Ova and parasites test cost in Ames, IA — inpatient
In Ames, IA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for stool ova and parasites exam as an inpatient: from $13.60 to $13.60, with a median of $13.60. Across Iowa, the median is $49.60 at 63 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 87177, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 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 Ames, IA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story County Hospital lowest Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 PARASITIC EXAMINATION MOPE QC/Q/W1/C2/P1/V/Y/X/D/S/SA/N | $13.60 | $17.00 | $11.00–$17.00 | 20% | — source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 CHG OVA AND PARASITES SMEARS | $16.80 | $21.00 | $14.00–$21.00 | 20% | — source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 Expanded O&P (UHL) E/J/L/M/O/P/R/W/C1/L1/S1/PL/G1/M2 | $20.00 | $25.00 | $17.00–$25.00 | 20% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $13.60, median $13.60, highest $13.60.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $13.60 — 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
The ova and parasites exam looks for parasites and their eggs in stool under a microscope, usually for diarrhea after travel or camping.
What the price covers
The price is usually for one sample; the collection kit is often included.