HIV viral load test cost in Cincinnati, OH — inpatient
In Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 12 hospitals list a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) as an inpatient: from $43.00 to $817.20, with a median of $180.60. The lowest listed price is at The Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope — $137.60 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $367.20 at 95 hospitals.
Cash prices at 12 facilities across 7 cities for code 87536, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope lowest Mason, OH · (513) 536-4673 HC HIV QUANT PCR | $43.00 | $98.00 | $78.00 | 56% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Hiv-1 Rna Pcr Quantitation | $129.54 | $254.00 | $121.92–$254.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $159.00 | $265.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $159.00 | $265.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $180.60 | $301.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $180.60 | $301.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $180.60 | $301.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $180.60 | $301.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Oxford, OH · (513) 523-2111 HC Hiv 1 Rna Vir Load Quant | $261.68 | $348.91 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $269.40 | $449.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $269.40 | $449.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $269.40 | $449.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $269.40 | $449.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $269.40 | $449.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $269.40 | $449.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Hiv Viral Load Neonatal | $405.96 | $796.00 | $382.08–$796.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Hiv-1 Detection By Nucleic Acid (Dna Or Rna), Quantification, Includes Reverse Transcription When | $443.60 | $1,109.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Hiv-1 Quantification | $443.60 | $1,109.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Hiv Quant By Pcr | $817.20 | $1,362.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Hiv Quant By Pcr | $817.20 | $1,362.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $43.00, median $180.60, highest $817.20 — a 19.0× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $159.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 2 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
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.