AST liver test cost in Reading, PA — inpatient
In Reading, PA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for AST (aspartate aminotransferase) enzyme test as an inpatient: from $8.84 to $8.84, with a median of $8.84. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $36.30 at 64 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 84450, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Reading, PA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 Aspartate Aminotransferase | $8.84 | $34.00 | $4.40–$27.20 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 Aspartate aminotransferase. | $8.84 | $34.00 | $4.40–$27.20 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 AST-Qst 5174363 | $8.84 | $34.00 | $4.40–$27.20 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 AST-Qst 7490806 | $8.84 | $34.00 | $4.40–$27.20 | 74% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $8.84, median $8.84, highest $8.84.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $8.84 — 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.