Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Detroit, MI — inpatient
In Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, 23 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid) as an inpatient: from $20.00 to $225.00, with a median of $65.65. The lowest listed price is at Surgeons Choice Medical Center — $45.65 less than the median here. Across Michigan, the median is $53.00 at 87 hospitals.
Cash prices at 23 facilities across 16 cities for code 87070, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Dec 31, 2025 and Sep 2, 2026.
Lowest$20.00Surgeons Choice Medical Center
Median$65.65half of hospitals charge less
Highest$225.00in this market
Difference11.2×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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.
median
Lowest $20.00Highest $577.50
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeons Choice Medical Center lowest Southfield, MI GENITAL CULTURE /S REF+1 more line at this price source file | $20.00 | $20.00 | $7.60–$8.45 | — |
| Henry Ford Health St John Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 343-4000 CULTURE FLUOROQ RES E. COLI source file | $22.96 | $41.00 | $7.02–$18.06 | 44% |
| Ascension River District Hospital East China Township, MI · (810) 329-7111 CULTURE FLUOROQ RES E. COLI source file | $23.03 | $41.13 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Southfield, MI · (248) 849-3000 CULTURE FLUOROQ RES E.COLI source file | $25.20 | $45.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Health Warren Hospital Warren, MI · (586) 573-5000 CULTURE FLUOROQ RES E. COLI source file | $25.20 | $45.00 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital - Novi Campus Novi, MI · (248) 849-3000 CULTURE FLUOROQ RES E.COLI source file | $25.20 | $45.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital - Novi Campus Novi, MI · (248) 849-3000 REF-BORDETELLA PARA PERTUS CUL+1 more line at this price source file | $25.76 | $46.00 | $6.28–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Southfield, MI · (248) 849-3000 REF-BORDETELLA PARA PERTUS CUL source file | $25.76 | $46.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Southfield, MI · (248) 849-3000 CF RESPIRATORY CULTURE AEROBIC+6 more lines at this price source file | $29.12 | $52.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital - Novi Campus Novi, MI · (248) 849-3000 CF RESPIRATORY CULTURE AEROBIC+8 more lines at this price source file | $29.12 | $52.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Ascension River District Hospital East China Township, MI · (810) 329-7111 CULTURE ANY OTHER SOURCE source file | $31.89 | $56.94 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Health Warren Hospital Warren, MI · (586) 573-5000 CULTURE ANY OTHER SOURCE source file | $34.72 | $62.00 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI · (810) 987-5000 Ear Culture with Gram Stain+20 more lines at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $44.55 | $89.10 | $4.72–$66.82 | 50% |
| Karmanos Cancer Center Detroit, MI · (800) 576-6266 CULTURE AEROBIC W/ISOL &+1 more line at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $49.15 | $98.30 | $4.72–$73.73 | 50% |
| McLaren Port Huron Port Huron, MI · (810) 987-5000 CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $50.18 | $100.35 | $4.72–$50.98 | 50% |
| McLaren Macomb Mount Clemens, MI · (586) 493-8000 Sputum Culture with Gram Stain+20 more lines at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $50.80 | $101.60 | $4.72–$62.74 | 50% |
| Karmanos Cancer Center Detroit, MI · (800) 576-6266 SURVEILLANCE/I.D. File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $53.00 | $106.00 | $4.72–$79.50 | 50% |
| Surgeons Choice Medical Center Southfield, MI WOUND CULTURE REF+9 more lines at this price source file | $54.00 | $54.00 | $7.60–$8.45 | — |
| Henry Ford Health St John Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 343-4000 CULTURE SPUTUM source file | $59.36 | $106.00 | $7.02–$18.06 | 44% |
| Ascension River District Hospital East China Township, MI · (810) 329-7111 CULTURE SPUTUM source file | $59.64 | $106.50 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Health St John Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 343-4000 CULTURE ANY OTHER SOURCE+1 more line at this price source file | $63.84 | $114.00 | $7.02–$18.06 | 44% |
| Ascension River District Hospital East China Township, MI · (810) 329-7111 CULTURE SPINAL source file | $64.37 | $114.94 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| McLaren Oakland Pontiac, MI · (248) 338-5000 Environmental Culture+20 more lines at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $64.95 | $129.90 | $4.72–$93.68 | 50% |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital - Novi Campus Novi, MI · (248) 849-3000 SPUTUM CULTURE AEROBIC+1 more line at this price source file | $64.96 | $116.00 | $6.28–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Health Warren Hospital Warren, MI · (586) 573-5000 CULTURE SPUTUM source file | $64.96 | $116.00 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Southfield, MI · (248) 849-3000 SPUTUM CULTURE AEROBIC source file | $64.96 | $116.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| St Mary Mercy Livonia Livonia, MI · (734) 655-4800 HC Culture Bacterial Other Source+11 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $65.65 | $101.00 | $4.71–$101.00 | 35% |
