HIV viral load test cost in San Diego, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 9 hospitals list a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) as an inpatient: from $41.25 to $538.50, with a median of $378.56. The lowest listed price is at Grossmont Hospital and 3 other hospitals — $337.31 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $272.16 at 89 hospitals.
Cash prices at 9 facilities across 5 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grossmont Hospital lowest La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC HIV-1 QUANT&REVRSE TRNSCRPJ - HIV 1 RNA QUANT BY PCR | $41.25 | $55.00 | $7.70–$1,276.90 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital lowest San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC HIV-1 QUANT&REVRSE TRNSCRPJ - HIV 1 RNA QUANT BY PCR | $41.25 | $55.00 | $7.70–$44.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center lowest Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC HIV-1 QUANT&REVRSE TRNSCRPJ - HIV 1 RNA QUANT BY PCR | $41.25 | $55.00 | $15.40–$44.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center lowest Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC HIV-1 QUANT&REVRSE TRNSCRPJ - HIV 1 RNA QUANT BY PCR | $41.25 | $55.00 | $16.50–$53.90 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC HIV VIRAL LOAD | $264.75 | $353.00 | $98.84–$289.46 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC HIV VIRAL LOAD | $264.75 | $353.00 | $52.95–$264.75 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC HIV VIRAL LOAD | $264.75 | $353.00 | $52.95–$264.75 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC HIV VIRAL LOAD | $264.75 | $353.00 | $104.84–$282.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 IADNA HIV-1 QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION | $378.56 | $728.00 | $59.00–$175.00 | 48% | — source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Detection Test For Hiv-1 Virus | $390.50 | $710.00 | $85.10–$958.50 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Nicu-Hc Hiv1,Rna Pcr | $538.50 | $718.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Cv - Hiv1,Rna Pcr | $592.50 | $790.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $41.25, median $378.56, highest $538.50 — a 13.1× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $231.78 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 5 of 8 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it 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.