C. diff test cost in Seattle, WA — inpatient
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, 13 hospitals list a cash price for C. difficile toxin gene test (stool PCR) as an inpatient: from $114.62 to $253.60, with a median of $157.08. The lowest listed price is at Saint Clare Hospital — $42.46 less than the median here. Across Washington, the median is $167.40 at 32 hospitals.
Cash prices at 13 facilities across 12 cities for code 87493, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Clare Hospital lowest Lakewood, WA · (253) 588-1711 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE BY PCR | $114.62 | $397.64 | $286.31–$298.23 | 71% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor, WA · (253) 530-2050 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE BY PCR | $120.95 | $397.64 | $286.31–$298.23 | 70% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Highline Medical Center Burien, WA · (206) 431-5237 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE BY PCR | $121.43 | $397.64 | $170.99–$357.88 | 69% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way, WA · (253) 944-8100 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE BY PCR | $124.79 | $397.64 | $286.31–$298.23 | 69% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma, WA · (253) 627-4101 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE BY PCR | $131.70 | $397.64 | $286.31–$298.23 | 67% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Enumclaw Regional Hospital Association Enumclaw, WA HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE BY PCR | $140.52 | $397.64 | $111.34–$357.88 | 65% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle, WA · (206) 223-6600 C DIFF AMPLIFIED PROBE - TECH | $157.08 | $308.00 | $197.27–$246.40 | 49% | — source file |
| Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Bellevue, WA · (425) 688-5000 Hc Clostridium Difficile Pcr (Reflex Eia) | $185.50 | $371.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Edmonds Edmonds, WA · (425) 640-4000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXINS AMPLIFIED PROBE | $221.76 | $462.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle, WA · (206) 320-2000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXINS AMPLIFIED PROBE | $221.76 | $462.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle, WA · (206) 320-2000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXINS AMPLIFIED PROBE | $221.76 | $462.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Issaquah Issaquah, WA · (425) 313-4000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXINS AMPLIFIED PROBE | $221.76 | $462.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Everett, WA · (425) 261-2000 HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXINS AMPLIFIED PROBE | $240.24 | $462.00 | — | 48% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington, WA · (360) 435-2133 HC C. DIFFICILE DNA AMPLIFICATION | $253.60 | $317.00 | $26.95–$285.30 | 20% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $114.62, median $157.08, highest $253.60 — a 2.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 14 facilities here, median $171.29 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 8 of 8 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 6 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.