COVID-19 PCR test cost in Kentucky
In Kentucky, 61 hospitals publish a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $23.00 to $488.44, with a median of $68.39. The lowest price is at Ohio County Hospital (Hartford). The highest price is 21.2× the lowest.
- The median here, $68.39, is 31% below the US median of $98.92.
- That is 1.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($51.31).
- Kentucky ranks 6th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 4 of 61 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
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 Nov 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$23.00Ohio County Hospital
Median$68.39half of hospitals charge less
Highest$488.44in Kentucky
Lowest saves$45.39vs the median
Hospitals in Kentucky, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio County Hospital one side lowest Hartford · Hartford, KY COVID19 SARS CoV 2 RT PCR | $23.00 | $46.00 | Jan 12, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville Madisonville · Madisonville, KY HC NOVEL CORONAVIRUS COVID | $25.74 | $197.93 | Feb 3, 2026 source file |
| University of Louisville Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP | $34.80 | $145.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Rockcastle County Hospital Mount Vernon · Richmond-Berea, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $39.52 | $52.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Kentucky Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Hc Poct Sars-Cov-2 Cov 19 | $42.88 | $107.21 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Henderson Hospital Henderson · Henderson, KY HC SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB POC | $44.10 | $147.00 | Feb 9, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Bowling Green Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY RPSOL, NP, SARS-COV-2 | $46.72 | $90.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Mt. Sterling · Mount Sterling, KY Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $47.21 | $125.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph London London · Corbin, KY Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $50.53 | $144.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP | $52.20 | $145.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Norton Audubon Hospital Louisville · Louisville, KY HB COVID-19 (S/O) | $53.60 | $268.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Brownsboro Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB COVID-19 (S/O) | $53.60 | $268.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Children's Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB COVID-19 (S/O) | $53.60 | $268.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB COVID-19 (S/O) | $53.60 | $268.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton West Louisville Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB COVID-19 (S/O) | $53.60 | $268.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Women's and Kosair Children's Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB COVID-19 (S/O) | $53.60 | $268.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Albany Albany · Albany, KY RPSOL, NP, SARS-COV-2 | $54.00 | $90.00 | Jul 1, 2024 source file |
| The Medical Center at Caverna Horse Cave · Horse Cave, KY RPSOL, NP, SARS-COV-2 | $54.00 | $90.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Russellville Russellville · Russellville, KY RPSOL, NP, SARS-COV-2 | $54.00 | $90.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Scottsville Scottsville · Bowling Green, KY RPSOL, NP, SARS-COV-2 | $54.00 | $90.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Frankfort Regional Medical Center Frankfort · Frankfort, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease ºCOVID-19»), amplified probe technique | $54.92 | $54.92 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health -Shelbyville Shelbyville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP | $55.10 | $145.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Carroll County Memorial Hospital Carrollton · Carrollton, KY COVID-19 RAPID PCR IN-HOUSE | $60.00 | $100.00 | Aug 17, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Flaget Memorial Hospital Bardstown · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $60.77 | $144.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Continuing Care Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ | $63.85 | $144.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease ºCOVID-19»), amplified probe technique | $64.76 | $64.76 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health - Jewish Hospital and Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP | $65.25 | $145.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health-Louisville – South Hospital Shepherdville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP | $65.25 | $145.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph East Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $66.34 | $158.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Berea Nf Berea · Richmond-Berea, KY Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $66.38 | $137.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $68.39 | $144.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Casey County Hospital Liberty · Liberty, KY COVID-19 AMP PRB | $80.00 | $100.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Our Lady of Peace Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SO SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP | $81.49 | $145.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| T J Samson Community Hospital Glasgow · Glasgow, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $83.85 | $129.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Tj Health Columbia Columbia · Columbia, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $83.85 | $129.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Three Rivers Medical Center Louisa · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $84.23 | $140.38 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Nicholasville · Lexington-Fayette, KY Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $84.75 | $158.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Harrison Memorial Hospital Cynthiana · Cynthiana, KY AMPLIFED DNA OR RNA PROBE DETECTION OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (COVID-19) ANTIGEN | $92.40 | $132.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Bourbon Community Hospital Paris · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique | $92.61 | $231.52 | Jul 11, 2026 source file |
