COVID-19 PCR test cost in Minneapolis, MN
In Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, 21 hospitals list a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $34.32 to $159.00, with a median of $58.95. The lowest listed price is at Regions Hospital and 1 other hospital — $24.63 less than the median here. Across Minnesota, the median is $121.81 at 49 hospitals.
Cash prices at 21 facilities across 18 cities for code 87635, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 29, 2026 and Jun 17, 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regions Hospital lowest St. Paul, MN · (651) 254-1616 2019 Novel Coronavirus | $34.32 | $132.00 | $40.44–$105.60 | 74% | — source file |
| Methodist Hospital lowest St. Louis Park, MN Microbiology | $34.32 | $132.00 | $31.94–$146.11 | 74% | — source file |
| Regions Hospital lowest St. Paul, MN · (651) 254-1616 Microbiology | $34.32 | $132.00 | $40.44–$105.60 | 74% | — source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater, MN · (651) 430-4509 2019 Novel Coronavirus | $48.84 | $132.00 | $1.24–$161.26 | 63% | — source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater, MN · (651) 430-4509 Microbiology | $48.84 | $132.00 | $1.24–$161.26 | 63% | — source file |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming, MN · (952) 892-2101 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $52.94 | $132.00 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis, MN · (612) 624-1765 Outpatient Services | $52.94 | $132.00 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis, MN · (612) 624-1765 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $52.94 | $132.00 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton, MN · (952) 892-2101 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $52.95 | $132.03 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| HealthEast Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury, MN · (651) 232-2185 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $52.95 | $132.03 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| HealthEast St John's Hospital Maplewood, MN · (651) 232-7000 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $52.95 | $132.03 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina, MN · (952) 924-5000 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $52.95 | $132.03 | $48.31–$357.58 | 60% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville, MN · (952) 892-2000 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $56.12 | $132.03 | $48.31–$357.58 | 57% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital St. Paul, MN HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 | $58.95 | $147.00 | $36.31–$132.30 | 60% | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Hudson Hospital Hudson, WI · (715) 531-6000 Microbiology | $59.55 | $132.00 | $43.30–$160.50 | 55% | — source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale, MN · (763) 520-5200 Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of Covid-19 antigen | $63.77 | $121.00 | $37.59–$142.63 | 47% | — source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove, MN · (763) 581-1000 Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of Covid-19 antigen | $63.77 | $121.00 | $37.59–$142.63 | 47% | — source file |
| Westfields Hospital New Richmond, WI · (715) 246-2101 2019 Novel Coronavirus | $69.43 | $132.00 | $52.43–$132.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Westfields Hospital New Richmond, WI · (715) 246-2101 Microbiology | $69.43 | $132.00 | $52.43–$132.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Methodist Hospital St. Louis Park, MN Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $72.54 | $279.00 | $46.46–$209.25 | 74% | — source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis, MN · (612) 624-1765 PR IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ | $90.57 | $144.44 | $51.23–$129.99 | 37% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale, MN · (763) 520-5200 Sars-Cov-2 Rna Detection | $105.40 | $200.00 | $37.59–$160.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove, MN · (763) 581-1000 Sars-Cov-2 Rna Detection | $105.40 | $200.00 | $37.59–$160.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG SARS COV 2 RNA(COVID 19) QUALITATIVE NAAT QUE | $120.10 | $250.20 | $39.29–$210.17 | 52% | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG SARS COV 2 RNA(COVID 19) QUALITATIVE NAAT QUE | $120.10 | $250.20 | $39.29–$210.17 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG COVID-19 | $128.63 | $229.70 | $39.29–$229.70 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG COVID-19 | $128.63 | $229.70 | $38.60–$229.70 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG COVID-19 | $128.63 | $229.70 | $39.29–$229.70 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG COVID 19 INHOUSE | $128.63 | $229.70 | $39.29–$229.70 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG COVID 19 INHOUSE | $128.63 | $229.70 | $39.29–$229.70 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG COVID 19 INHOUSE | $128.63 | $229.70 | $38.60–$229.70 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG COVID 19 MML | $138.21 | $246.80 | $39.29–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG COVID 19 HCMC | $138.21 | $246.80 | $39.29–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG COVID 19 NAA LC | $138.21 | $246.80 | $39.29–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG COVID 19 HCMC | $138.21 | $246.80 | $39.29–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG COVID 19 MML | $138.21 | $246.80 | $39.29–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG COVID 19 NAA LC | $138.21 | $246.80 | $39.29–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG COVID 19 NAA LC | $138.21 | $246.80 | $38.60–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG COVID 19 MML | $138.21 | $246.80 | $38.60–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG COVID 19 HCMC | $138.21 | $246.80 | $38.60–$246.80 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG SARS COV 2 RNA(COVID 19) QUALITATIVE NAAT QUE | $140.11 | $250.20 | $39.29–$250.20 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG SARS COV 2 RNA(COVID 19) QUALITATIVE NAAT QUE | $140.11 | $250.20 | $38.60–$250.20 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG SARS COV 2 RNA(COVID 19) QUALITATIVE NAAT QUE | $140.11 | $250.20 | $39.29–$250.20 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG COVID-19 | $141.36 | $294.50 | $39.29–$247.38 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG COVID 19 INHOUSE | $141.36 | $294.50 | $39.29–$247.38 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG COVID-19 | $141.36 | $294.50 | $39.29–$247.38 | 52% | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG COVID 19 INHOUSE | $141.36 | $294.50 | $39.29–$247.38 | 52% | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 SARS-COV-2 RNA Detection- Microbiology | $159.00 | $159.00 | $33.80–$205.24 | — | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB 1 | $177.00 | $177.00 | $37.63–$205.24 | — | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 SARSCOV2&INF A&B&RSV AMP PRB | $396.00 | $396.00 | $47.46–$396.00 | — | May 7, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $34.32, median $58.95, highest $159.00 — a 4.6× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 21 facilities here, median $56.10. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 21 of 21 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 is the lab (PCR or similar amplification) test for the virus that causes COVID-19. It is more sensitive than a rapid antigen test and is often required before some procedures or travel.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test on a swab sample; the collection may be billed separately.