Ova and parasites test cost in Carlsbad, NM — inpatient
In Carlsbad-Artesia, NM, 2 hospitals list a cash price for stool ova and parasites exam as an inpatient: from $9.60 to $84.00, with a median of $46.80. The lowest listed price is at Carlsbad Medical Center — $37.20 less than the median here. Across New Mexico, the median is $157.06 at 9 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 87177, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 20, 2026 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 Carlsbad-Artesia, NM.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Medical Center lowest Carlsbad, NM · (575) 887-4570 OVA-PARASITES SMEARS | $9.60 | $48.00 | $9.60–$44.64 | 80% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Artesia General Hospital Artesia, NM · (575) 748-3333 ova and parasites examination REF008623 | $84.00 | $140.00 | $11.26–$133.00 | 40% | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Artesia General Hospital Artesia, NM · (575) 748-3333 pop smear ova and parasite | $84.00 | $140.00 | $11.26–$133.00 | 40% | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $9.60, median $46.80, highest $84.00 — a 8.8× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $84.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 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
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.