Lab tests CPT 87536 Outpatient

HIV viral load test cost in Austin, TX

In Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 13 hospitals list a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative): from $91.62 to $849.59, with a median of $426.38. The lowest listed price is at Ascension Seton — $334.76 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $271.49 at 92 hospitals.

Cash prices at 13 facilities across 10 cities for code 87536, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 5, 2026 and Jun 13, 2026.

Lowest$91.62Ascension Seton
Median$426.38half pay less
Highest$849.59in this market
Difference9.3×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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

median
Lowest $91.62Highest $1,619.66

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
Ascension Seton lowest Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $91.62 $254.50 $29.48–$245.81 64% —
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Ascension Seton lowest Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $91.62 $254.50 $29.48–$245.81 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $115.56 $321.00 $29.48–$245.81 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $115.56 $321.00 $29.48–$245.81 64% —
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $120.15 $333.75 $29.48–$328.49 64% —
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $120.15 $333.75 $29.48–$328.49 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $178.15 $254.50 $29.48–$245.81 30% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $178.15 $254.50 $29.48–$245.81 30% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV QN RNA PCR $195.21 $542.25 $29.48–$463.80 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV QN RNA PCR $195.21 $542.25 $29.48–$463.80 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV QN RNA PCR $195.21 $542.25 $29.48–$463.80 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV QN RNA PCR $195.21 $542.25 $29.48–$463.80 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV QN RNA PCR $195.21 $542.25 $29.48–$463.80 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV QN RNA PCR $195.21 $542.25 $29.48–$463.80 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $233.63 $333.75 $29.48–$328.49 30% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $233.63 $333.75 $29.48–$328.49 30% —
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Ascension Seton Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $236.25 $656.25 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $236.25 $656.25 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $244.53 $679.25 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $244.53 $679.25 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $254.34 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Texas Children's Hospital - Austin one side Austin, TX · (832) 824-1100 TC HIV-1 RT-QPCR $271.35 $405.00 $85.10–$384.75 33% Mar 5, 2026
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV-1 DNA QUANT $283.14 $786.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV-1 DNA QUANT $283.14 $786.50 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV-1 DNA QUANT $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 HIV-1 DNA QUANT $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV RNA PCR ULTRA $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV ULTRASENSITIVE $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 HIV ULTRASENSITIVE $294.39 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $327.24 $909.00 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $327.24 $909.00 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $327.24 $909.00 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $327.24 $909.00 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $327.24 $909.00 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $327.24 $909.00 $29.48–$632.69 64% —
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Texas Children's Hospital - Austin one side Austin, TX · (832) 824-1100 TC HIV-1 QUANTITATIVE RT-PCR $341.03 $509.00 $85.10–$483.55 33% Mar 5, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Austin Austin, TX · (512) 654-2100 HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $12.00–$536.98 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Center - Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $89.36–$461.91 40% Jun 3, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lakeway Lakeway, TX HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $12.00–$639.57 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock Round Rock, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $12.00–$639.57 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor Taylor, TX · (512) 352-7611 HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $12.00–$568.50 40% Jun 12, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda Buda, TX · (737) 999-6200 HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $12.00–$536.98 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Pflugerville Pflugerville, TX · (512) 654-6100 HC INF AGT DETCT,DNA/RNA - HIV-1,QU $426.38 $710.63 $12.00–$639.57 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $494.55 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 30% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 NAAT QUANT, PLASMA $494.55 $706.50 $29.48–$632.69 30% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $572.43 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 30% —
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX HIV-1 DNA QUANT $572.43 $817.75 $29.48–$632.69 30% —
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Ascension Seton Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 HIV-1 DNA QUANT $601.65 $1,671.25 $29.48–$752.06 64% —
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Ascension Seton Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 HIV-1 DNA QUANT $601.65 $1,671.25 $29.48–$752.06 64% —
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Ascension Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX · (512) 528-7000 HIV 1 RNA QNT PCR $849.59 $2,359.96 $29.48–$1,061.98 64% —
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Ascension Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX · (512) 528-7000 HIV 1 RNA QNT PCR $849.59 $2,359.96 $29.48–$1,061.98 64% —
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Ascension Seton Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $954.45 $2,651.25 $29.48–$1,193.06 64% —
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Ascension Seton Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 HIV-1 RNA PCR QUANTATATIVE $954.45 $2,651.25 $29.48–$1,193.06 64% —
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Ascension Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX · (512) 528-7000 HIV-1, DNA, QUANT $1,619.66 $4,499.06 $29.48–$2,024.58 64% —
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Ascension Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX · (512) 528-7000 HIV-1, DNA, QUANT $1,619.66 $4,499.06 $29.48–$2,024.58 64% —
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Outpatient: lowest $91.62, median $426.38, highest $849.59 — a 9.3× difference within the same market.

As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $426.38. 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 13 of 13 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

The HIV viral load test measures how much virus is in the blood. It shows how well treatment is working.

What the price covers

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