Rapid strep test cost in Pittsburgh, PA — inpatient
In Pittsburgh, PA, 9 hospitals list a cash price for rapid strep A antigen test from a throat swab, read visually as an inpatient: from $25.62 to $116.40, with a median of $62.40. The lowest listed price is at UPMC Washington — $36.78 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $60.60 at 47 hospitals.
Cash prices at 9 facilities across 6 cities for code 87880, 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 RAPID STREP SCREEN | $25.62 | $42.70 | $29.89 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 STREP A DIRECT | $34.20 | $57.00 | $17.44–$51.30 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 STREP A DIRECT | $34.80 | $58.00 | $19.72–$46.40 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 STREP A DIRECT | $58.80 | $98.00 | $34.01–$83.30 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC STREP A DIRECT | $62.40 | $104.00 | $37.44–$96.72 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 GRP A STREP (RAPID STREP TST) | $63.60 | $106.00 | $42.40–$95.40 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 STREP A DIRECT | $63.60 | $106.00 | $79.50–$93.28 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 STREP A DIRECT | $63.60 | $106.00 | $42.40–$95.40 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 STREP A ASSAY W/OPTIC | $79.80 | $133.00 | $86.45–$113.05 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 STREP A DIRECT | $79.80 | $133.00 | $86.45–$113.05 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 OSOM ULTRA STREP A | $79.80 | $133.00 | $86.45–$113.05 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 STREPT SCREEN GPA | $116.40 | $194.00 | $87.30 | 40% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $25.62, median $62.40, highest $116.40 — a 4.5× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $60.60 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 8 of 9 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
A rapid strep test checks a throat swab for group A strep bacteria, the cause of strep throat, and gives a result in minutes. It helps the clinician decide whether antibiotics are needed.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the rapid test only. The visit is billed separately, and a backup throat culture, if done, has its own charge.