Hepatitis C RNA test cost in Altoona, PA — inpatient
In Altoona, PA, 2 hospitals list a cash price for hepatitis C viral load (HCV RNA) test as an inpatient: from $503.00 to $609.60, with a median of $556.30. The lowest listed price is at Penn Highlands Tyrone — $53.30 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $253.50 at 63 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 87522, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 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 Altoona, PA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Highlands Tyrone lowest Tyrone, PA · (814) 684-1255 Hepatitis C RNA PCR Quantitative-Quest | $503.00 | $503.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Altoona Altoona, PA · (814) 889-2011 HCV RNA QN PCR W/RFL GENOTYPE | $609.60 | $1,016.00 | $36.95–$812.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Altoona Altoona, PA · (814) 889-2011 HCV RNA QN RL TME PCR W/RFX QL | $609.60 | $1,016.00 | $36.95–$812.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Altoona Altoona, PA · (814) 889-2011 HCV-QUANT | $609.60 | $1,016.00 | $36.95–$812.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Altoona one side Altoona, PA · (814) 889-2011 HEP C VIR RNA QN RT-PCR W/RFX | $609.60 | $1,016.00 | $36.95–$812.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Altoona Altoona, PA · (814) 889-2011 HEPATITIS C RNA BY PCR (QUANT) | $609.60 | $1,016.00 | $36.95–$812.80 | 40% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $503.00, median $556.30, highest $609.60 — a 1.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $556.30 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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 HCV RNA test measures the hepatitis C virus in the blood. It confirms an active infection after a positive antibody test (86803) and shows whether treatment has cured it.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.