Lactic acid test cost in Birmingham, AL — inpatient
In Birmingham, AL, 8 hospitals list a cash price for lactate (lactic acid) blood test as an inpatient: from $29.28 to $453.00, with a median of $148.00. The lowest listed price is at Grandview Medical Center — $118.72 less than the median here. Across Alabama, the median is $59.13 at 45 hospitals.
Cash prices at 8 facilities across 4 cities for code 83605, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 31, 2026 and Jun 22, 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 Birmingham, AL.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandview Medical Center lowest Birmingham, AL · (205) 971-1000 LACTIC ACID File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $29.28 | $122.00 | $29.28–$109.80 | 76% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham, AL HC Quest Lactic Acid CSF - Adj 83605 File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $32.12 | $74.70 | $50.80–$67.23 | 57% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama – Benjamin Russell Hospital Birmingham, AL · (205) 939-9100 HC Quest Lactic Acid CSF - Adj 83605+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $32.12 | $74.70 | $50.80–$74.70 | 57% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham, AL HC Assay of Lactic Acid - Lactate+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $51.06 | $118.74 | $80.74–$106.87 | 57% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama – Benjamin Russell Hospital Birmingham, AL · (205) 939-9100 HC Assay of Lactic Acid - POCT Lactic Acid (Lactate)+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $51.06 | $118.74 | $80.74–$118.74 | 57% |
| Baptist Health Shelby Hospital Alabaster, AL · (205) 620-8100 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate Csf File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $148.00 | $148.00 | — | — |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital Birmingham, AL · (205) 783-3800 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate Csf File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $148.00 | $148.00 | — | — |
| Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper, AL · (205) 387-4000 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate Csf File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $148.00 | $148.00 | — | — |
| UAB Medical West Bessemer, AL · (205) 481-7000 Lactic Acid (Lactate) File of Jun 22, 2026 · source file | $175.50 | $234.00 | $145.08–$210.60 | 25% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama – Benjamin Russell Hospital Birmingham, AL · (205) 939-9100 HC Mayo D-Lactate, Plasma - Adj 83605+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $243.16 | $565.50 | $384.54–$565.50 | 57% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham, AL HC Mayo D-Lactate, Plasma - Adj 83605 File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $243.16 | $565.50 | $384.54–$508.95 | 57% |
| Baptist Health Shelby Hospital Alabaster, AL · (205) 620-8100 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $273.00 | $273.00 | — | — |
| Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper, AL · (205) 387-4000 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $273.00 | $273.00 | — | — |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital Birmingham, AL · (205) 783-3800 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $273.00 | $273.00 | — | — |
| UAB Medical West Bessemer, AL · (205) 481-7000 D-Lactate, Plasma File of Jun 22, 2026 · source file | $300.00 | $400.00 | $248.00–$360.00 | 25% |
| Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital Birmingham, AL · (205) 877-1000 Hb Assay Of Lactic Acid - Lactate File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $453.00 | $453.00 | — | — |
Inpatient: lowest $29.28, median $148.00, highest $453.00 — a 15.5× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 8 facilities here, median $148.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 4 of 4 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 2 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 lactic acid test measures lactate in the blood. It is used mainly in the emergency department and hospital to look for sepsis, shock or poor blood flow to tissues.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.