COVID-19 PCR test cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 35 hospitals publish a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $15.00 to $288.00, with a median of $96.53. The lowest price is at MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center (Davenport). The highest price is 19.2× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 87635. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Lowest$15.00MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center
Median$96.53half pay less
Highest$288.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$81.53vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center lowest Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL _SARS CoV2, NAA 2 Day TAT-Sendout | $15.00 | $25.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL _SARS CoV2, NAA 2 Day TAT-Sendout | $17.40 | $29.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA _SARS CoV2, NAA 2 Day TAT-Sendout | $17.40 | $29.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) by PCR | $35.70 | $119.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Medical Center Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC COVID-19 LAB TEST NON-CDC AMP PRB | $67.15 | $83.93 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC INFECTIOUS AGENT SARS-COV-2 AMP PROBE | $70.98 | $169.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC INFECTIOUS AGENT SARS-COV-2 AMP PROBE | $94.56 | $197.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC INFECTIOUS AGENT SARS-COV-2 AMP PROBE | $96.53 | $197.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA CDMR SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB 87635 | $124.80 | $156.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $130.00 | $200.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $141.05 | $217.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $148.85 | $229.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $150.35 | $155.00 | — source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $150.35 | $155.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $152.75 | $235.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $152.75 | $235.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Central Community Hospital Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $187.20 | $288.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dyersville Dyersville · Dubuque, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $187.20 | $288.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $187.20 | $288.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $187.20 | $288.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $187.20 | $288.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA COVID-19 PCR | $190.67 | $321.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah · Decorah, IA Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $193.20 | $276.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $200.00 | $200.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $288.00 | $288.00 | Mar 31, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $67.15 | $158.60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $15.00 | $17.40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $35.70 | $70.98 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $67.15 | $152.75 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $17.40 | $83.12 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $67.15 | $127.18 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $288.00 | $288.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $94.56 | $94.56 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $193.20 | $193.20 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $187.20 | $187.20 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $150.35 | $150.35 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $141.05 | $141.05 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $187.20 | $187.20 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $187.20 | $187.20 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $150.35 | $150.35 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $124.80 | $124.80 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $67.15 | $67.15 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $190.67 | $190.67 |
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.
COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test) in other states
- Alabama$144.22
- Alaska$101.40
- Arizona$51.74
- Arkansas$130.00
- California$95.68
- Colorado$74.97
- Connecticut$123.00
- Delaware$226.80
- Florida$118.95
- Georgia$123.00
- Hawaii$75.00
- Idaho$93.75
- Illinois$67.65
- Indiana$108.50
- Kansas$137.80
- Kentucky$134.69
- Louisiana$46.13
- Maine$55.75
- Maryland$169.28
- Massachusetts$165.03
- Michigan$70.81
- Minnesota$121.81
- Mississippi$44.64
- Missouri$124.80
- Montana$117.60
- Nebraska$90.27
- Nevada$62.65
- New Hampshire$135.46
- New Jersey$59.01
- New Mexico$120.00
- New York$118.30
- North Carolina$85.03
- North Dakota$101.67
- Ohio$141.00
- Oklahoma$63.84
- Oregon$119.00
- Pennsylvania$75.00
- Rhode Island$214.00
- South Carolina$71.50
- South Dakota$124.80
- Tennessee$37.65
- Texas$103.50
- Utah$107.86
- Vermont$105.00
- Virginia$59.40
- Washington$72.80
- West Virginia$65.00
- Wisconsin$132.88
- Wyoming$102.49
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.