Blood culture cost in Houston, TX
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 14 hospitals list a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $10.11 to $321.50, with a median of $321.50. The lowest listed price is at Hsa St. Joseph — $311.39 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $205.15 at 101 hospitals.
Cash prices at 14 facilities across 9 cities for code 87040, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 5, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$10.11Hsa St. Joseph
Median$321.50half pay less
Highest$321.50in this market
Difference31.8×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
median
Lowest $10.11Highest $3,006.29
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hsa St. Joseph lowest Houston, TX · (713) 757-1000 AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $10.11 | $540.14 | $5.43–$540.14 | 98% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Harris Health Houston, TX CULTURE BLOOD (PEDI, AEROBIC ONLY) | $10.32 | $219.00 | $8.67–$142.35 | 95% | — source file |
| Harris Health Houston, TX AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE; QBDL | $10.32 | $219.00 | $8.67–$142.35 | 95% | — source file |
| Harris Health Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 CULTURE BLOOD (PEDI, AEROBIC ONLY) | $10.32 | $219.00 | $8.67–$142.35 | 95% | — source file |
| Harris Health Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 CULTURE, AEROBIC/ANAEROBIC, BLOOD | $10.32 | $219.00 | $8.67–$142.35 | 95% | — source file |
| Harris Health Houston, TX CULTURE, AEROBIC/ANAEROBIC, BLOOD | $10.32 | $219.00 | $8.67–$142.35 | 95% | — source file |
| Harris Health Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE; QBDL | $10.32 | $219.00 | $8.67–$142.35 | 95% | — source file |
| Shriners Childrens Texas Galveston, TX · (409) 770-6600 BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $77.40 | $77.40 | $9.18–$19.81 | — | — source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - BLOOD ANAEROBIC | $146.73 | $219.00 | $10.32–$208.05 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - BLOOD ANAEROBIC | $146.73 | $219.00 | $10.32–$208.05 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - BLOOD ANAEROBIC | $146.73 | $219.00 | $10.32–$208.05 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - BLOOD/BONE MARROW | $226.46 | $338.00 | $10.32–$321.10 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - BLOOD/BONE MARROW | $226.46 | $338.00 | $10.32–$321.10 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - BLOOD/BONE MARROW | $226.46 | $338.00 | $10.32–$321.10 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $236.50 | $473.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $236.50 | $473.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $236.50 | $473.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $280.00 | $560.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC BRUCELLA CULTURE | $321.50 | $643.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC BLOOD CULTURE AEROBIC | $325.00 | $650.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC BLOOD CULTURE (AEROBIC & ANAEROBIC BOTTLES) | $329.00 | $658.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC BLOOD ANAEROBIC CULTURE | $337.50 | $675.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC PREPARATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTES 2 | $3,006.29 | $4,487.00 | $10.32–$4,262.65 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC PREPARATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTES 2 | $3,006.29 | $4,487.00 | $10.32–$4,262.65 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC PREPARATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTES 2 | $3,006.29 | $4,487.00 | $10.32–$4,262.65 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $10.11, median $321.50, highest $321.50 — a 31.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $321.50. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 4 of 5 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
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.