Blood culture cost in Columbia, SC — inpatient
In Columbia, SC, 3 hospitals list a cash price for blood culture for bacteria as an inpatient: from $182.50 to $199.50, with a median of $182.50. The lowest listed price is at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast and 1 other hospital. Across South Carolina, the median is $223.60 at 19 hospitals.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 2 cities for code 87040, 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 Columbia, SC.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast lowest Columbia, SC HB AEROBIC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $182.50 | $365.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown lowest Columbia, SC · (803) 256-5300 HB AEROBIC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $182.50 | $365.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kershaw Medical Center Camden, SC · (803) 432-4311 HB AEROBIC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $199.50 | $399.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $182.50, median $182.50, highest $199.50 — a 1.1× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $182.50 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
What it is
A blood culture checks for bacteria or yeast in the blood. It is ordered for fever with signs of a serious infection, such as sepsis.
What the price covers
The price is usually for one culture set. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.