HIV viral load test cost in Kentucky
In Kentucky, 75 hospitals publish a cash price for HIV viral load test (HIV-1 RNA, quantitative): from $46.40 to $3,415.00, with a median of $237.00. The lowest price is at Norton Audubon Hospital (Louisville) and 5 other hospitals. The highest price is 73.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $237.00, is 14% below the US median of $276.38.
- That is 2.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($85.10).
- Kentucky ranks 16th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 75 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 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$46.40Norton Audubon Hospital + 5 more
Median$237.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$3,415.00in Kentucky
Lowest saves$190.60vs the median
Hospitals in Kentucky, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norton Audubon Hospital lowest Louisville · Louisville, KY HB H 1 RNA PCR QUANTITATIVE | $46.40 | $232.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Brownsboro Hospital lowest Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB H 1 RNA PCR QUANTITATIVE | $46.40 | $232.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Children's Hospital lowest Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB H 1 RNA PCR QUANTITATIVE | $46.40 | $232.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Hospital lowest Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB H 1 RNA PCR QUANTITATIVE | $46.40 | $232.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton West Louisville Hospital lowest Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB H 1 RNA PCR QUANTITATIVE | $46.40 | $232.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Women's and Kosair Children's Hospital lowest Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB H 1 RNA PCR QUANTITATIVE | $46.40 | $232.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| Ohio County Hospital Hartford · Hartford, KY REF HIV-1 by Quant NAAT Plasma | $61.00 | $122.00 | Jan 12, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Stuart Medical Center Hopkinsville · Clarksville, TN-KY HC HIV 1 RNA BY PCR QUANT REF | $105.66 | $340.83 | Feb 12, 2026 source file |
| University of Kentucky Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Hc 164 Hiv-1 Qnt Pcr-So+ | $122.41 | $306.02 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Arh Our Lady of the Way one side Martin · Pikeville, KY HIV RNA RT-PCR (NON-GRAPH) | $127.80 | $213.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Harlan Arh Hospital one side Harlan · Harlan, KY HIV RNA RT-PCR (NON-GRAPH) | $127.80 | $213.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Hazard Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center one side Hazard · Hazard, KY HIV RNA RT-PCR (NON-GRAPH) | $127.80 | $213.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Arh Regional Medical Center one side Prestonsburg · Pikeville, KY HIV RNA RT-PCR (NON-GRAPH) | $127.80 | $213.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Knox County Hospital one side Barbourville · Corbin, KY HIV RNA RT-PCR (NON-GRAPH) | $127.80 | $213.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Middlesboro Arh Hospital one side Middlesboro · Middlesborough, KY HIV RNA RT-PCR (NON-GRAPH) | $127.80 | $213.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Medical Center Tompkinsville · Tompkinsville, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $141.27 | $170.20 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| University of Louisville Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SO HIV 1 DNA QUANT | $141.84 | $591.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Harrison Memorial Hospital Cynthiana · Cynthiana, KY DETECTION TEST BY NUCLEIC ACID FOR HIV-1 VIRUS; QUANTIFICATION | $151.20 | $216.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Albany Albany · Albany, KY HIV 1 BY NAAT | $153.60 | $256.00 | Jul 1, 2024 source file |
| The Medical Center at Bowling Green Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY HIV 1 BY NAAT | $153.60 | $256.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Caverna Horse Cave · Horse Cave, KY HIV 1 BY NAAT | $153.60 | $256.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Russellville Russellville · Russellville, KY HIV 1 BY NAAT | $153.60 | $256.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Scottsville Scottsville · Bowling Green, KY HIV 1 BY NAAT | $153.60 | $256.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Mt. Sterling · Mount Sterling, KY HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $155.99 | $413.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| McDowell Arh Hospital MC Dowell · Pikeville, KY HIV RNA QUANT | $163.80 | $273.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Tug Valley Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center South Williamson · Pikeville, KY HIV RNA QUANT | $163.80 | $273.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Whitesburg Arh Hospital Whitesburg · Whitesburg, KY HIV RNA QUANT | $163.80 | $273.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services one side Salem · Paducah, KY-IL RNA, RT PCR (Non-Graph) LC | $168.90 | $281.50 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Fleming County Hospital Flemingsburg · Flemingsburg, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $173.37 | $433.43 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph London London · Corbin, KY HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $173.70 | $495.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Berea Nf Berea · Richmond-Berea, KY HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $181.69 | $375.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph East Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $186.02 | $443.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville Madisonville · Madisonville, KY HC HIV 1 RNA BY PCR QUANT REF | $187.24 | $1,440.28 | Feb 3, 2026 source file |
| Continuing Care Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC LAB HIV-1 RNA | $196.43 | $443.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital Irvine · Richmond-Berea, KY HC So Hiv-1, Quantification | $196.80 | $328.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $210.38 | $443.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health -Shelbyville Shelbyville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SO HIV 1 DNA QUANT | $224.58 | $591.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL HC Iadna Hiv-1 Quant & Reverse Transcription | $237.00 | $395.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Nicholasville · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $237.63 | $443.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Bourbon Community Hospital Paris · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $249.74 | $624.34 | Jul 11, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Flaget Memorial Hospital Bardstown · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HC Lab Hiv-1 Rna | $251.09 | $595.