Lactic acid test cost in Milwaukee, WI
In Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, 18 hospitals list a cash price for lactate (lactic acid) blood test: from $47.50 to $103.95, with a median of $49.03. The lowest listed price is at Aurora West Allis Medical Center and 7 other hospitals — $1.53 less than the median here. Across Wisconsin, the median is $70.87 at 97 hospitals.
Cash prices at 18 facilities across 11 cities for code 83605, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 21, 2025 and Mar 23, 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora West Allis Medical Center lowest West Allis, WI · (414) 328-6000 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St. Luke's South Shore of Aurora Health Care Metro lowest Cudahy, WI · (414) 649-6000 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center lowest Milwaukee, WI · (414) 649-6000 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Summit lowest Summit, WI · (262) 434-1600 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro lowest Milwaukee, WI · (414) 649-6000 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Grafton lowest Grafton, WI · (262) 329-1000 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Kenosha lowest Kenosha, WI · (262) 948-5600 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Washington County lowest Hartford, WI · (262) 673-2300 POC LACTIC ACID | $47.50 | $95.00 | $9.26–$80.75 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Glendale, WI LACTATE (LACTIC ACID) | $48.76 | $92.00 | $11.22–$26.06 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension St. Francis Hospital Milwaukee, WI · (414) 647-5000 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Milwaukee, WI · (414) 447-2130 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Milwaukee, WI · (414) 447-2130 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Franklin Campus Franklin, WI · (414) 447-2130 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Franklin Campus Franklin, WI · (414) 447-2130 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital Franklin, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital Franklin, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension St. Francis Hospital Milwaukee, WI · (414) 647-5000 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $49.29 | $93.00 | $12.15–$50.20 | 47% | — source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Kenosha Kenosha, WI · (262) 948-5600 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital Wauwatosa, WI · (414) 454-6600 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Summit Summit, WI · (262) 434-1600 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro Milwaukee, WI · (414) 649-6000 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora West Allis Medical Center West Allis, WI · (414) 328-6000 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St. Luke's South Shore of Aurora Health Care Metro Cudahy, WI · (414) 649-6000 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Washington County Hartford, WI · (262) 673-2300 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Grafton Grafton, WI · (262) 329-1000 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center Milwaukee, WI · (414) 649-6000 LACTIC ACID | $65.00 | $130.00 | $9.26–$110.50 | 50% | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus Mequon, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus Mequon, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus Milwaukee, WI · (414) 585-1374 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus Milwaukee, WI · (414) 585-1374 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus Milwaukee, WI · (414) 585-1374 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus Mequon, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus Milwaukee, WI · (414) 585-1374 HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID - POC | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Hospital Mequon, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Hospital Mequon, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus Mequon, WI HC ASSAY OF LACTIC ACID | $71.55 | $135.00 | $12.15–$48.74 | 47% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC POCT LACTIC ACID | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC POCT LACTIC ACID | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC LACTIC ACID CSF | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC LACTIC ACID | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC LACTIC ACID APPLTN | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC LACTIC ACID | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC LACTIC ACID CSF | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI · (414) 266-3954 HBC LACTIC ACID APPLTN | $103.95 | $189.00 | $132.30–$179.55 | 45% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $47.50, median $49.03, highest $103.95 — a 2.2× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 14 facilities here, median $47.50. 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 14 of 18 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 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.