HIV viral load test cost in Chattanooga, TN — inpatient
In Chattanooga, TN-GA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) as an inpatient: from $230.74 to $230.74, with a median of $230.74. Across Tennessee, the median is $147.62 at 44 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 87536, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 25, 2026 and Jan 25, 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erlanger Health lowest Chattanooga, TN · (423) 778-7000 HC Hiv Rna by Pcr | $230.74 | $437.00 | $135.47–$371.45 | 47% | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Health lowest Chattanooga, TN · (423) 778-7000 HC Pbc Hiv Rna by Pcr | $230.74 | $437.00 | $135.47–$371.45 | 47% | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $230.74, median $230.74, highest $230.74.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $230.74 — 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
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.