Lactic acid test cost in Paducah, KY — inpatient
In Paducah, KY-IL, 2 hospitals list a cash price for lactate (lactic acid) blood test as an inpatient: from $79.20 to $92.55, with a median of $85.88. The lowest listed price is at Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital — $6.68 less than the median here. Across Kentucky, the median is $68.40 at 77 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 83605, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Paducah, KY-IL.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital lowest Paducah, KY · (270) 444-2444 HC So Lactic Acid source file | $79.20 | $132.00 | — | 40% |
| Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital Paducah, KY · (270) 444-2444 HC Assay of Lactate source file | $91.80 | $153.00 | — | 40% |
| Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services Salem, KY · (270) 988-2299 Lactic Acid (Venous)+1 more line at this price source file | $92.55 | $154.25 | $9.08–$131.11 | 40% |
Inpatient: lowest $79.20, median $85.88, highest $92.55 — a 1.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $92.55 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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.