AST liver test cost in Columbia, MO — inpatient
In Columbia, MO, 2 hospitals list a cash price for AST (aspartate aminotransferase) enzyme test as an inpatient: from $16.91 to $21.93, with a median of $19.42. The lowest listed price is at Boone Hospital Center — $2.51 less than the median here. Across Missouri, the median is $33.48 at 30 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities for code 84450, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Dec 15, 2025 and Apr 1, 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 Columbia, MO.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone Hospital Center lowest Columbia, MO AST (SGOT) | $16.91 | $28.19 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Curators of the University of Missouri Columbia, MO ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE P28620193 | $21.93 | $36.55 | $9.94–$32.16 | 40% | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Curators of the University of Missouri Columbia, MO ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE P31020193 | $21.93 | $36.55 | $9.94–$32.16 | 40% | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $16.91, median $19.42, highest $21.93 — a 1.3× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $19.42 — 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
AST is an enzyme found in the liver, muscles and heart. It is measured together with ALT to look for liver injury, and the ratio between them gives clues to the cause.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.