection  with a corporate  transaction  in which shares of
common stock of the Company are converted into the right to receive cash, unless
the optionee  elects  otherwise in writing at the time the option is  exercised,
the  optionee  will be  entitled  to  receive,  in lieu of  shares  issuable  in
connection  with such  exercise  of the  option,  an amount in cash equal to the
number of shares subject to the stock option  immediately prior to such exercise
multiplied  by the amount by which the cash  consideration  per share payable in
such corporate  transaction exceeds the exercise price per share, subject to all
applicable federal, state and local tax withholding requirements.  The amendment
to each  outstanding  stock option agreement under the Bonus  Replacement  Stock
Option  Program to add a new Section  2.5.9A is attached  hereto as Exhibit 10.5
and incorporated herein by reference.

     In addition, the Committee also approved an Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option
Agreement  under the Bonus  Replacement  Stock Option  Program,  containing such
amendments,  which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.6 and incorporated herein by
reference,  to be entered into between the Company and executive officers of the
Company with stock options  outstanding under the Bonus Replacement Stock Option
Program  under the 2001 Plan.  Although  the  Company  intends to enter into the
Amendment  No. 1 to Stock Option  Agreement  under the Bonus  Replacement  Stock
Option Program with executive officers, the amendments approved by the Committee
as described above apply to all outstanding  stock option  agreements  under the
Bonus Replacement Stock Option Program.

      4.   2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan-Stock Program for Outside Directors
           -----------------------------------------------------------------

     On August 5, 2005,  the Committee  approved  amendments to Section 3.5.7 of
the Stock Program for Outside  Directors of the 2001 Plan, and each  outstanding
stock option agreement pursuant to the Stock Program for Outside Directors which
are  substantially  the same as the  amendments  to  Section  2.5.9 of the Bonus
Replacement  Stock Option Program and the  outstanding  stock option  agreements
under the Bonus  Replacement  Stock  Option  Program  as  described  above.  The
amendment to Section  3.5.7 of the 2001 Plan is attached  hereto as Exhibit 10.4
and  incorporated  herein by reference,  and the amendments to each  outstanding
stock option agreement under the Stock Program for Outside Directors is attached
hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference.

     In addition, the Committee also approved an Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option
Agreement  under  the Stock  Program  for  Outside  Directors,  containing  such
amendments,  which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.7 and incorporated herein by
reference,  to be entered into between the Company and  directors of the Company
with stock options  outstanding  under the Stock  Program for Outside  Directors
under the 2001 Plan.

      5.   2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan-Stock Incentive Program
           -----------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-




     On August 5, 2005, the Committee  approved an amendment to each outstanding
stock option  agreement under the Stock Incentive  Program of the Company's 2001
Plan to provide  that such stock option  shall  become  fully  exercisable  upon
consummation  of a merger of the Company  with another  corporation  rather than
upon shareholder  approval of such a merger. The amendment is attached hereto as
Exhibit  10.5 and  incorporated  herein by  reference.  On August 5,  2005,  the
Committee also approved  amendments to each  outstanding  stock option agreement
under  the  Stock  Incentive  Program  that  are  substantially  the same as the
amendments to Section 2.5.9 of the Bonus  Replacement  Stock Option  Program and
the outstanding stock option agreements under the Bonus Replacement Stock Option
Program as described  above.  The  amendments to each  outstanding  stock option
agreement under the Stock  Incentive  Program is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5
and incorporated herein by reference.

     In addition, the Committee also approved an Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option
Agreement under the Stock Incentive Program,  containing such amendments,  which
attached  hereto as Exhibit 10.8 and  incorporated  herein by  reference,  to be
entered  into  between the Company and  executive  officers of the Company  with
stock options outstanding under the Stock Incentive Program under the 2001 Plan.
Although the Company  intends to enter into the  Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option
Agreement  under  the Stock  Incentive  Program  with  executive  officers,  the
amendments approved by the Committee as described above apply to all outstanding
stock option agreements under the Stock Incentive Program.

Employment Agreements
---------------------

     On August 8, 2005, and in connection with the execution and delivery of the
Merger  Agreement,  the Company entered into employment  agreements on behalf of
Quest with W. Thomas  Grant II, the  Company's  Chairman,  President,  and Chief
Executive Officer,  Michael J. Asselta,  the Company's  Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating  Officer,  Philip A. Spencer,  the Company's  Executive Vice
President -- Healthcare Marketing, Gregg R. Sadler, Executive Vice President and
President --  Insurance  Services  Division,  and L. Patrick  James,  M.D.,  the
Company's  Executive Vice President -- Laboratory  and Pathology  Services.  The
agreements  become  effective  on the  effective  date of the Merger and,  until
effective,  these executives  remain subject to existing  employment  agreements
with the Company.  The  employments  agreements are attached  hereto as Exhibits
10.9 to 10.13 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02  Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

     In  connection  with the  Merger,  the Board of  Directors  terminated  the
Company's 1997 Directors  Stock Option on August 8, 2005.  There were no options
outstanding under this plan at the time of termination.

