Lab tests CPT 86431 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

Rheumatoid factor test cost in New Orleans, LA — inpatient

In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, 6 hospitals list a cash price for rheumatoid factor (RF) test as an inpatient: from $6.44 to $38.44, with a median of $10.86. The lowest listed price is at Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner — $4.42 less than the median here. Across Louisiana, the median is $23.52 at 55 hospitals.

Cash prices at 6 facilities across 5 cities for code 86431, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.

Lowest$6.44Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner
Median$10.86half pay less
Highest$38.44in this market
Difference6.0×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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA.

median
Lowest $6.44Highest $38.44

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner lowest Kenner, LA · (504) 464-8065 HC RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT $6.44 $23.00 — 72% —
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Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans, LA · (504) 842-3000 HC RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT $8.58 $39.00 — 78% —
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St Bernard Parish Hospital Chalmette, LA · (504) 826-9500 HC RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT $10.24 $32.00 — 68% —
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The Ochsner West Campus Extended Care Hospital Jefferson, LA HC RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT $11.47 $31.00 — 63% —
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St Charles Parish Hospital Luling, LA · (985) 785-3644 HC RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT $30.24 $112.00 — 73% —
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St Charles Surgical Hospital New Orleans, LA · (504) 529-6600 RHEUMATOID FACTOR QUANT $38.44 $109.00 $5.56–$49.92 65% —
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Inpatient: lowest $6.44, median $10.86, highest $38.44 — a 6.0× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $13.42 — 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

Rheumatoid factor is an antibody found in many people with rheumatoid arthritis. The test is part of the workup for joint pain and swelling.

What the price covers

The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.