COVID-19 PCR test cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 53 hospitals publish a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $25.66 to $535.00, with a median of $89.00. The lowest price is at Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center (Elizabeth City). The highest price is 20.8× the lowest.
- The median here, $89.00, is 10% below the US median of $98.92.
- That is 1.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($51.31).
- North Carolina ranks 17th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 53 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$25.66Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center
Median$89.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$535.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$63.34vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center lowest Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Chgl Covid-19 | $25.66 | $51.31 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital Dunn · Anderson Creek, NC AMPLIFED DNA OR RNA PROBE DETECTION OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (COVID-19) ANTIGEN | $34.20 | $57.00 | Apr 7, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Hoke Hospital Raeford · Fayetteville, NC AMPLIFED DNA OR RNA PROBE DETECTION OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (COVID-19) ANTIGEN | $34.20 | $57.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC AMPLIFED DNA OR RNA PROBE DETECTION OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (COVID-19) ANTIGEN | $34.20 | $57.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Sars-Cov-2 | $37.80 | $54.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $39.15 | $145.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Raleigh Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $39.15 | $145.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $39.15 | $145.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Beaufort Hospital Washington · Washington, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $42.40 | $80.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center Greenville · Greenville, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $42.40 | $80.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Chowan Hospital Edenton · Edenton, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $44.80 | $80.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Duplin Hospital Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $44.80 | $80.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $44.80 | $80.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $45.36 | $81.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $48.06 | $178.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Cary Hospital Cary · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Sars - Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $48.26 | $127.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Raleigh Campus Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Sars - Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $48.26 | $127.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Bertie Hospital Windsor · Windsor, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $53.76 | $96.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $53.76 | $96.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $54.32 | $97.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Randolph Health Asheboro · Asheboro, NC SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB | $60.00 | $300.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Columbus Regional Healthcare System Whiteville · Whiteville, NC COVID-19 Lab Test | $74.20 | $106.00 | Sep 1, 2025 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Bladen County Hospital Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, NC SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB | $84.60 | $141.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB | $84.60 | $141.00 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| Scotland Memorial Hospital and Edwin Morgan Center Laurinburg · Laurinburg, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $86.00 | $172.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Harris Regional Hospital Sylva · Sylva, NC 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 | $88.90 | $222.25 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $89.00 | $178.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Person Memorial Hospital Roxboro · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 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 | $90.00 | $225.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Sampson Regional Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, NC Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $91.00 | $130.00 | Nov 2, 2026 source file |
| Alleghany County Memorial Hospital Sparta · Sparta, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $94.50 | $189.00 | Aug 12, 2025 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $146.00 | $292.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC COVID-19 SARS-COV-2 RAPID MOLECULAR | $147.50 | $147.50 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $148.50 | $297.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $153.50 | $307.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Wilson Medical Center Wilson · Wilson, NC 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 | $153.60 | $384.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $154.50 | $309.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $154.50 | $309.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC SARS-COV-2 NUCLEIC ACID TEST | $156.00 | $312.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Frye Regional Medical Center Hickory · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMP PRB | $173.86 | $434.65 | Jul 8, 2026 source file |
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center Rutherfordton · Forest City, NC 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 | $212.98 | $532.46 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC CHG COVID RNA RAPID, ID NOW | $215.00 | $215.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC CHG COVID RNA RAPID, ID NOW | $215.00 | $215.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC CHG COVID RNA RAPID, ID NOW | $215.00 | $215.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC COVID-19 SARS-COV-2 AMPLIFIED PROBE | $535.00 | $535.00 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 12 | $48.06 | $89.00 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3 | $34.20 | $34.20 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3 | $39.15 | $48.26 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $146.00 | $154.50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2 | $39.15 | $64.58 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $45.36 | $45.36 |
| Asheboro, NC | 1 | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $89.00 | $89.00 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 1 | $34.20 | $34.20 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $535.00 | $535.00 |
| Clinton, NC | 1 | $91.00 | $91.00 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $147.50 | $147.50 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $39.15 | $39.15 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $44.80 | $44.80 |
| Elizabethtown, NC | 1 | $84.60 | $84.60 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $25.66 | $25.66 |
| Forest City, NC | 1 | $212.98 | $212.98 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $153.50 | $153.50 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $42.40 | $42.40 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 1 | $173.86 | $173.86 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $44.80 | $44.80 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $53.76 | $53.76 |
| Laurinburg, NC | 1 | $86.00 | $86.00 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $37.80 | $37.80 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 1 | $154.50 | $154.50 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $148.50 | $148.50 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $54.32 | $54.32 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $44.80 | $44.80 |
| Sparta, NC | 1 | $94.50 | $94.50 |
| Sylva, NC | 1 | $88.90 | $88.90 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $89.00 | $89.00 |
| Whiteville, NC | 1 | $74.20 | $74.20 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $53.76 | $53.76 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $42.40 | $42.40 |
| Wilson, NC | 1 | $153.60 | $153.60 |
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
- Kentucky$68.39
- 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 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.