Item 8.01  Other Events

In connection  with the proposed  transactions,  the Company and Quest intend to
file relevant  materials  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (SEC),
including a proxy  statement.  Because those  documents  will contain  important
information,  holders  of the  Company's  common  stock  are  urged to read them
carefully,  when they become  available.  When filed with the SEC,  they will be
available free of charge (along with any other documents and reports

                                      -5-




filed with the SEC by the Company and Quest) at the SEC's Web site, www.sec.gov,
and the Company's  shareholders will receive  information at an appropriate time
on how to obtain  these  documents  and reports free of charge from the Company.
Such documents are not currently available.  The proxy statements and such other
documents may also be obtained free of charge from the Company by directing such
request to: Office of Investor Relations,  LabOne, Inc., 10101 Renner Boulevard,
Lenexa, Kansas 66219.

The  Company  and its  directors  and  executive  officers  may be  deemed to be
participants  in the  solicitation  of proxies from the holders of the Company's
common stock in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information about the
Company's  directors and executive officers and their ownership of the Company's
common stock is set forth in the proxy  statement for the Company's  2005 Annual
Meeting  of  Stockholders,  which  was  filed  with the SEC on April  19,  2005.
Investors  may obtain  additional  information  regarding  the interests of such
participants by reading the proxy statement when it becomes available.

Quest and its directors and executive  officers may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of the Company's common stock in
connection with the proposed  transactions.  Information about the directors and
executive officers of Quest is set forth in the proxy statement for Quest's 2005
Annual Meeting of Shareholders,  which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2005.
Investors  may obtain  additional  information  regarding  the  interest of such
participants by reading the proxy statement when it becomes available.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

Number       Description
------       -----------
2.1          Agreement  and Plan of  Merger,  dated as of  August  8,
             2005,  by and  among  LabOne,  Inc.,  Quest  Diagnostics
             Incorporated and Fountain, Inc.
4.1          Amendment No. 3 to Rights Agreement,  dated as of August
             8, 2005, by and between LabOne,  Inc. and American Stock
             Transfer & Trust Company
10.1         Form of  Amendment  No. 1 to  outstanding  stock  option
             agreement   pursuant  to  the  LabOne,   Inc.  Long-Term
             Incentive Plan
10.2         Form  of  amendment  to  all  outstanding  stock  option
             agreements under the Company's 1997 Long-Term  Incentive
             Plan
10.3         Amendment  No. 1 to Stock Option  Agreement  pursuant to
             the LabOne, Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.4         Amendments to the  Company's  2001  Long-Term  Incentive
             Plan
10.5         Amendments to outstanding  stock option agreements under
             the Company's 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.6         Amendment  No. 1 to Stock Option  Agreement  pursuant to
             the LabOne,  Inc. 2001  Long-Term  Incentive Plan (Bonus
             Replacement Stock Option Program)
10.7         Amendment  No. 1 to Stock Option  Agreement  pursuant to
             the LabOne,  Inc. 2001  Long-Term  Incentive Plan (Stock
             Program for Outside Directors)
10.8         Amendment  No. 1 to Stock Option  Agreement  pursuant to
             the LabOne,  Inc. 2001  Long-Term  Incentive Plan (Stock
             Incentive Program)

                                      -6-





10.9         Employment  Agreement  between  W.  Thomas  Grant II and
             LabOne, Inc., dated as of August 8, 2005
10.10        Employment  Agreement  between  Michael J.  Asselta  and
             LabOne, Inc., dated as of August 8, 2005
10.11        Employment  Agreement  between  Philip  A.  Spencer  and
             LabOne, Inc., dated as of August 8, 2005
10.12        Employment   Agreement   between  Gregg  R.  Sadler  and
             LabOne, Inc., dated as of August 8, 2005
10.13        Employment  Agreement between L. Patrick James, M.D. and
             LabOne, Inc., dated as of August 8, 2005
99.1         Press Release, dated August 8, 2005








                                      -7-





                                   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.


                               LABONE, INC.



Date:  August 8, 2005          By: /s/ John W. McCarty             
                                   --------------------------------
                                   John W. McCarty
                                   Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial Officer