Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Cleveland, OH
In Cleveland, OH, 25 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $26.60 to $171.50, with a median of $126.00. The lowest listed price is at Metrohealth System — $99.40 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $68.50 at 131 hospitals.
Cash prices at 25 facilities across 20 cities for code 87070, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Sep 8, 2026.
Lowest$26.60Metrohealth System
Median$126.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$171.50in this market
Difference6.4×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 Cleveland, OH.
median
Lowest $26.60Highest $172.80
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metrohealth System lowest Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Hc Sterility Cult+2 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $26.60 | $76.00 | — | 65% |
| Lodi Community Hospital Lodi, OH · (330) 948-1222 CULTURE, BACTERIAL, AEROBIC+2 more lines at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $16.69–$59.00 | 35% |
| Euclid Hospital Euclid, OH · (216) 531-9000 CULTURE, BACTERIAL, AEROBIC+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$34.65 | 35% |
| Lutheran Hospital Cleveland, OH · (216) 696-4300 CULTURE, BACTERIAL, AEROBIC+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$34.65 | 35% |
| Fairview Hospital Cleveland, OH · (216) 476-7000 CULTURE, BACTERIAL, AEROBIC+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$59.00 | 35% |
| Hillcrest Hospital Mayfield Heights, OH · (440) 312-4500 %IOHWC CULTURE+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $8.62–$59.00 | 35% |
| Marymount Hospital Garfield Heights, OH · (216) 587-8210 %IOHWC CULTURE+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$59.00 | 35% |
| The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH · (216) 952-9829 TRFX MED MISC SCRN+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $4.26–$59.00 | 35% |
| Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital Avon, OH · (440) 695-5000 CULTURE, BACTERIAL, AEROBIC+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$34.65 | 35% |
| South Pointe Hospital Warrensville Heights, OH · (216) 491-6523 %IOHWC CULTURE+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$59.00 | 35% |
| Medina Hospital Medina, OH · (330) 725-1000 %IOHWC CULTURE+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $38.35 | $59.00 | $0.95–$32.18 | 35% |
| Metrohealth System Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Hc Culture Tissue Pyogens+11 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $40.95 | $117.00 | — | 65% |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 BODY FLUID CULTURE+5 more lines at this price File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $103.50 | $138.00 | $3.71–$138.00 | 25% |
| UH St John Medical Center Westlake, OH · (440) 835-8000 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $8.62–$151.20 | 25% |
| Lake West Hospital Willoughby, OH · (440) 953-9600 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $4.91–$151.20 | 25% |
| University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 593-5511 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $8.62–$151.20 | 25% |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center Conneaut, OH · (440) 593-1131 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $9.54–$158.76 | 25% |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH · (216) 844-1000 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4+1 more line at this price File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $8.62–$151.20 | 25% |
| University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center Elyria, OH · (440) 329-7500 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $8.62–$151.20 | 25% |
| UH Regional Hospitals Chardon, OH · (440) 285-6246 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $8.62–$151.20 | 25% |
| University Hospitals Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 545-4800 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $4.07–$151.20 | 25% |
| Uhhs Memorial Hospital of Geneva Geneva, OH · (440) 415-0151 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $9.54–$151.20 | 25% |
| Parma Community General Hospital Parma, OH · (440) 743-3000 HC AEROBIC CULTURE - SYNOVASURE COMP PJI PANEL - CD LABS - 1 OF 4 File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $126.00 | $168.00 | $8.62–$151.20 | 25% |
| University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center Elyria, OH · (440) 329-7500 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $8.62–$156.60 | 25% |
| Lake West Hospital Willoughby, OH · (440) 953-9600 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $4.91–$156.60 | 25% |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH · (216) 844-1000 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE+1 more line at this price File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $8.62–$156.60 | 25% |
| Parma Community General Hospital Parma, OH · (440) 743-3000 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $8.62–$156.60 | 25% |
| UH St John Medical Center Westlake, OH · (440) 835-8000 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $8.62–$156.60 | 25% |
| UH Regional Hospitals Chardon, OH · (440) 285-6246 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $8.62–$156.60 | 25% |
| University Hospitals Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 545-4800 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $4.07–$156.60 | 25% |
| University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 593-5511 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $130.50 | $174.00 | $8.62–$156.60 | 25% |
| Mercy Health Allen Hospital Oberlin, OH · (440) 334-7039 HC Culture, Aerobic source file | $132.00 | $220.00 | — | 40% |
| Mercy Health Regional Medical Center Lorain, OH · (440) 960-4000 HC Culture, Aerobic source file | $133.80 | $223.00 | — | 40% |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center Conneaut, OH · (440) 593-1131 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $151.50 | $202.00 | $9.54–$190.89 | 25% |
| Uhhs Memorial Hospital of Geneva Geneva, OH · (440) 415-0151 HC AEROBIC CULTURE, OTHER SOURCE File of Jul 14, 2026 · source file | $151.50 | $202.00 | $9.54–$181.80 | 25% |
| Mercy Health Regional Medical Center Lorain, OH · (440) 960-4000 HC So Body Fluid Culture source file | $168.00 | $280.00 | — | 40% |
| Ashtabula County Medical Center Ashtabula, OH · (440) 997-2262 %IOHWC CULTURE+1 more line at this price File of Sep 8, 2026 · source file | $171.50 | $245.00 | $1.52–$230.30 | 30% |
| Mercy Health Allen Hospital Oberlin, OH · (440) 334-7039 HC So Body Fluid Culture source file | $172.80 | $288.00 | — | 40% |
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
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
Outpatient: lowest $26.60, median $126.00, highest $171.50 — a 6.4× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 25 facilities here, median $126.00. 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 14 of 22 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 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.