HIV viral load test cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 72 hospitals publish a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative): from $35.70 to $832.00, with a median of $272.70. The lowest price is at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital (Council Bluffs). The highest price is 23.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $272.70, is about the same as the US median of $276.38.
- That is 3.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($85.10).
- Iowa ranks 21st of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 7 of 72 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 87536. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$35.70Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital
Median$272.70half of hospitals charge less
Highest$832.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$237.00vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital lowest Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HIV 1 by Quantitative NAAT | $35.70 | $119.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $81.00 | $135.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $81.70 | $102.12 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $81.70 | $102.12 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $110.60 | $158.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC HIV-1, NA QUAN | $116.46 | $145.57 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $116.80 | $146.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada · Ames, IA HIV1 ULTRASENSITIVE VIRAL LOAD L/M/W/E/J/C1/L1/S/D/N/PL/O//G1/F1/M2 | $120.80 | $151.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Hospital Albia · Albia, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $139.20 | $232.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| Van Buren County Hospital Keosauqua · Keosauqua, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $149.80 | $214.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Knoxville · Pella, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $163.80 | $273.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $176.55 | $263.50 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB HIV-1 RNA DETECT/QUANT | $182.00 | $260.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB HIV-1 RNA DETECT/QUANT | $182.00 | $260.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| Audubon County Memorial Hospital Audubon · Audubon, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $185.00 | $185.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $196.00 | $245.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $208.22 | $359.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Decatur County Hospital Leon · Leon, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $212.80 | $266.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital Spencer · Spencer, IA HIV 1 Na Quan | $216.00 | $288.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $219.05 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville · Dubuque, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $219.05 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $219.05 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $219.05 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $219.05 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC Mayo Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $219.05 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $243.98 | $609.96 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $255.00 | $255.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL _HIV1 RNA Ql - Sendout | $270.00 | $450.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA _HIV1 RNA Ql - Sendout | $275.40 | $459.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $287.25 | $383.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $295.20 | $369.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HIV1 ULTRASENSITIVE VIRAL LOAD L/M/W/E/J/C1/L1/S/D/N/PL/O//G1/F1/M2 | $299.60 | $535.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL _HIV1 RNA Ql - Sendout | $300.60 | $501.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $306.75 | $409.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $324.75 | $433.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $333.00 | $555.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $333.60 | $556.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Mayo Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $337.00 | $337.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $341.60 | $427.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $347.20 | $496.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA HIV1 ULTRASENSITIVE VIRAL LOAD L/M/W/E/J/C1/L1/S/D/N/PL/O//G1/F1/M2 | $352.00 | $440.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Hiv Ultrasensiti Pcr | $367.00 | $367.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $378.95 | $583.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Mayo Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $390.00 | $600.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HIV 1 ULTRA SENS VIRAL LOAD BY PCR | $432.00 | $665.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Hawarden Regional Healthcare Harwarden · Harwarden, IA HIV-1 RNA QUANT | $439.45 | $517.00 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $441.35 | $455.00 | — source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA HIV 1 RNA PCR QNT 87536 | $443.20 | $554.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $445.25 | $685.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $463.66 | $478.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Mayo Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $503.75 | $775.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Regional Medical Center Manchester · Manchester, IA HIV-1 QUANT&REVRSE TRNSCRPJ | $519.20 | $649.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $526.76 | $1,013.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA INFECTIOUS AGENT ANTIGEN DETECTION; HIV VIRAL LOAD | $578.56 | $974.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Franklin General Hospital Hampton · Hampton, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $585.90 | $651.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA _HIV1 RNA QL - SENDOUT | $607.00 | $607.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $685.00 | $685.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC HIV 1 RNA QUANT PCR | $703.48 | $1,636.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Mayo Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $706.55 | $1,087.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Mayo Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Quantification Hiv-1 | $706.55 | $1,087.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC HIV 1 RNA QUANT PCR | $744.30 | $1,654.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $755.25 | $795.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC HIV 1 RNA QUANT PCR | $827.00 | $1,654.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $832.00 | $832.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 7 | $116.46 | $367.00 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 4 | $116.46 | $616.66 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $116.46 | $270.00 |
| Dubuque, IA | 3 | $116.46 | $219.05 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $182.00 | $182.00 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $35.70 | $703.48 |
| Ames, IA | 2 | $116.80 | $118.80 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $176.55 | $215.78 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $275.40 | $389.58 |
| Albia, IA | 1 | $139.20 | $139.20 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $110.60 | $110.60 |
| Audubon, IA | 1 | $185.00 | $185.00 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $333.00 | $333.00 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $324.75 | $324.75 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $81.70 | $81.70 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $337.00 | $337.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $243.98 | $243.98 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $287.25 | $287.25 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $333.60 | $333.60 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $744.30 | $744.30 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $832.00 | $832.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $81.70 | $81.70 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $347.20 | $347.20 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $341.60 | $341.60 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $219.05 | $219.05 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $463.66 | $463.66 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $81.00 | $81.00 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $116.46 | $116.46 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $116.46 | $116.46 |
| Hampton, IA | 1 | $585.90 | $585.90 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $208.22 | $208.22 |
| Harwarden, IA | 1 | $439.45 | $439.45 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $299.60 | $299.60 |
| Keosauqua, IA | 1 | $149.80 | $149.80 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $352.00 | $352.00 |
| Leon, IA | 1 | $212.80 | $212.80 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $519.20 | $519.20 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $607.00 | $607.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $116.46 | $116.46 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $219.05 | $219.05 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $116.46 | $116.46 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $219.05 | $219.05 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $219.05 | $219.05 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $295.20 | $295.20 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $163.80 | $163.80 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $441.35 | $441.35 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $443.20 | $443.20 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $378.95 | $378.95 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $116.46 | $116.46 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $216.00 | $216.00 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $755.25 | $755.25 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $578.56 | $578.56 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What HIV viral load test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: HIV viral load test explained.
HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative) in other states
- Alabama$231.01
- Alaska$365.68
- Arizona$121.71
- Arkansas$168.64
- California$100.88
- Colorado$428.30
- Connecticut$348.00
- Delaware$643.37
- District of Columbia$692.57, 3 hospitals
- Florida$110.65
- Georgia$342.57
- Hawaii$621.20
- Idaho$379.00
- Illinois$340.00
- Indiana$354.00
- Kansas$286.30
- Kentucky$237.00
- Louisiana$176.85
- Maine$229.00
- Maryland$449.50
- Massachusetts$378.00
- Michigan$182.56
- Minnesota$114.91
- Mississippi$197.98
- Missouri$348.73
- Montana$367.57
- Nebraska$507.00
- Nevada$295.20
- New Hampshire$429.94
- New Jersey$97.87
- New Mexico$332.40
- New York$234.00
- North Carolina$232.64
- North Dakota$239.80
- Ohio$358.20
- Oklahoma$204.24
- Oregon$264.85
- Pennsylvania$495.60
- Puerto Rico$350.19
- Rhode Island$335.40
- South Carolina$440.29
- South Dakota$413.60
- Tennessee$158.55
- Texas$303.45
- Utah$348.81
- Vermont$370.32
- Virginia$299.50
- Washington$385.86
- West Virginia$252.58
- Wisconsin$387.50
- Wyoming$243.56
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.