Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Tanner Deborah L
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/23/2006
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COVANCE INC [CVD]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
COVANCE INC., 210 CARNEGIE CENTER
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Corporate Sr. Vice President
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

PRINCETON, NJ 08540-6233
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 5,364
D
 
Common Stock - 401(k) Plan 327 (1)
I
Held by Trustee

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 02/27/2005 02/26/2013 Common Stock 3,500 $ 22.95 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 02/25/2006 02/24/2014 Common Stock 3,200 $ 29.69 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (2) 02/16/2015 Common Stock 2,500 $ 42.32 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 02/01/2006 02/24/2009 Common Stock 1,929 $ 42.69 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 03/07/2006 06/29/2009 Common Stock 1,875 $ 44.71 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (3) 02/22/2016 Common Stock 6,200 $ 57.57 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Tanner Deborah L
COVANCE INC.
210 CARNEGIE CENTER
PRINCETON, NJ 08540-6233
      Corporate Sr. Vice President  

Signatures

Ross A. Hyams, by Power of Attorney 02/27/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The securities reported were acquired on a periodic basis by the Trustee of the Covance 401(k) plan, a broad-based, tax-qualified employee benefit plan. The information was obtained from the Plan Administrator as of 2/23/2006. The shares have been accumulated by the Trustee over the employment of the reporting person and the number is based upon the market value of the reporting person's account divided by the then current market price.
(3) The option vests in two equal annual installments with the first installment vesting one year from grant date of 2/23/06.
(2) The option vests in two equal annual installments with the first installment vesting one year from grant date of 2/17/05.

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