Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Riverside, CA
In Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, 22 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $10.00 to $503.93, with a median of $104.40. The lowest listed price is at Victor Valley Global Medical Center — $94.40 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $133.00 at 193 hospitals.
Cash prices at 22 facilities across 18 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 Feb 28, 2026 and Sep 17, 2026.
Lowest$10.00Victor Valley Global Medical Center
Median$104.40half of hospitals charge less
Highest$503.93in this market
Difference50.4×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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA.
median
Lowest $10.00Highest $1,149.75
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center lowest Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 BORDETELLA PERTUSIS CULTURE File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $10.00 | $10.00 | $2.40–$49.00 | — |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 CULTURE WOUND File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $11.00 | $11.00 | $2.64–$49.00 | — |
| Palo Verde Hospital Blythe, CA · (760) 922-4115 Aerobic Bacterial Culture LC File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $11.25 | $15.00 | — | 25% |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Qu P Culture Iso and ID Isolates+1 more line at this price source file | $11.83 | $11.83 | $6.01–$11.83 | — |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 CULTURE, THROAT source file | $13.30 | $33.25 | $14.96–$28.26 | 60% |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULT NASOPHARYNGEAL File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $14.50 | $14.50 | $2.17–$13.05 | — |
| St Mary Medical Center Apple Valley, CA · (760) 242-2311 HC CULTURE BACTERIA OTHER+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $14.54 | $30.29 | — | 52% |
| San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Banning, CA · (951) 769-2101 CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC source file | $16.11 | $80.55 | $8.19–$80.55 | 80% |
| Palo Verde Hospital Blythe, CA · (760) 922-4115 Upper Respiratory Culture LC File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $16.86 | $22.48 | — | 25% |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 CULTURE GRAM STAIN GENITAL source file | $17.60 | $44.00 | $19.80–$37.40 | 60% |
| Palo Verde Hospital Blythe, CA · (760) 922-4115 Genital Culture, Routine LC File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $20.02 | $26.70 | — | 25% |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Culture Throat+1 more line at this price source file | $21.55 | $21.55 | $6.01–$21.55 | — |
| Palo Verde Hospital Blythe, CA · (760) 922-4115 Body Fluid Culture, Sterile LC File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $25.84 | $34.45 | — | 25% |
| San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Banning, CA · (951) 769-2101 BACTERIAL CULTURE; ANY OTHER SOURCE EXCEPT URINE; BLOOD OR STOOL; AEROBIC source file | $27.41 | $137.05 | $8.19–$137.05 | 80% |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 CULTURE, AEROBIC ID source file | $31.20 | $78.00 | $35.10–$66.30 | 60% |
| St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA · (909) 883-8711 CULT EAR File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $32.64 | $98.00 | $7.41–$98.00 | 67% |
| St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA · (909) 883-8711 CULT BODY FLUID File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $32.97 | $99.00 | $7.41–$99.00 | 67% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 VG-ID METHOD MOD File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $33.00 | $33.00 | $5.28–$49.00 | — |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 CULTURE,CSF source file | $41.34 | $103.36 | $46.51–$87.86 | 60% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 CULTURE ALL SOURCES RTE AEROBIC File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $42.00 | $42.00 | $5.28–$49.00 | — |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Culture Tissue+1 more line at this price source file | $42.26 | $42.26 | $6.01–$42.26 | — |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 CULTURE, AEROBIC, & ANAEROBIC source file | $48.42 | $121.06 | $54.48–$102.90 | 60% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 LEGIONELLA CULTURE File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $49.00 | $49.00 | $5.28–$49.00 | — |
| Community Hospital of San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA · (909) 887-6333 CULT EAR File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $49.66 | $127.00 | $8.62–$127.00 | 61% |
| Community Hospital of San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA · (909) 887-6333 CULT BODY FLUID File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $51.62 | $132.00 | $8.62–$132.00 | 61% |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 THROAT CULTURE+8 more lines at this price source file | $52.00 | $130.00 | $58.50–$110.50 | 60% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 NOSE THROAT CULTURE AEROBIC File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $52.00 | $52.00 | $5.28–$52.00 | — |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 CULTURE ANY SOURCE AEROBIC File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $58.00 | $58.00 | $5.28–$58.00 | — |