| Kentucky River Medical Center Jackson · Jackson, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $94.59 | $157.65 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital Irvine · Richmond-Berea, KY HC Iadna Sars-Cov-2-19 Amp Probe Tq | $97.80 | $163.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Clark Regional Medical Center Winchester · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique | $102.10 | $255.26 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Georgetown Community Hospital Georgetown · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique | $105.47 | $263.68 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL HC So Iadna Sars-Cov-2-19 Amp Probe Tq | $105.60 | $176.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Murray-Calloway County Public Hospital Murray · Murray, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $121.55 | $187.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| King's Daughters' Medical Center Ashland · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HCHG SARS COV 2 RNA (IN HOUSE) | $134.60 | $336.49 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Corbin Corbin · Corbin, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Hardin Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health LaGrange La Grange · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Lexington Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Louisville Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Paducah Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Richmond Richmond · Richmond-Berea, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $134.69 | $179.59 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Medical Center Tompkinsville · Tompkinsville, KY Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $137.24 | $165.35 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Spring View Hospital Lebanon · Lebanon, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique | $144.88 | $362.21 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Meadowview Regional Medical Center Maysville · Maysville, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique | $152.14 | $380.34 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood Edgewood · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HB COVID-19 RNA-POCT | $153.93 | $153.93 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Jackson Purchase Medical Center Mayfield · Mayfield, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique | $155.23 | $388.08 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services Salem · Paducah, KY-IL COVID-19 RNA (ID NOW) POCT | $168.90 | $281.50 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Union County Hospital Morganfield · Morganfield, KY HC SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB | $187.53 | $399.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Manchester Manchester · Corbin, KY HC COVID-19 SARS-COV-2 AMPLIFIED PROBE | $488.44 | $488.44 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 14 | $34.80 | $54.35 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 9 | $42.88 | $84.75 |
| Richmond-Berea, KY | 4 | $39.52 | $82.09 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 3 | $46.72 | $54.00 |
| Corbin, KY | 3 | $50.53 | $134.69 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 3 | $105.60 | $134.69 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 2 | $84.23 | $109.42 |
| Albany, KY | 1 | $54.00 | $54.00 |
| Carrollton, KY | 1 | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Columbia, KY | 1 | $83.85 | $83.85 |
| Cynthiana, KY | 1 | $92.40 | $92.40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1 | $153.93 | $153.93 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 1 | $134.69 | $134.69 |
| Frankfort, KY | 1 | $54.92 | $54.92 |
| Glasgow, KY | 1 | $83.85 | $83.85 |
| Hartford, KY | 1 | $23.00 | $23.00 |
| Horse Cave, KY | 1 | $54.00 | $54.00 |
| Henderson, KY | 1 | $44.10 | $44.10 |
| Jackson, KY | 1 | $94.59 | $94.59 |
| Lebanon, KY | 1 | $144.88 | $144.88 |
| Liberty, KY | 1 | $80.00 | $80.00 |
| Louisville, KY | 1 | $53.60 | $53.60 |
| Maysville, KY | 1 | $152.14 | $152.14 |
| Morganfield, KY | 1 | $187.53 | $187.53 |
| Madisonville, KY | 1 | $25.74 | $25.74 |
| Mayfield, KY | 1 | $155.23 | $155.23 |
| Mount Sterling, KY | 1 | $47.21 | $47.21 |
| Murray, KY | 1 | $121.55 | $121.55 |
| Russellville, KY | 1 | $54.00 | $54.00 |
| Tompkinsville, KY | 1 | $137.24 | $137.24 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What COVID-19 PCR test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: COVID-19 PCR test explained.
COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test) in other states
- Alabama$58.70
- Alaska$103.70
- Arizona$64.80
- Arkansas$97.28
- California$94.62
- Colorado$118.63
- Connecticut$123.00
- Delaware$226.80
- District of Columbia$43.78, 3 hospitals
- Florida$87.69
- Georgia$86.25
- Hawaii$75.00
- Idaho$93.75
- Illinois$115.50
- Indiana$105.75
- Iowa$119.20
- Kansas$135.85
- Louisiana$74.10
- Maine$88.40
- Maryland$256.67
- Massachusetts$165.03
- Michigan$108.10
- Minnesota$119.46
- Mississippi$44.64
- Missouri$97.03
- Montana$121.00
- Nebraska$133.50
- Nevada$74.04
- New Hampshire$125.00
- New Jersey$56.44
- New Mexico$111.90
- New York$98.00
- North Carolina$89.00
- North Dakota$124.80
- Ohio$141.00
- Oklahoma$81.00
- Oregon$119.63
- Pennsylvania$91.20
- Puerto Rico$304.16, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$150.40
- South Carolina$81.75
- South Dakota$124.80
- Tennessee$55.46
- Texas$95.00
- Utah$76.41
- Vermont$105.00
- Virginia$77.00
- Washington$105.30
- West Virginia$107.75
- Wisconsin$135.00
- Wyoming$108.57
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.