C. diff test cost in Pittsburgh, PA — inpatient
In Pittsburgh, PA, 12 hospitals list a cash price for C. difficile toxin gene test (stool PCR) as an inpatient: from $78.54 to $611.40, with a median of $347.70. The lowest listed price is at UPMC Washington — $269.16 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $207.60 at 63 hospitals.
Cash prices at 12 facilities across 7 cities for code 87493, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 6, 2026 and Mar 6, 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 Pittsburgh, PA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPMC Washington lowest Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, PCR | $78.54 | $130.90 | $91.63 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 C DIFFICILE DNA | $115.20 | $192.00 | $144.00–$168.96 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 C-DIFF BY PCR | $115.20 | $192.00 | $144.00–$168.96 | 40% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 C DIFF AMPLIFIED PROBE | $262.80 | $438.00 | $197.10 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 C DIFF TOXIN B, PCR, QUALITATIVE | $262.80 | $438.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC NUCLEIC ACID AMP PROBE CLOSTRIDIUM | $310.20 | $517.00 | $186.12–$475.64 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 C DIFFICILE DNA | $345.00 | $575.00 | $199.53–$488.75 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 C-DIFF BY PCR | $345.00 | $575.00 | $199.53–$488.75 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 C-DIFF BY PCR | $350.40 | $584.00 | $198.56–$467.20 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 C DIFFICILE DNA | $350.40 | $584.00 | $198.56–$467.20 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 C DIFFICILE DNA | $355.80 | $593.00 | $154.77–$504.05 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 C-DIFF BY PCR | $355.80 | $593.00 | $154.77–$504.05 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC NUCLEIC ACID AMP PROBE CLOSTRIDIUM | $386.40 | $644.00 | $231.84–$598.92 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 C-DIFF BY PCR | $438.00 | $730.00 | $223.38–$657.00 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 C DIFFICILE DNA | $438.00 | $730.00 | $223.38–$657.00 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 C-DIFF BY PCR | $455.40 | $759.00 | $493.35–$645.15 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 C DIFFICILE DNA | $455.40 | $759.00 | $493.35–$645.15 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 C DIFFICILE DNA | $611.40 | $1,019.00 | $407.60–$917.10 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $78.54, median $347.70, highest $611.40 — a 7.8× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $345.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 10 of 11 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 3 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.