Biopsy pathology exam cost in Pittsburgh, PA
In Pittsburgh, PA, 13 hospitals list a cash price for biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV): from $38.34 to $826.20, with a median of $325.20. The lowest listed price is at Uniontown Hospital — $286.86 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $169.20 at 61 hospitals.
Cash prices at 13 facilities across 8 cities for code 88305, 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniontown Hospital lowest Uniontown, PA · (724) 430-5000 PATHOLOGY EXAMINATION OF TISSUE USING A MICROSCOPE; INTERMEDIATE COMPLEXITY | $38.34 | $76.68 | $9.90–$171.55 | 50% | — source file |
| Uniontown Hospital Uniontown, PA · (724) 430-5000 TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $41.00 | $82.00 | $9.90–$171.55 | 50% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 SURG PATH G&M-LG/M | $91.70 | $131.00 | $34.00–$117.48 | 30% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 SURGICAL PATHOLOGY HANDLING | $91.70 | $131.00 | $34.00–$117.48 | 30% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 PROSTATE BIOPSY | $91.70 | $131.00 | $34.00–$117.48 | 30% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 MUSCLE BIOPSY TC ONLY | $94.20 | $157.00 | $42.23–$192.40 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $98.40 | $164.00 | $10.35–$158.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 TISSUE EXAM | $98.40 | $164.00 | $10.35–$158.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 BONE MARROW CORE(S) ONLY | $98.40 | $164.00 | $10.35–$158.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 CELL BLOCK | $98.40 | $164.00 | $10.35–$158.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $98.40 | $164.00 | $10.35–$158.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 BONE MARROW CORE(S) ONLY | $255.60 | $426.00 | $27.54–$340.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 CELL BLOCK | $255.60 | $426.00 | $27.54–$340.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $255.60 | $426.00 | $27.54–$340.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $255.60 | $426.00 | $27.54–$340.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 TISSUE EXAM | $255.60 | $426.00 | $27.54–$340.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC LEVEL 4 SURGICAL PATHOLOGY | $308.40 | $514.00 | $29.15–$472.88 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 BONE MARROW CORES(S) ONLY | $308.40 | $514.00 | $29.15–$472.88 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC TISSUE EXAM | $308.40 | $514.00 | $29.15–$472.88 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $308.40 | $514.00 | $29.15–$472.88 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $325.20 | $542.00 | $27.79–$460.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 BONE MARROW CORES(S) ONLY | $325.20 | $542.00 | $27.79–$460.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 CELL BLOCK | $341.40 | $569.00 | $28.27–$483.65 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $341.40 | $569.00 | $35.73–$512.10 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 CELL BLOCK | $341.40 | $569.00 | $35.73–$512.10 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EX P5059 | $341.40 | $569.00 | $35.73–$512.10 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $341.40 | $569.00 | $35.73–$512.10 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $341.40 | $569.00 | $28.27–$483.65 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $341.40 | $569.00 | $28.27–$483.65 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 TISSUE EXAM | $341.40 | $569.00 | $28.27–$483.65 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 BONE MARROW CORE(S) ONLY | $341.40 | $569.00 | $28.27–$483.65 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC TISSUE EXAM | $345.00 | $575.00 | $27.79–$488.75 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC LEVEL 4 SURGICAL PATHOLOGY | $345.00 | $575.00 | $27.79–$488.75 | 40% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 SURG PATH GROSS/MICRO LEVEL IV | $388.20 | $647.00 | $174.04–$792.90 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 BONE MARROW BIOPSY | $388.20 | $647.00 | $218.04–$504.66 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 BONE MARROW CORE(S) ONLY | $415.80 | $693.00 | $27.62–$623.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 CELL BLOCK | $415.80 | $693.00 | $27.62–$623.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $415.80 | $693.00 | $27.62–$623.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $415.80 | $693.00 | $27.62–$623.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC GROSS & MICRO LEVEL IV | $615.00 | $1,025.00 | $29.15–$943.00 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 BONE MARROW CORE(S) ONLY | $757.20 | $1,262.00 | $27.86–$1,072.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 CELL BLOCK | $757.20 | $1,262.00 | $27.86–$1,072.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $757.20 | $1,262.00 | $27.86–$1,072.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $757.20 | $1,262.00 | $27.86–$1,072.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 LEVEL 4 GROSS & MICRO EXAM | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 TISSUE EXAM | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 EM LEVEL 4 SURG PATH EXAM | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 BONE MARROW CLOT ONLY | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 BONE MARROW CORE(S) ONLY | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 LEVEL 4 SURGICAL PATHOLOGY | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 CELL BLOCK | $826.20 | $1,377.00 | $10.80–$1,170.45 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $38.34, median $325.20, highest $826.20 — a 21.5× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $333.30. 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 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 code covers the lab exam of a tissue sample under a microscope. Most biopsies use it, including skin, colon polyp, stomach, breast core and prostate core biopsies.
What the price covers
The price is usually for one specimen. Each separate specimen is billed again, and the pathologist's reading may be billed separately.