HIV viral load test cost in Sparta, NC — inpatient
In Sparta, NC, 1 hospital lists a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) as an inpatient: from $146.50 to $146.50, with a median of $146.50. Across North Carolina, the median is $232.64 at 50 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 Aug 12, 2025 and Aug 12, 2025.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County Memorial Hospital Sparta, NC · (336) 372-5511 HC HIV-1 QUANT REVRSE TRNSCRPJ BY PCR | $146.50 | $293.00 | $246.12–$269.56 | 50% | Aug 12, 2025 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $146.50, median $146.50, highest $146.50.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $146.50 — 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.