Lab tests CPT 87493 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

C. diff test cost in Cincinnati, OH — inpatient

In Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 11 hospitals list a cash price for C. difficile toxin gene test (stool PCR) as an inpatient: from $24.00 to $342.00, with a median of $99.60. The lowest listed price is at The Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope — $75.60 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $130.00 at 99 hospitals.

Cash prices at 11 facilities across 6 cities for code 87493, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 1, 2026.

Lowest$24.00The Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope
Median$99.60half pay less
Highest$342.00in this market
Difference14.2×highest vs lowest

Where each hospital's price falls

Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.

median
Lowest $24.00Highest $408.60

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
The Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope lowest Mason, OH · (513) 536-4673 HC C.DIFF DNA AMPLIFICATION $24.00 $55.00 $44.00 56% —
source file
Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Clostridium Difficile Toxin Amp Probe $52.80 $132.00 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC So Clost Diff,Toxin Gene,Amp Prbe $99.60 $166.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC So Clost Diff,Toxin Gene,Amp Prbe $99.60 $166.00 — 40% —
source file
The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC So Clost Diff,Toxin Gene,Amp Prbe $99.60 $166.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC So Clost Diff,Toxin Gene,Amp Prbe $99.60 $166.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC So Clost Diff,Toxin Gene,Amp Prbe $99.60 $166.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC So Clost Diff,Toxin Gene,Amp Prbe $99.60 $166.00 — 40% —
source file
Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb C. Difficile Toxin $120.36 $236.00 $113.28–$236.00 49% —
source file
West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc C.Diff Dna Amplification $342.00 $570.00 — 40% Jul 1, 2026
source file
University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc C.Diff Dna Amplification $342.00 $570.00 — 40% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC Inf Agent Det Nucleic Acid Clostridium Amp Probe $408.60 $681.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC Inf Agent Det Nucleic Acid Clostridium Amp Probe $408.60 $681.00 — 40% —
source file
The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC Inf Agent Det Nucleic Acid Clostridium Amp Probe $408.60 $681.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC Inf Agent Det Nucleic Acid Clostridium Amp Probe $408.60 $681.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC Inf Agent Det Nucleic Acid Clostridium Amp Probe $408.60 $681.00 — 40% —
source file
Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC Inf Agent Det Nucleic Acid Clostridium Amp Probe $408.60 $681.00 — 40% —
source file

Inpatient: lowest $24.00, median $99.60, highest $342.00 — a 14.2× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $99.60 — 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 1 it is 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

This stool test looks for the toxin gene of Clostridioides difficile, a cause of severe diarrhea, often after antibiotics or a hospital stay.

What the price covers

The price usually covers running the stool test; the collection kit is often included.