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood Edgewood · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HB HIV-1 RNA/DNA QNT - REF LAB | $255.30 | $255.30 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health - Jewish Hospital and Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HIV-1 DNA QUANT | $256.50 | $570.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health-Louisville – South Hospital Shepherdville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HIV-1 DNA QUANT | $256.50 | $570.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Clark Regional Medical Center Winchester · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $266.33 | $665.82 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Union County Hospital Morganfield · Morganfield, KY HC VIRAL LOAD HIV | $281.06 | $598.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN SO HIV 1 DNA QUANT | $298.08 | $828.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| St Claire Medical Center Morehead · Morehead, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $309.75 | $413.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Bluegrass Community Hospital Versailles · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $313.47 | $783.68 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Monticello · Monticello, KY HIV RNA BY PCA QUAN | $321.04 | $493.90 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Pineville Community Health Center Pineville · Middlesborough, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $340.40 | $340.40 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Carroll County Memorial Hospital Carrollton · Carrollton, KY HIV VIRAL LOAD | $365.40 | $609.00 | Aug 17, 2026 source file |
| King's Daughters' Medical Center Ashland · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HCHG HIV BY PCR (ARUP) | $381.84 | $954.60 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Breckinridge Memorial Hospital Hardinsburg · Hardinsburg, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $424.50 | $849.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Meadowview Regional Medical Center Maysville · Maysville, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $486.87 | $1,217.18 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Jackson Purchase Medical Center Mayfield · Mayfield, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $488.66 | $1,221.66 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Spring View Hospital Lebanon · Lebanon, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $489.24 | $1,223.10 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Murray-Calloway County Public Hospital Murray · Murray, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $512.20 | $788.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| Cumberland County Hospital Burkesville · Burkesville, KY HIV 1 RNA QNT PCR | $604.88 | $806.50 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| T J Samson Community Hospital Glasgow · Glasgow, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $644.15 | $991.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Tj Health Columbia Columbia · Columbia, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $644.15 | $991.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Georgetown Community Hospital Georgetown · Lexington-Fayette, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $655.21 | $1,638.03 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Manchester Manchester · Corbin, KY HC HIV 1 RNA QUANT PCR - QDID | $690.96 | $690.96 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Paintsville Arh Hospital Paintsville · Paintsville, KY HIV RNA PCR (NNGRPH) RFX/GENO | $703.80 | $1,173.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Three Rivers Medical Center Louisa · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $727.80 | $1,213.00 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Corbin Corbin · Corbin, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Hardin Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health LaGrange La Grange · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Lexington Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Louisville Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Paducah Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Richmond Richmond · Richmond-Berea, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,070.93 | $1,427.90 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Kentucky River Medical Center Jackson · Jackson, KY Detection test by nucleic acid for HIV-1 virus, quantification | $1,169.05 | $1,948.42 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Frankfort Regional Medical Center Frankfort · Frankfort, KY Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); HIV-1, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $1,521.06 | $1,521.06 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY HIV 1 RNA QN | $3,415.00 | $3,415.00 | Sep 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 13 | $46.40 | $224.58 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 10 | $122.41 | $243.68 |
| Corbin, KY | 4 | $127.80 | $432.33 |
| Pikeville, KY | 4 | $127.80 | $145.80 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 3 | $153.60 | $153.60 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 3 | $168.90 | $237.00 |
| Richmond-Berea, KY | 3 | $181.69 | $196.80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 2 | $381.84 | $554.82 |
| Middlesborough, KY | 2 | $127.80 | $234.10 |
| Albany, KY | 1 | $153.60 | $153.60 |
| Burkesville, KY | 1 | $604.88 | $604.88 |
| Carrollton, KY | 1 | $365.40 | $365.40 |
| Columbia, KY | 1 | $644.15 | $644.15 |
| Cynthiana, KY | 1 | $151.20 | $151.20 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1 | $255.30 | $255.30 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 1 | $105.66 | $105.66 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 1 | $1,070.93 | $1,070.93 |
| Flemingsburg, KY | 1 | $173.37 | $173.37 |
| Frankfort, KY | 1 | $1,521.06 | $1,521.06 |
| Glasgow, KY | 1 | $644.15 | $644.15 |
| Hardinsburg, KY | 1 | $424.50 | $424.50 |
| Harlan, KY | 1 | $127.80 | $127.80 |
| Hartford, KY | 1 | $61.00 | $61.00 |
| Hazard, KY | 1 | $127.80 | $127.80 |
| Horse Cave, KY | 1 | $153.60 | $153.60 |
| Jackson, KY | 1 | $1,169.05 | $1,169.05 |
| Lebanon, KY | 1 | $489.24 | $489.24 |
| Louisville, KY | 1 | $46.40 | $46.40 |
| Maysville, KY | 1 | $486.87 | $486.87 |
| Monticello, KY | 1 | $321.04 | $321.04 |
| Morehead, KY | 1 | $309.75 | $309.75 |
| Morganfield, KY | 1 | $281.06 | $281.06 |
| Madisonville, KY | 1 | $187.24 | $187.24 |
| Mayfield, KY | 1 | $488.66 | $488.66 |
| Mount Sterling, KY | 1 | $155.99 | $155.99 |
| Murray, KY | 1 | $512.20 | $512.20 |
| Paintsville, KY | 1 | $703.80 | $703.80 |
| Russellville, KY | 1 | $153.60 | $153.60 |
| Tompkinsville, KY | 1 | $141.27 | $141.27 |
| Whitesburg, KY | 1 | $163.80 | $163.80 |
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
- Iowa$272.70
- Kansas$286.30
- 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.