Herpes (HSV-2) blood test cost in Ames, IA — inpatient
In Ames, IA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for herpes blood test, HSV-2 antibody as an inpatient: from $17.60 to $17.60, with a median of $17.60. Across Iowa, the median is $57.85 at 68 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 86696, 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 Ames, IA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story County Hospital lowest Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 HSV 1,2 IGG QC/Y/V/P1/L/M/W/PL/M2 | $17.60 | $22.00 | $15.00–$22.00 | 20% | — source file |
| Story County Hospital lowest Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 TORCH PROFILE IgG | $17.60 | $22.00 | $15.00–$22.00 | 20% | — source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 HSV 1/2 AB, IGG MHSVG D/N/S/Z/W1/X/E/F1/M2 | $24.00 | $30.00 | $20.00–$30.00 | 20% | — source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 CHG HERPES SIMPLEX TEST, TYPE 2 | $24.00 | $30.00 | $20.00–$30.00 | 20% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $17.60, median $17.60, highest $17.60.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $17.60 — 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
This blood test looks for antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2, the usual cause of genital herpes.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.