| St Mary Medical Center Apple Valley, CA · (760) 242-2311 HC CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL CDM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $59.52 | $124.00 | — | 52% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 RECTAL SCREEN AEROBIC+1 more line at this price File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $75.00 | $75.00 | $5.28–$75.00 | — |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-8000 HC CULTURE THROAT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $104.40 | $232.00 | $6.98–$225.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-4000 HC CULTURE THROAT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $104.40 | $232.00 | $6.98–$225.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta Murrieta, CA · (951) 290-4000 HC CULTURE THROAT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $104.40 | $232.00 | $8.62–$174.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center Redlands, CA HC CULTURE THROAT File of Aug 31, 2026 · source file | $104.40 | $232.00 | $8.62–$185.60 | 55% |
| Bear Valley Community Hospital Big Bear Lake, CA · (909) 866-6501 CULTURE NASAL+5 more lines at this price source file | $107.10 | $153.00 | $8.19–$130.05 | 30% |
| Bear Valley Community Hospital Big Bear Lake, CA · (909) 866-6501 CULTURE CSF+8 more lines at this price source file | $110.25 | $157.50 | $8.19–$133.88 | 30% |
| Community Hospital of San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA · (909) 887-6333 CULT DIALYSIS File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $141.16 | $361.00 | $8.62–$361.00 | 61% |
| Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center Redlands, CA HC CULTURE MRSA SURVELLIANCE File of Aug 31, 2026 · source file | $149.40 | $332.00 | $8.62–$265.60 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta Murrieta, CA · (951) 290-4000 HC CULTURE MRSA SURVELLIANCE File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $149.40 | $332.00 | $8.62–$249.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-8000 HC CULTURE MRSA SURVELLIANCE File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $149.40 | $332.00 | $6.98–$282.20 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-4000 HC CULTURE MRSA SURVELLIANCE File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $149.40 | $332.00 | $6.98–$298.80 | 55% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Riverside, CA · (951) 353-2000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL source file | $150.80 | $290.00 | $7.00–$20.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Moreno Valley Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 251-6530 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL source file | $150.80 | $290.00 | $7.00–$20.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Ontario Medical Center Campus Ontario, CA · (909) 427-5000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL source file | $150.80 | $290.00 | $7.00–$20.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana Fontana, CA · (909) 427-5000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL source file | $150.80 | $290.00 | $7.00–$20.00 | 48% |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULT ENVIRON EPIDEMI File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $151.00 | $151.00 | $22.65–$135.90 | — |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta Murrieta, CA · (951) 290-4000 HC CULTURE PHARMACY COMPOUNDING File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $165.15 | $367.00 | $8.62–$275.25 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-4000 HC CULTURE PHARMACY COMPOUNDING File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $165.15 | $367.00 | $6.98–$330.30 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-8000 HC CULTURE PHARMACY COMPOUNDING File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $165.15 | $367.00 | $6.98–$311.95 | 55% |
| Community Hospital of San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA · (909) 887-6333 CULT OTHER SOURCE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $166.18 | $425.00 | $8.62–$425.00 | 61% |
| St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA · (909) 883-8711 CULT DIALYSIS File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $166.84 | $501.00 | $7.41–$425.85 | 67% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-4000 HC CULTURE WOUND+21 more lines at this price File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $175.50 | $390.00 | $6.98–$351.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center Redlands, CA HC CULTURE RESPIRATORY+21 more lines at this price File of Aug 31, 2026 · source file | $175.50 | $390.00 | $8.62–$312.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-8000 HC CULTURE SPUTUM+21 more lines at this price File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $175.50 | $390.00 | $6.98–$331.50 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta Murrieta, CA · (951) 290-4000 HC CULTURE UROGENITAL+21 more lines at this price File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $175.50 | $390.00 | $8.62–$292.50 | 55% |
| San Antonio Regional Hospital Upland, CA · (909) 985-2811 Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic File of Apr 2, 2026 · source file | $185.00 | $728.00 | $6.90–$1,337.70 | 75% |
| Hemet Global Medical Center Hemet, CA · (951) 652-2811 LAB CULT THROAT OR NOSE AEROB File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $217.00 | $217.00 | $7.51–$217.00 | — |
| Menifee Global Medical Center Menifee, CA · (951) 679-8888 LAB CULT THROAT OR NOSE AEROB File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $217.00 | $217.00 | $7.51–$217.00 | — |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 VG-FLUID CULTURE+4 more lines at this price File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $274.00 | $274.00 | $5.28–$274.00 | — |
