LDH test cost in San Diego, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 18 hospitals list a cash price for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) blood test: from $4.84 to $61.36, with a median of $8.85. The lowest listed price is at UC San Diego Medical Center — $4.01 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $33.67 at 210 hospitals.
Cash prices at 18 facilities across 11 cities for code 83615, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 30, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$4.84UC San Diego Medical Center
Median$8.85half pay less
Highest$61.36in this market
Difference12.7×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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
median
Lowest $4.84Highest $153.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Medical Center lowest San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Lactate dehydrogenase (enzyme) level | $4.84 | $8.80 | $1.06–$19.26 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 Lactate Dehydrogenase Total | $5.15 | $8.58 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA Lactate Dehydrogenase Total | $5.15 | $8.58 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 LDH | $6.00 | $153.62 | $1.81–$153.62 | 96% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 CSF LDH, LC0100156 | $6.00 | $6.04 | $1.81–$153.62 | 1% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 LDH LC 1 LC 001842 | $6.00 | $6.04 | $1.81–$153.62 | 1% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 LDH, BODY FLUID LC | $6.00 | $34.88 | $1.81–$153.62 | 83% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 Lactic Acid LC | $6.83 | $11.39 | $5.29–$14.04 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC LD ISOENZ LD TOTAL | $7.78 | $10.37 | $0.66–$14.14 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC LD ISOENZ LD TOTAL | $7.78 | $10.37 | $0.66–$22,634.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC LD ISOENZ LD TOTAL | $7.78 | $10.37 | $1.00–$785.56 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC LD ISOENZ LD TOTAL | $7.78 | $10.37 | $1.00–$16.61 | 25% | — source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC Ldh Body Fluid | $9.91 | $39.65 | $3.17–$31.72 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Ldh Body Fluid | $9.91 | $39.65 | $3.17–$31.72 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC Ldh Body Fluid | $9.91 | $39.65 | $3.17–$31.72 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Ldh Body Fluid | $9.91 | $39.65 | $3.17–$31.72 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC Ldh Body Fluid | $9.91 | $39.65 | $3.17–$31.72 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC Ldh Total/Body Fluid | $18.00 | $72.00 | $5.76–$57.60 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Ldh Total/Body Fluid | $18.00 | $72.00 | $5.76–$57.60 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC Ldh Total/Body Fluid | $18.00 | $72.00 | $5.76–$57.60 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC Ldh Total/Body Fluid | $18.00 | $72.00 | $5.76–$57.60 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC Ldh Total/Body Fluid | $18.00 | $72.00 | $5.76–$57.60 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 Lactic Acid, Body Fluid LC | $24.22 | $40.37 | $5.29–$31.85 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Lactate Dehydrogenase (Enzyme) Level | $31.35 | $57.00 | $6.04–$76.95 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Cv-Ldh Total | $35.25 | $47.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 Lactate Dehydrogenase Blood | $52.97 | $88.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 Lactate Dehydrogenase Body Fluid | $52.97 | $88.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA Lactate Dehydrogenase Cerebrospinal | $52.97 | $88.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA Lactate Dehydrogenase Blood | $52.97 | $88.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 Lactate Dehydrogenase Cerebrospinal | $52.97 | $88.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA Lactate Dehydrogenase Body Fluid | $52.97 | $88.28 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE LDH | $61.36 | $118.00 | $3.00–$10.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE LDH | $61.36 | $118.00 | $3.00–$10.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE LDH | $61.36 | $118.00 | $3.00–$10.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC LD BODY FLUID | $87.75 | $117.00 | $1.00–$114.66 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC LD BODY FLUID | $87.75 | $117.00 | $1.00–$4,637.86 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC LD ENZYME | $87.75 | $117.00 | $0.61–$13,720.80 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC LD ENZYME | $87.75 | $117.00 | $1.00–$114.66 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC LD BODY FLUID | $87.75 | $117.00 | $4.49–$725.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC LD ENZYME | $87.75 | $117.00 | $1.00–$93.60 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC LD BODY FLUID | $87.75 | $117.00 | $1.15–$114.66 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC LD ENZYME | $87.75 | $117.00 | $1.00–$93.60 | 25% | — source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Ldh | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrlj-Ldh Total | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Nicu Hc Ldh Total | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ld Body Fluid | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ld Enzyme | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Ldh 301 | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Ldh Fluids 301 | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Ldh Fluids | $93.75 | $125.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 Lactate Dehydrogenase | $106.81 | $178.02 | $5.29–$140.46 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 Lactate Dehydrogenase Body Fluid | $106.81 | $178.02 | $5.29–$140.46 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Lab-Bf Ldh | $153.00 | $204.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Lab-Ldh Serum | $153.00 | $204.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $4.84, median $8.85, highest $61.36 — a 12.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 17 facilities here, median $9.91. 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 12 of 15 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
An LDH test measures an enzyme found in most body tissues. A high level is a general sign of tissue damage and is used to follow some anemias, lymphomas and other cancers.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.