Blood culture cost in New Orleans, LA
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, 8 hospitals list a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $14.70 to $85.86, with a median of $32.42. The lowest listed price is at Lakeside Hospital and 2 other hospitals — $17.72 less than the median here. Across Louisiana, the median is $40.64 at 13 hospitals.
Cash prices at 8 facilities across 3 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 Jun 24, 2026 and Jul 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Hospital lowest Metairie, LA Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | $10.32–$69.92 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital lowest Metairie, LA · (504) 988-5263 Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | $10.32–$69.92 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center lowest New Orleans, LA Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | $10.32–$69.92 | 86% | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans, LA · (504) 702-3000 Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $24.20 | $110.00 | $10.32–$9.29 | 78% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans, LA · (504) 702-3000 Cult Bact Blood | $24.20 | $110.00 | $10.32–$9.29 | 78% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans, LA · (504) 702-3000 Blood Culture | $24.20 | $110.00 | $10.32–$9.29 | 78% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero, LA · (504) 347-5511 Cult Bact Blood | $40.64 | $254.00 | $10.32–$76.20 | 84% | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero, LA · (504) 347-5511 Blood Culture | $40.64 | $254.00 | $10.32–$76.20 | 84% | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero, LA · (504) 347-5511 Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $40.64 | $254.00 | $10.32–$76.20 | 84% | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans, LA · (504) 592-6600 Blood Culture | $64.48 | $403.00 | $10.32–$403.00 | 84% | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans, LA · (504) 592-6600 Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $64.48 | $403.00 | $10.32–$403.00 | 84% | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans, LA · (504) 897-8247 Blood Culture | $75.74 | $541.00 | $10.32–$8.45 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans, LA · (504) 897-8247 Cult Bact Blood | $75.74 | $541.00 | $10.32–$8.45 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans, LA · (504) 897-8247 Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $81.48 | $582.00 | $10.32–$8.45 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans, LA · (504) 899-9511 Blood Culture | $85.86 | $318.00 | $10.32–$98.58 | 73% | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans, LA · (504) 899-9511 Cult Bact Blood | $85.86 | $318.00 | $10.32–$98.58 | 73% | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans, LA · (504) 899-9511 Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $85.86 | $318.00 | $10.32–$98.58 | 73% | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA · (504) 988-5263 Cult Bact Blood | $120.68 | $862.00 | $10.32–$91.37 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie, LA Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $120.68 | $862.00 | $10.32–$91.37 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA · (504) 988-5263 Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $120.68 | $862.00 | $10.32–$91.37 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie, LA Cult Bact Blood | $120.68 | $862.00 | $10.32–$91.37 | 86% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans, LA Cult Bact Blood | $120.68 | $862.00 | $10.32–$91.37 | 86% | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans, LA Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $120.68 | $862.00 | $10.32–$91.37 | 86% | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $14.70, median $32.42, highest $85.86 — a 5.8× difference within the same market.
Cash or insurance?
At 6 of 8 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.