Herpes (HSV-2) blood test cost in Duluth, MN — inpatient
In Duluth, MN-WI, 5 hospitals list a cash price for herpes blood test, HSV-2 antibody as an inpatient: from $20.46 to $99.55, with a median of $20.46. The lowest listed price is at Essentia Health St. Mary's Children's Hospital and 2 other hospitals. Across Minnesota, the median is $54.93 at 47 hospitals.
Cash prices at 5 facilities across 2 cities for code 86696, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 1, 2026 and Apr 1, 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 Duluth, MN-WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Children's Hospital lowest Duluth, MN HERPES SIMPLEX TYPE 2 | $20.46 | $31.00 | $13.30–$26.66 | 34% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center lowest Duluth, MN · (218) 786-3574 HERPES SIMPLEX TYPE 2 | $20.46 | $31.00 | $13.30–$26.66 | 34% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Duluth lowest Duluth, MN · (218) 786-2652 HERPES SIMPLEX TYPE 2 | $20.46 | $31.00 | $12.82–$26.66 | 34% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Range Regional Health Services Hibbing, MN · (218) 362-6730 HC HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 2, IGG | $58.23 | $137.00 | $62.34–$136.33 | 57% | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth, MN · (218) 249-2449 ANTIBODY HERPES SMPLX TYPE 2 | $99.55 | $183.00 | — | 46% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth, MN · (218) 249-2449 Hsv 2 G Specific Lgg Beaker1 | $99.55 | $183.00 | — | 46% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $20.46, median $20.46, highest $99.55 — a 4.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 9 facilities here, median $58.23 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 4 of 4 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
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.