HIV viral load test cost in Merced, CA — inpatient
In Merced, CA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) as an inpatient: from $30.90 to $30.90, with a median of $30.90. Across California, the median is $85.00 at 130 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 87536, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Feb 28, 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 Merced, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dignity Health lowest Merced, CA · (209) 564-5000 RL-A-HIV QT GR 3000870 | $30.90 | $60.00 | $36.00–$56.40 | 49% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Dignity Health one side Merced, CA · (209) 564-5000 RL-Q-HIV1 RNA Q RT PR CSF | $54.39 | $105.60 | $63.36–$99.27 | 48% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Dignity Health Merced, CA · (209) 564-5000 H-HIV1 QNT RNA PCR 6600 | $57.68 | $112.00 | $67.20–$105.28 | 49% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $30.90, median $30.90, highest $30.90.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $30.90 — 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 and 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.