Lab tests CPT 81420 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

NIPT prenatal DNA test cost in Des Moines, IA — inpatient

In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, 2 hospitals list a cash price for prenatal cell-free DNA screen for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 (NIPT) as an inpatient: from $728.69 to $1,592.50, with a median of $1,160.60. The lowest listed price is at UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical — $431.91 less than the median here. Across Iowa, the median is $728.69 at 20 hospitals.

Cash prices at 2 facilities for code 81420, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 28, 2026 and Mar 31, 2026.

Lowest$728.69UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical
Median$1,160.60half pay less
Highest$1,592.50in this market
Difference2.2×highest vs lowest

Where each hospital's price falls

Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.

median
Lowest $728.69Highest $1,592.50

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical lowest Des Moines, IA · (515) 343-1000 HC FETAL CHROMOSOMAL ANEUPLOIDY $728.69 $910.86 $394.40 20% Jan 28, 2026
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UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical lowest Des Moines, IA · (515) 343-1000 HC FETAL CHROMOSOMAL ANEUPLOIDY $728.69 $910.86 $394.40 20% Jan 28, 2026
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UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines, IA · (515) 343-1000 CHG FETAL CHROMOSOMAL ANEUPLOIDY GENOMIC SEQ ANALYS $1,518.40 $1,898.00 $455.43–$1,065.53 20% Jan 28, 2026
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UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines, IA · (515) 343-1000 CHG FETAL CHROMOSOMAL ANEUPLOIDY GENOMIC SEQ ANALYS $1,518.40 $1,898.00 $455.43–$1,065.53 20% Jan 28, 2026
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MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA · (515) 247-4436 HC Mayo Analysis Genomic Sequence Fetal Chromosomal Aneuploidy $1,592.50 $2,450.00 $492.45–$2,450.00 35% Mar 31, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $728.69, median $1,160.60, highest $1,592.50 — a 2.2× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $1,160.60 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

Cash or insurance?

At 1 of 2 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.

What it is

NIPT analyzes fragments of fetal DNA that circulate in the mother's blood to screen for Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and trisomies 18 and 13. It can be done from about 10 weeks of pregnancy. It is a screening test, so a positive result needs a diagnostic test to confirm.

What the price covers

The price usually covers the DNA analysis of one blood sample. The blood draw, genetic counseling and any added screens, such as sex chromosomes or microdeletions, may be billed separately.