Lactic acid test cost in Denver, CO
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, 24 hospitals list a cash price for lactate (lactic acid) blood test: from $10.87 to $1,070.75, with a median of $405.17. The lowest listed price is at Denver Health and Hospital Authority — $394.30 less than the median here. Across Colorado, the median is $135.00 at 48 hospitals.
Cash prices at 24 facilities across 10 cities for code 83605, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$10.87Denver Health and Hospital Authority
Median$405.17half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,070.75in this market
Difference98.5×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO.
median
Lowest $10.87Highest $1,568.45
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority lowest Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LACTIC ACID CSF ARUP 0020516 File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $10.87 | $31.04 | $10.65–$40.47 | 65% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=POC - LACTIC ACID File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $15.60 | $24.00 | $2.40–$22.08 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=CSHB D-LACTATE PLASMA/URINE/CSF File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $22.10 | $34.00 | $3.40–$31.28 | 35% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC ASSAY OF LACTATE ARUP 2007935 File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $23.93 | $68.37 | $11.57–$40.47 | 65% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LACTATE+1 more line at this price File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $29.45 | $84.12 | $11.57–$47.11 | 65% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $30.92 | $88.32 | $11.57–$49.46 | 65% |
| National Jewish Health Denver, CO · (303) 388-4461 HC LACTIC ACID POC source file | $48.50 | $69.29 | $6.04–$58.90 | 30% |
| Cobalt Rehabilitation Hospital Denver Westminster, CO Lactic Acid File of Aug 6, 2026 · source file | $115.70 | $115.70 | $8.68–$98.35 | — |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=D-LACTATE, PLASMA File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $135.20 | $208.00 | $20.80–$191.36 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=LACTATE(CSF) File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $153.40 | $236.00 | $23.60–$217.12 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=LACTATE File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $164.45 | $253.00 | $25.30–$232.76 | 35% |
| Reunion Rehabilitation Hospital Denver Denver, CO Assay of lactic acid File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $169.68 | $169.68 | — | — |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=CSHB POCT LACTATE+2 more lines at this price File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $192.40 | $296.00 | $29.60–$272.32 | 35% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LACTIC ACID CSF File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $197.15 | $563.28 | $11.57–$315.44 | 65% |
| Spalding at Psl Denver, CO · (303) 839-6000 LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $231.13 | $231.13 | $35.13–$208.02 | — |
| HCA Healthone Spalding Rehabilitation Aurora, CO LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $231.13 | $231.13 | $35.13–$208.02 | — |
| AdventHealth Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO · (720) 455-5000 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POCT LACTIC ACID (LACTATE)+16 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $249.28 | $249.28 | — | — |
| AdventHealth Porter Denver, CO · (303) 778-1955 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - LACTATE CSF+16 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $249.28 | $249.28 | — | — |
| AdventHealth Parker Parker, CO · (303) 269-4000 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - LACTATE CSF+16 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $249.28 | $249.28 | — | — |
| AdventHealth Littleton Littleton, CO · (303) 730-8900 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - LACTATE CSF+16 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $249.28 | $249.28 | — | — |
| Craig Hospital Englewood, CO HC LACTIC ACID File of Jun 25, 2026 · source file | $350.33 | $919.50 | $9.83–$827.55 | 62% |
| Spalding at Psl Denver, CO · (303) 839-6000 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $363.00 | $363.00 | $97.65–$160.45 | — |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC D-LACTATE, PLASMA ARUP TO MAYO MEDICAL LAB DLAC File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $382.34 | $1,092.39 | $11.57–$611.74 | 65% |
| HCA Healthone Rose Denver, CO · (303) 320-2121 LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $460.00 | $460.00 | $69.92–$414.00 | — |
| HCA Healthone Central Park ER Denver, CO · (303) 320-2121 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $460.00 | $460.00 | $69.92–$414.00 | — |
| HCA Healthone Rose Denver, CO · (303) 320-2121 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $543.00 | $543.00 | $82.54–$488.70 | — |
| HCA Healthone Central Park ER Denver, CO · (303) 320-2121 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $543.00 | $543.00 | $82.54–$488.70 | — |
| HCA Healthone Presbyterian St Lukes Denver, CO · (303) 839-6000 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $598.50 | $598.50 | $90.97–$538.65 | — |
| Centennial Hospital A Campus of Tmca Englewood, CO · (303) 873-5511 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $731.63 | $731.63 | $111.21–$658.47 | — |
| HCA Healthone Aurora Aurora, CO · (303) 873-5511 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $731.63 | $731.63 | $111.21–$658.47 | — |
| HCA Healthone Sky Ridge Lone Tree, CO · (720) 225-1000 LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $746.48 | $746.48 | $113.46–$671.83 | — |
| HCA Healthone South Parker ER Parker, CO LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $746.48 | $746.48 | $113.46–$671.83 | — |
| HCA Healthone Presbyterian St Lukes Denver, CO · (303) 839-6000 LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $980.25 | $980.25 | $284.27 | — |
| HCA Healthone Northeast ER Thornton, CO · (303) 451-7800 LACTIC ACID+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $984.03 | $984.03 | $149.57–$885.63 | — |
| HCA Healthone Mountain Ridge Thornton, CO · (303) 451-7800 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $984.03 | $984.03 | $149.57–$885.63 | — |
| HCA Healthone Southwest ER Littleton, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,070.75 | $1,070.75 | $162.75–$963.67 | — |
| HCA Healthone Swedish Englewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,070.75 | $1,070.75 | $162.75–$963.67 | — |
| HCA Healthone Belmar ER Lakewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,070.75 | $1,070.75 | $162.75–$963.67 | — |
| HCA Healthone Mountain Ridge Thornton, CO · (303) 451-7800 D LACTATE QN SPECT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,113.30 | $1,113.30 | $169.22–$1,001.97 | — |
| HCA Healthone Northeast ER Thornton, CO · (303) 451-7800 D LACTATE QN SPECT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,113.30 | $1,113.30 | $169.22–$1,001.97 | — |
| HCA Healthone Swedish Englewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,178.87 | $1,178.87 | $179.19–$1,060.98 | — |
| HCA Healthone Belmar ER Lakewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,178.87 | $1,178.87 | $179.19–$1,060.98 | — |
| HCA Healthone Southwest ER Littleton, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,178.87 | $1,178.87 | $179.19–$1,060.98 | — |
| HCA Healthone Sky Ridge Lone Tree, CO · (720) 225-1000 LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,214.12 | $1,214.12 | $184.55–$1,092.71 | — |
| HCA Healthone South Parker ER Parker, CO LACTIC ACID BODY FL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,214.12 | $1,214.12 | $184.55–$1,092.71 | — |
| HCA Healthone Swedish Englewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,257.26 | $1,257.26 | $191.10–$1,131.53 | — |
| HCA Healthone Southwest ER Littleton, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,257.26 | $1,257.26 | $191.10–$1,131.53 | — |
| HCA Healthone Belmar ER Lakewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 LACTIC ACID WHOLE BLOOD File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,257.26 | $1,257.26 | $191.10–$1,131.53 | — |
| Centennial Hospital A Campus of Tmca Englewood, CO · (303) 873-5511 LACTIC ACID BODY FL+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,568.45 | $1,568.45 | $238.40–$1,411.61 | — |
| HCA Healthone Aurora Aurora, CO · (303) 873-5511 LACTIC ACID BODY FL+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,568.45 | $1,568.45 | $238.40–$1,411.61 | — |
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
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
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
Outpatient: lowest $10.87, median $405.17, highest $1,070.75 — a 98.5× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 11 facilities here, median $249.28. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 4 of 19 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it 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.