| Hemet Global Medical Center Hemet, CA · (951) 652-2811 LAB CULT ANY OTHER SOURCE AEROB File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $292.00 | $292.00 | $7.51–$292.00 | — |
| Menifee Global Medical Center Menifee, CA · (951) 679-8888 LAB CULT ANY OTHER SOURCE AEROB File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $292.00 | $292.00 | $7.51–$292.00 | — |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 BORDETELLAPERTUSIS PARAPERTUSIS DNA PCR File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $387.00 | $387.00 | $5.28–$387.00 | — |
| Menifee Global Medical Center Menifee, CA · (951) 679-8888 LAB CULT SMEAR GENITAL File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $391.00 | $391.00 | $7.51–$391.00 | — |
| Hemet Global Medical Center Hemet, CA · (951) 652-2811 LAB CULT SMEAR GENITAL File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $391.00 | $391.00 | $7.51–$391.00 | — |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Culture Vaginal+1 more line at this price source file | $462.96 | $462.96 | $6.01–$462.96 | — |
| Barstow Community Hospital Barstow, CA · (760) 256-1761 Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic File of Sep 17, 2026 · source file | $503.93 | $839.88 | $9.88–$671.90 | 40% |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE CATHETER TIP File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $509.25 | $509.25 | $76.39–$458.32 | — |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE BODY FLUID File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $575.00 | $575.00 | $86.25–$517.50 | — |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Culture Eye+3 more lines at this price source file | $622.42 | $622.42 | $6.01–$622.42 | — |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE TISSUE File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $674.25 | $674.25 | $101.14–$606.83 | — |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Culture CSF Screen+13 more lines at this price source file | $684.66 | $684.66 | $6.01–$684.66 | — |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE ABSCESS File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $761.25 | $761.25 | $114.19–$685.13 | — |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE RESPIRATORY+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $888.00 | $888.00 | $133.20–$799.20 | — |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE WOUND File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $900.75 | $900.75 | $135.11–$810.67 | — |
| Riverside Community Hospital Riverside, CA · (951) 788-3000 CULTURE CSF File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,149.75 | $1,149.75 | $172.46–$1,034.78 | — |
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
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
Outpatient: lowest $10.00, median $104.40, highest $503.93 — a 50.4× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 17 facilities here, median $107.10. 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 12 of 20 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is 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.
22 rows held back from this comparison
They are priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 87070 ($91.03). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| Hospital | Cash price | File |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CAHC 4446 - Culture, Aerobic and Anaerobic With Gram Stain, 87070 | $2.42 | file |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CAHC Culture Throat | $4.27 | file |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CAHC Culture Nasal | $4.27 | file |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CAHC Culture Ear | $4.27 | file |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CAHC Culture Respiratory | $4.27 | file |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CAHC Culture,Any Other Source | $4.27 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CAMRSA CULTURE | $5.60 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CAEYE CULTURE | $5.60 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CAJOINT FLUID CULTURE | $5.60 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CAREFLEX BETA STREP SCREEN | $5.60 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CASTREP A CULTURE | $5.60 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CAVAGINAL CULTURE | $5.60 | file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CAHC Qu Culture Genital | $5.89 | file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CAHC Qu Culture Genital | $5.89 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CASPUTUM ID&CULTURE | $6.64 | file |
| St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CARL-A-MC HPYL 2006686A | $6.85 | file |
| Montclair Hospital Medical Center Montclair, CAHc Culture Spec, Bacteria, Not Urine,Stool,Blood | $8.00 | file |
| Chino Valley Medical Center Chino, CAHc Culture Spec, Bacteria, Not Urine,Stool,Blood | $8.00 | file |
| Desert Valley Hospital Victorville, CACULT BACTERIA OTHER | $8.00 | file |
| Community Hospital of San Bernardino San Bernardino, CARL-A-MC HPYL 2006686A | $8.05 | file |
| St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CACULT BACT | $8.66 | file |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CASPUTUM CULT LOWER RESP | $8.94 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.