Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Cincinnati, OH — inpatient
In Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 14 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid) as an inpatient: from $25.86 to $98.43, with a median of $61.80. The lowest listed price is at St Elizabeth Edgewood — $35.94 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $68.50 at 131 hospitals.
Cash prices at 14 facilities across 9 cities for code 87070, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 1, 2026.
Lowest$25.86St Elizabeth Edgewood
Median$61.80half pay less
Highest$98.43in this market
Difference3.8×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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
median
Lowest $25.86Highest $118.80
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB DIALYSIS BACTERIA WATER COUNT | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB CULTURE, EAR | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB CULTURE, EYE | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB BODY FLUID CULTURE | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB UPPER RESP CULTURE | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB CULTURE, SPINAL FL | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB SPUTUM CULTURE | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB CULTURE TIPS | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB CULTURE, GENITAL | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood lowest Edgewood, KY · (859) 301-2000 HB WOUND CULTURE | $25.86 | $25.86 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Culture Bacteria Aerobic, Aerobe, Lc | $26.00 | $65.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Oxford, OH · (513) 523-2111 HC Culture Bacterial Except Urine | $26.51 | $35.34 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bethesda North Cincinnati, OH · (513) 865-1111 HC Culture Bacterial Except Urine | $29.43 | $39.24 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC So Body Fluid Culture | $43.20 | $72.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC So Body Fluid Culture | $43.20 | $72.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC So Body Fluid Culture | $61.80 | $103.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC So Body Fluid Culture | $61.80 | $103.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC So Body Fluid Culture | $61.80 | $103.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC So Body Fluid Culture | $61.80 | $103.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Atrium Medical Center Middletown, OH · (513) 420-5102 HC CULTURE BACTERIAL AEROBIC | $62.00 | $62.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Sputum | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Genital | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Naso-Pharyngeal | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Routine | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Spinal Fluid | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Sputum | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Throat | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Tissue | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Wound | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Bronchial Washings | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Eye | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Fluid | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Genital | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Naso-Pharyngeal | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Routine | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Spinal Fluid | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Throat | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Tissue | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Culture Wound | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Bronchial Washings | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Eye | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Culture Fluid | $82.80 | $138.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC Culture, Aerobic | $91.20 | $152.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC Culture, Aerobic | $91.20 | $152.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC Culture, Aerobic | $91.20 | $152.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC Culture, Aerobic | $91.20 | $152.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC Culture, Aerobic | $91.20 | $152.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC Culture, Aerobic | $91.20 | $152.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Respiratory | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Ear | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Cult, Perianal (Staph - Strep) | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Body Fluid | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Tissue Culture | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Bacterial, Source Other Than Urine Blood | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Csf Culture | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Eye | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Cf Respiratory | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Culture, Genital | $98.43 | $193.00 | $92.64–$193.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Cult Bacterial Other Source | $118.80 | $297.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Culture Bact Any Other Source | $118.80 | $297.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $25.86, median $61.80, highest $98.43 — a 3.8× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 15 facilities here, median $43.20 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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 bacterial culture grows bacteria from a sample such as a wound, throat swab, eye or fluid to find which germ causes an infection. It takes one to three days.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test; collecting the sample may be billed separately.