Spinal tap cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 37 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $248.50 to $2,612.00, with a median of $843.88. The lowest price is at Duke Regional Hospital (Durham). The highest price is 10.5× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 62270. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 24, 2026.
Lowest$248.50Duke Regional Hospital
Median$843.88half pay less
Highest$2,612.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$595.38vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Regional Hospital lowest Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Diagnostic Lumbar Spinal Puncture | $248.50 | $497.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Diagnostic Lumbar Spinal Puncture | $254.00 | $508.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Diagnostic Lumbar Spinal Puncture | $254.00 | $508.00 | — source file |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC PUNCTURE SPINAL LUMBAR DX | $331.02 | $1,226.00 | — source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $342.00 | $684.00 | Oct 21, 2025 source file |
| Vidant Edgecombe Hospital Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic-ED | $355.04 | $634.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $361.00 | $722.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $372.00 | $744.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Vidant Duplin Hospital Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic-ED | $492.80 | $880.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Chowan Hospital Edenton · Edenton, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $548.24 | $979.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Lumbar Puncture-Neonate | $704.50 | $1,409.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health-Bertie Windsor · Windsor, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic-ED | $746.48 | $1,333.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $752.64 | $1,344.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $755.00 | $1,510.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $755.00 | $1,510.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Spine Puncture Lumbar Diag | $782.60 | $1,118.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $791.00 | $1,582.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Concord · Concord, NC HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $843.88 | $1,687.75 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC ER SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $879.00 | $1,758.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic-ED | $1,096.48 | $1,958.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center Greenville · Greenville, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic-ED | $1,196.74 | $2,258.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pitt County Memorial Hospital Washington · Washington, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $1,196.74 | $2,258.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,530.00 | $1,530.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $1,673.84 | $2,989.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $2,229.57 | $2,229.57 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG LUMBAR PUNCTURE DX | $2,612.00 | $2,612.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG LUMBAR PUNCTURE DX | $2,612.00 | $2,612.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $2,612.00 | $2,612.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 12 | $331.02 | $843.88 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $342.00 | $361.00 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $1,673.84 | $1,673.84 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $879.00 | $879.00 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $1,530.00 | $1,530.00 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $2,229.57 | $2,229.57 |
| Concord, NC | 1 | $843.88 | $843.88 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $254.00 | $254.00 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1 | $248.50 | $248.50 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $548.24 | $548.24 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $704.50 | $704.50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $791.00 | $791.00 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $1,196.74 | $1,196.74 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $492.80 | $492.80 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $752.64 | $752.64 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $782.60 | $782.60 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 1 | $755.00 | $755.00 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $755.00 | $755.00 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1 | $254.00 | $254.00 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $1,096.48 | $1,096.48 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $355.04 | $355.04 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $843.88 | $843.88 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $746.48 | $746.48 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $1,196.74 | $1,196.74 |
What it is
A spinal tap removes a small amount of spinal fluid from the lower back with a needle. It is used for meningitis, bleeding and some neurological diseases.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure. The lab tests on the fluid are billed separately.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic in other states
- Alabama$1,721.50
- Alaska$1,437.54
- Arizona$488.15
- Arkansas$526.18
- California$1,320.80
- Colorado$491.58
- Connecticut$420.00
- Delaware$1,149.53
- Florida$1,597.40
- Georgia$2,049.06
- Hawaii$921.60
- Idaho$1,886.00
- Illinois$752.00
- Indiana$1,087.63
- Iowa$342.40
- Kansas$1,160.49
- Kentucky$769.21
- Louisiana$494.48
- Maine$369.70
- Maryland$511.30
- Massachusetts$1,047.90
- Michigan$707.85
- Minnesota$698.55
- Mississippi$271.01
- Missouri$340.57
- Montana$253.60
- Nebraska$343.14
- Nevada$785.35
- New Hampshire$495.55
- New Jersey$824.78
- New Mexico$500.01
- New York$819.50
- North Dakota$890.99
- Ohio$1,038.60
- Oklahoma$507.55
- Oregon$562.50
- Pennsylvania$1,439.83
- Rhode Island$592.80
- South Carolina$719.00
- South Dakota$940.80
- Tennessee$282.90
- Texas$1,134.64
- Utah$746.52
- Vermont$240.10
- Virginia$936.20
- Washington$1,006.70
- West Virginia$995.75
- Wisconsin$580.00
- Wyoming$421.19
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.