HIV viral load test cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 44 hospitals list a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative): from $28.70 to $1,099.25, with a median of $85.00. The lowest listed price is at California Hospital Medical Center LA — $56.30 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $100.88 at 176 hospitals.
- The median here, $85.00, is 69% below the US median of $276.38.
- That is about the same as Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($85.10).
- Los Angeles, CA ranks 3rd of 4 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- 17 of 44 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 44 facilities across 30 cities for code 87536, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 4, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026.
Lowest$28.70California Hospital Medical Center LA
Median$85.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,099.25in this market
Difference38.3×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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $28.70Highest $1,099.25
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Hospital Medical Center LA lowest Los Angeles, CA · (213) 748-2411 RL-A-HIV QNT 3000867 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $28.70 | $60.00 | $14.40–$542.50 | 52% |
| UCI Health - Placentia Linda Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 HIV-1 QUANT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $29.97 | $74.93 | — | 60% |
| UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange, CA · (714) 966-7200 HIV-1 QUANT/5 File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $29.97 | $74.93 | — | 60% |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION LAB File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $31.20 | $65.00 | — | 52% |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION LAB File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $31.20 | $65.00 | — | 52% |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION LAB File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $31.20 | $65.00 | — | 52% |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA · (562) 491-9000 RL-A-HIVCSF QNT 3000872 File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $35.60 | $82.28 | $20.57–$542.50 | 57% |
| Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Newport Beach, CA · (949) 764-4624 HC Hiv Ultra Sensitive Pcr File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $42.25 | $65.00 | — | 35% |
| UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange, CA · (714) 966-7200 HIV-1 QUANT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $45.60 | $114.00 | — | 60% |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 HC HIV ULTRA SENSITIVE PCR 30211020 File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $50.00 | $50.00 | $22.50–$1,016.65 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 HIV-1 by Quantitative NAAT, Plasma LABCP+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $50.00 | $50.00 | $23.45–$170.20 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 HIV-1 by Quantitative NAAT, Plasma LABCP+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $50.00 | $50.00 | $23.45–$170.20 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 HIV-1 by Quantitative NAAT, Plasma LABCP+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $50.00 | $50.00 | $23.45–$202.37 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 HIV-1 by Quantitative NAAT, Plasma LABCP+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $50.00 | $50.00 | $23.45–$170.20 | — |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 COPIES/ML PNL 1 File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $61.00 | $61.00 | $15.25–$331.74 | — |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 HC HIV ULTRA SENSITIVE PCR File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $65.00 | $65.00 | $29.25–$1,016.65 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 QUANT RNA PCR - LC+2 more lines at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $77.00 | $23.10–$293.37 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center one side Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 HIV-1 QUANTITATION RT PCR - LC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $77.00 | $23.10–$293.37 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 HIV-1 RNA QN REAL-TIME - LC+2 more lines at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $77.00 | $23.10–$293.37 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center one side Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 HIV-1 QUANTITATION RT PCR - LC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $77.00 | $23.10–$293.37 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center one side Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 HIV-1 QUANTITATION RT PCR - LC File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $77.00 | $23.10–$293.37 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 HIV-1 RNA QN REAL-TIME - LC+2 more lines at this price File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $77.00 | $77.00 | $23.10–$293.37 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 HIV-1 QUANT PCR W RFLX PHENOSENSE-LABCRP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $79.78 | $79.78 | $35.74–$202.37 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 HIV-1 QUANT PCR W RFLX PHENOSENSE-LABCRP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $79.78 | $79.78 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 HIV-1 QUANT PCR W RFLX PHENOSENSE-LABCRP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $79.78 | $79.78 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 HIV-1 QUANT PCR W RFLX PHENOSENSE-LABCRP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $79.78 | $79.78 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 HIV RNA PCR W/GRAPH+4 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $351.00 | $15.32–$351.00 | 76% |
| St Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA · (310) 900-8900 Hc Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $425.50 | $85.10–$382.95 | 80% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $330.00 | $85.10–$330.00 | 74% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 HIV 1 RNA PCR* LC File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $98.00 | $29.40–$98.00 | 13% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas, CA · (909) 599-6811 Hc Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $652.00 | $80.85–$652.00 | 87% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 827-3000 Hc Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $330.00 | $85.10–$330.00 | 74% |
| Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center Garden Grove, CA · (714) 537-5160 Hc Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $330.00 | $85.10–$330.00 | 74% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 HIV RNA,REAL TIME PCR* LC+5 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $87.30 | $26.19–$386.00 | 3% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital one side Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 LC 550420 RNA, RT PCR(GPH) File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.00 | $98.00 | $26.19–$386.00 | 13% |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 HIV RNA-BIOT File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $99.00 | $99.00 | $29.70–$324.23 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 HIV RNA-BIOT File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $99.00 | $99.00 | $29.70–$324.23 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 HIV RNA-BIOT File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $99.00 | $99.00 | $29.70–$324.23 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA ARUP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $107.00 | $107.00 | $35.74–$202.37 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA ARUP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $107.00 | $107.00 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA ARUP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $107.00 | $107.00 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA ARUP File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $107.00 | $107.00 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| Los Angeles Community Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 267-0477 HIV 1 RNA QUANT REAL TIME PCR File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $115.98 | $115.98 | $4.44–$280.17 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 HIV-1 RNA QN PCR CSF - LC File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $116.00 | $116.00 | $34.80–$324.23 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 HIV-1 RNA QN PCR CSF - LC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $116.00 | $116.00 | $34.80–$324.23 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 HIV-1 RNA QN PCR CSF - LC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $116.00 | $116.00 | $34.80–$324.23 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 REALTIME ABBOT - LC+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $117.00 | $117.00 | $35.10–$324.23 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 REALTIME ABBOT - LC+1 more line at this price File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $117.00 | $117.00 | $35.10–$324.23 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 REALTIME ABBOT - LC+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $117.00 | $117.00 | $35.10–$324.23 | — |
| Foothill Regional Medical Center Tustin, CA · (714) 619-7700 HSV DNA AMP PROBE File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $121.19 | $121.19 | $2.72–$280.17 | — |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 HIV-1 RNA BY PCR File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $128.00 | $128.00 | $32.00–$331.74 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 HIV-1 DNA QUANT File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $128.40 | $128.40 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 HIV-1 DNA QUANT File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $128.40 | $128.40 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 HIV-1 DNA QUANT File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $128.40 | $128.40 | $35.74–$202.37 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 HIV-1 DNA QUANT File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $128.40 | $128.40 | $35.74–$170.20 | — |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC HIV ULTRA SENSITIVE PCR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $141.60 | $295.00 | — | 52% |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC HIV ULTRA SENSITIVE PCR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $141.60 | $295.00 | — | 52% |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC HIV ULTRA SENSITIVE PCR File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $141.60 | $295.00 | — | 52% |
| Southern California Hospital at Hollywood Hollywood, CA · (323) 462-2271 HIV 1 RNA QUANT REAL TIME PCR File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $175.00 | $175.00 | $2.72–$280.17 | — |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley, CA · (818) 767-3310 Hiv-1 Rna Qn Pcr source file | $178.00 | $178.00 | $68.00–$178.00 | — |
| Southern California Hospital at Van Nuys D/P Aph Van Nuys, CA · (323) 462-2271 HIV 1 RNA QUANT REAL TIME PCR File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $205.00 | $205.00 | $60.89–$259.06 | — |
| Foothill Regional Medical Center Tustin, CA · (714) 619-7700 HIV 1 RNA QUANT REAL TIME PCR File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $205.00 | $205.00 | $2.72–$280.17 | — |
| Catalina Island Medical Center Avalon, CA · (310) 510-0700 Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification File of Jul 20, 2026 · source file | $232.46 | $332.09 | $80.85–$332.09 | 30% |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley, CA · (818) 767-3310 Hiv Viral Blood Rna/pcrqt Ref source file | $265.00 | $265.00 | $68.00–$265.00 | — |
| Foothill Regional Medical Center Tustin, CA · (714) 619-7700 HIV-1 QUANT&REVRSE TRNSCRPJ File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $293.90 | $293.90 | $253.36–$253.37 | — |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 HIV-1 RNA (VIRAL LOAD) File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $337.00 | $337.00 | $83.40–$331.74 | — |
| Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Pomona, CA · (909) 596-7733 Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification File of Oct 5, 2026 · source file | $351.52 | $270.40 | $76.59–$373.31 | -30% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine, CA · (714) 279-4000 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 Laboratory Services+4 more lines at this price File of Nov 26, 2025 · source file | $409.76 | $630.40 | $208.84–$640.23 | 35% |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 Hiv-1 Quant+Revrse Trnscrpj File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $902.00 | $902.00 | — | — |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Hiv-1 Quant+Revrse Trnscrpj File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,099.25 | $1,099.25 | — | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $28.70, median $85.00, highest $1,099.25 — a 38.3× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 34 facilities here, median $77.00. 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 26 of 36 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 4 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 HIV viral load test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: HIV viral load test explained.
6 rows held back from this comparison
They are priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 87536 ($282.24). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| Hospital | Cash price | File |
|---|---|---|
| Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Glendale, CARL-A-HIV QNT 3000867 | $18.88 | file |
| UCI Health - Los Alamitos Orange, CAHIV-1 QUANT/5 | $20.00 | file |
| UCI Health - Lakewood Orange, CAHIV-1 QUANT/5 | $20.00 | file |
| UCI Health - Los Alamitos Orange, CAHIV-1 QUANT | $24.00 | file |
| Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Glendale, CARL-A-HIVCSF QNT 3000872 | $25.89 | file |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CARL-A-HIV QNT 3000867 | $25.96 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.