COVID-19 PCR test cost in Pittsburgh, PA
In Pittsburgh, PA, 13 hospitals list a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $63.98 to $361.80, with a median of $75.00. The lowest listed price is at UPMC Washington — $11.02 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $75.00 at 58 hospitals.
Cash prices at 13 facilities across 8 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 Mar 6, 2026 and Mar 6, 2026.
Lowest$63.98UPMC Washington
Median$75.00half pay less
Highest$361.80in this market
Difference5.7×highest vs lowest
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.
median
Lowest $63.98Highest $361.80
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPMC Washington one side lowest Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 COVID-19 QL RT-PCR | $63.98 | $91.40 | $35.49–$118.33 | 30% | — source file |
| Uniontown Hospital Uniontown, PA · (724) 430-5000 SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB | $65.00 | $130.00 | $39.04–$171.55 | 50% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 COV-2 SARS-PCR | $74.20 | $106.00 | $35.49–$118.33 | 30% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 COVID-19 BY PCR PERKINS/ELMER | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 COVID-19 BY PCR PERKINS/ELMER | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson one side New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$133.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC SARS COV 2 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC COVID-19 BY PCR PERKINS/ELMER | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital one side Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport one side McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 COVID-19 BY PCR PERKINS/ELMER | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$486.34 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $34.88–$305.01 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy one side Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $34.88–$305.01 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $34.88–$305.01 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $34.88–$305.01 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $34.88–$305.01 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $34.88–$305.01 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC SARS COV 2 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC COVID-19 BY PCR PERKINS/ELMER | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless one side Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$448.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$428.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian one side Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$428.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$428.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$428.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$428.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$428.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East one side Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 COVID-19 BY PCR PERKINS/ELMER | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $35.49–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $39.04–$432.69 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret one side Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $31.50–$448.49 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 INF AG DET AMP PRB TEC COVID19 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $50.00–$408.51 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh one side Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 SARS COVID19/2 RNA QL RT-PCR | $75.00 | $125.00 | $50.00–$408.51 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 COVID-19 TEST | $75.00 | $125.00 | $50.00–$408.51 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5060 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $50.00–$408.51 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5063 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $50.00–$408.51 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 IN AG DET NU AC(RNAORDNA)P5068 | $75.00 | $125.00 | $50.00–$408.51 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 STRP GPA AMP PROBE | $75.67 | $108.10 | $35.49–$118.33 | 30% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 SARS-COV-2 | $111.30 | $159.00 | $35.49–$118.33 | 30% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 DO NOT ORDER-TEST DEACTIVATED | $361.80 | $603.00 | $203.21–$470.34 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 COVID 19 PCR-QUEST QUANUM | $361.80 | $603.00 | $203.21–$470.34 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 COVID 19 PCR - EMPLOYEE HEALTH | $361.80 | $603.00 | $203.21–$470.34 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 COVID ADD-ON CHARGE | $361.80 | $603.00 | $203.21–$470.34 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 COVID 19 PCR | $361.80 | $603.00 | $203.21–$470.34 | 40% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 COVID-19 | $361.80 | $603.00 | $162.21–$738.98 | 40% | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $63.98, median $75.00, highest $361.80 — a 5.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $75.00. 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 13 of 13 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 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.