NIPT prenatal DNA test cost in Santa Cruz, CA — inpatient
In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for prenatal cell-free DNA screen for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 (NIPT) as an inpatient: from $600.00 to $600.00, with a median of $600.00. Across California, the median is $1,736.00 at 29 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 81420, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Sep 15, 2026 and Sep 15, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville Community Hospital lowest Watsonville, CA · (831) 724-4741 Q92777 QNATAL ADV NX | $600.00 | $1,000.00 | $180.00–$2,412.26 | 40% | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Watsonville Community Hospital lowest Watsonville, CA · (831) 724-4741 FETAL CHRMOML ANEUPLOIDY | $600.00 | $1,000.00 | $180.00–$2,412.26 | 40% | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $600.00, median $600.00, highest $600.00.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $600.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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.