Rapid strep test cost in Elkader, IA
In Elkader, IA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for rapid strep A antigen test from a throat swab, read visually: from $43.00 to $43.00, with a median of $43.00. Across Iowa, the median is $35.20 at 27 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 87880, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 31, 2026 and Mar 31, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Community Hospital Elkader, IA · (563) 245-7000 PR Inf Agt Agn Immunoassay W Direct Optical Obs Strep Group A | $43.00 | $43.00 | $13.22–$43.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $43.00, median $43.00, highest $43.00.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $37.30. 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 the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is not 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
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.