HIV viral load test cost in Columbia, SC — inpatient
In Columbia, SC, 3 hospitals list a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) as an inpatient: from $538.00 to $586.50, with a median of $586.50. The lowest listed price is at Kershaw Medical Center — $48.50 less than the median here. Across South Carolina, the median is $475.50 at 18 hospitals.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 2 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 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 Columbia, SC.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw Medical Center lowest Camden, SC · (803) 432-4311 HB HIV1 QN RNA | $538.00 | $1,076.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast Columbia, SC HB HIV1 QN RNA | $586.50 | $1,173.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia, SC · (803) 256-5300 HB HIV1 QN RNA | $586.50 | $1,173.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $538.00, median $586.50, highest $586.50 — a 1.1× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $586.50 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
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.