CPT 87491 is a nucleic-acid amplification test for Chlamydia trachomatis, the standard and most accurate test for the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. It uses a urine sample or a swab; results take one to three days. Routine screening is recommended yearly for sexually active women under 25 and for anyone with a new partner.
What the price covers
The laboratory test only. It is almost always ordered together with the gonorrhea test (87591), which is a separate code and a separate charge, and the visit or specimen collection is billed separately.
Why prices vary
Hospital cash prices for this single test range from around $30 to several hundred dollars. Public health clinics, Planned Parenthood, student health services and direct-to-consumer lab services usually offer combined chlamydia and gonorrhea testing for far less, sometimes free.
Questions to ask
- What is the self-pay price for 87491, and for 87591 together?
- Is there a collection or visit fee on top?
- Is there a public-health or community clinic option nearby?