| St Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital Brighton, MI · (517) 545-6000 HC Culture CSF+11 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $65.65 | $101.00 | $4.71–$101.00 | 35% |
| St Joseph Mercy Oakland Pontiac, MI · (248) 858-3000 HC Culture Respiratory+11 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $65.65 | $101.00 | $4.71–$101.00 | 35% |
| Beaumont Hospital, Troy Troy, MI · (248) 964-8800 Hc Culture Tissue+2 more lines at this price source file | $67.00 | $67.00 | — | — |
| Beaumont Hospital - Taylor Taylor, MI · (313) 295-5000 Hc Sterility Check+2 more lines at this price source file | $67.00 | $67.00 | — | — |
| Beaumont Hospital - Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe, MI · (313) 473-1000 Hc Culture Csf+2 more lines at this price source file | $67.00 | $67.00 | — | — |
| Corewell Health Trenton Hospital Trenton, MI · (734) 671-3800 Hc Sterility Check+2 more lines at this price source file | $67.00 | $67.00 | — | — |
| Corewell Health Wayne Hospital Wayne, MI · (734) 467-4175 Hc Culture Csf+2 more lines at this price source file | $67.00 | $67.00 | — | — |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital - Novi Campus Novi, MI · (248) 849-3000 THROAT CULTURE AEROBIC+6 more lines at this price source file | $70.00 | $125.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital Southfield, MI · (248) 849-3000 AEROBIC CULTURE+6 more lines at this price source file | $70.00 | $125.00 | $5.81–$15.48 | 44% |
| Henry Ford Health Warren Hospital Warren, MI · (586) 573-5000 CULTURE SPINAL source file | $70.00 | $125.00 | $11.75–$18.06 | 44% |
| St Joseph Mercy Oakland Pontiac, MI · (248) 858-3000 HC Culture Wound File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $73.45 | $113.00 | $4.71–$113.00 | 35% |
| St Mary Mercy Livonia Livonia, MI · (734) 655-4800 HC Culture Wound File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $73.45 | $113.00 | $4.71–$113.00 | 35% |
| St Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital Brighton, MI · (517) 545-6000 HC Culture Wound File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $73.45 | $113.00 | $4.71–$113.00 | 35% |
| RIM - Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Detroit, MI CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Apr 8, 2026 · source file | $135.75 | $181.00 | — | 25% |
| Harper University Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 745-6211 CULTURE AEROBIC W/ISOL &+1 more line at this price File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $144.75 | $193.00 | $1.00–$11.75 | 25% |
| Karmanos Cancer Center Detroit, MI · (800) 576-6266 CULTURE, QUANT., FLUID File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $145.40 | $290.80 | $4.72–$218.10 | 50% |
| Beaumont Hospital - Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe, MI · (313) 473-1000 Hc Culture Aerobic source file | $156.00 | $156.00 | — | — |
| Beaumont Hospital - Taylor Taylor, MI · (313) 295-5000 Hc Culture Aerobic source file | $156.00 | $156.00 | — | — |
| Beaumont Hospital, Troy Troy, MI · (248) 964-8800 Hc Culture Aerobic source file | $156.00 | $156.00 | — | — |
| Corewell Health Wayne Hospital Wayne, MI · (734) 467-4175 Hc Culture Aerobic source file | $156.00 | $156.00 | — | — |
| Corewell Health Trenton Hospital Trenton, MI · (734) 671-3800 Hc Culture Aerobic source file | $156.00 | $156.00 | — | — |
| Karmanos Cancer Center Detroit, MI · (800) 576-6266 CULTURE,QUAN,TISS File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $156.45 | $312.90 | $4.72–$234.67 | 50% |
| VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Detroit, MI · (313) 745-5437 RESPIRAT CULTURE W/GRAM STAIN File of Apr 6, 2026 · source file | $156.75 | $209.00 | — | 25% |
| McLaren Lapeer Region Lapeer, MI · (810) 667-5500 Catheter Tip Culture+20 more lines at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $175.05 | $350.10 | $4.72–$183.45 | 50% |
| VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Detroit, MI · (313) 745-5437 CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Apr 6, 2026 · source file | $185.25 | $247.00 | — | 25% |
| Harper University Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 745-6211 CULTURE OTHER SOURCE+1 more line at this price File of Aug 20, 2026 · source file | $216.75 | $289.00 | $1.00–$11.75 | 25% |
| VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 745-2941 CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Apr 7, 2026 · source file | $225.00 | $300.00 | — | 25% |
| Harper University Hospital Detroit, MI · (313) 745-6211 CULTURE, QUANT., FLUID+1 more line at this price File of Aug 20, 2026 · source file | $577.50 | $770.00 | $1.00–$11.75 | 25% |
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.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Inpatient: lowest $20.00, median $65.65, highest $225.00 — a 11.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 30 facilities here, median $65.30 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 5 of 15 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.