C. diff test cost in Houston, TX — inpatient
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 12 hospitals list a cash price for C. difficile toxin gene test (stool PCR) as an inpatient: from $37.27 to $115.24, with a median of $105.00. The lowest listed price is at Harris Health and 1 other hospital — $67.73 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $209.30 at 100 hospitals.
Cash prices at 12 facilities across 8 cities for code 87493, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 5, 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Health lowest Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 C DIFF AMPLIFIED PROBE NUCLEIC ACID - CDIFFP | $37.27 | $90.00 | $31.31–$95.33 | 59% | — source file |
| Harris Health lowest Houston, TX C DIFF AMPLIFIED PROBE NUCLEIC ACID - CDIFFP | $37.27 | $90.00 | $31.31–$95.33 | 59% | — source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN B GENE PCR | $105.00 | $210.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC C DIFF TOXIN GENE, AMPLIFIED PROBE | $110.00 | $220.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN A/B | $115.24 | $172.00 | $68.80–$163.40 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN A/B | $115.24 | $172.00 | $68.80–$163.40 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN A/B | $115.24 | $172.00 | $68.80–$163.40 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $128.00 | $256.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN PCR | $182.24 | $272.00 | $108.80–$258.40 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN PCR | $182.24 | $272.00 | $108.80–$258.40 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN PCR | $182.24 | $272.00 | $108.80–$258.40 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC C DIFF/EPI, AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $194.00 | $388.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, TOXIN GENE(S), AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $197.65 | $295.00 | $118.00–$280.25 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, TOXIN GENE(S), AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $197.65 | $295.00 | $118.00–$280.25 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, TOXIN GENE(S), AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE | $197.65 | $295.00 | $118.00–$280.25 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $37.27, median $105.00, highest $115.24 — a 3.1× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 14 facilities here, median $105.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 3 of 3 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
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.