Cortisol test cost in Charlotte, NC — inpatient
In Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, 16 hospitals list a cash price for cortisol blood test, total as an inpatient: from $11.07 to $188.25, with a median of $92.68. The lowest listed price is at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital — $81.61 less than the median here. Across North Carolina, the median is $85.50 at 55 hospitals.
Cash prices at 16 facilities across 13 cities for code 82533, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 28, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Dec 1, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital lowest Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 Cortisol Total+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $11.07 | $41.00 | $11.93–$14.15 | 73% |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG LC CORTISOL TOTAL SALIVARY MS File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $60.00 | $60.00 | $47.52–$57.00 | — |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG LC CORTISOL TOTAL SALIVARY MS File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $60.00 | $60.00 | $47.52–$57.00 | — |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG LC CORTISOL TOTAL SALIVARY MS File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $60.00 | $60.00 | — | — |
| MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC · (803) 286-1481 HB CORTISOL TOTAL (SEND OUT) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $89.50 | $179.00 | — | 50% |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton, NC · (980) 212-2000 HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $53.14–$176.08 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro, NC · (704) 694-5131 HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$176.08 | 50% |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte, NC · (704) 548-6000 HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 5, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$170.52 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte, NC · (704) 379-5000 HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 5, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$170.52 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte, NC HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 4, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$170.52 | 50% |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord, NC · (704) 783-3000 HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$176.08 | 50% |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte, NC · (704) 355-2000 HC TOTAL CORTISOL+1 more line at this price File of Dec 4, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$166.82 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe, NC · (704) 283-3100 HC TOTAL CORTISOL File of Dec 4, 2025 · source file | $92.68 | $185.35 | $56.16–$176.08 | 50% |
| MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center Chester, SC · (803) 581-3151 HB CORTISOL FREE SALIVARY (SEND OUT) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $101.00 | $202.00 | — | 50% |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 Cortisol Total Pnl+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $102.87 | $381.00 | $110.87–$131.45 | 73% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $188.25 | $251.00 | $1.00–$251.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $188.25 | $251.00 | $1.00–$251.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL/3 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $207.75 | $277.00 | $1.00–$277.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL/3 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $207.75 | $277.00 | $1.00–$277.00 | 25% |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG CORTISOL TOTAL File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $237.00 | $237.00 | $187.70–$225.15 | — |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG CORTISOL TOTAL File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $237.00 | $237.00 | — | — |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG CORTISOL TOTAL File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $237.00 | $237.00 | $187.70–$225.15 | — |
| MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center Chester, SC · (803) 581-3151 HB CORTISOL TOTAL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.50 | $509.00 | — | 50% |
| MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC · (803) 286-1481 HB CORTISOL FREE SALIVARY (SEND OUT) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $256.50 | $513.00 | — | 50% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL/2 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $297.00 | $396.00 | $1.00–$396.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL/2 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $297.00 | $396.00 | $1.00–$396.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL/4 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $342.75 | $457.00 | $1.00–$457.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CORTISOL TOTAL/4 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $342.75 | $457.00 | $1.00–$457.00 | 25% |
| MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC · (803) 286-1481 HB CORTISOL TOTAL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $609.00 | $1,218.00 | — | 50% |
Inpatient: lowest $11.07, median $92.68, highest $188.25 — a 17.0× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 17 facilities here, median $92.68 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 11 of 13 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
A cortisol test measures the main stress hormone made by the adrenal glands. It is used when adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) or excess cortisol (Cushing's syndrome) is suspected.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.