Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Sacramento, CA — inpatient
In Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, 13 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid) as an inpatient: from $9.68 to $423.00, with a median of $254.80. The lowest listed price is at Woodland Memorial Hospital and 1 other hospital — $245.12 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $133.00 at 193 hospitals.
Cash prices at 13 facilities across 7 cities for code 87070, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026.
Lowest$9.68Woodland Memorial Hospital + 1 more
Median$254.80half pay less
Highest$423.00in this market
Difference43.7×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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA.
median
Lowest $9.68Highest $423.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland Memorial Hospital lowest Woodland, CA · (530) 662-3961 RL-A-MC NOC 60093 | $9.68 | $35.31 | $3.89–$32.49 | 73% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Mercy San Juan Medical Center lowest Carmichael, CA · (916) 537-5000 RL-A-MC NOC 60093 | $9.68 | $35.31 | $3.89–$29.31 | 73% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Hospital of Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 423-6010 RL-A-MC NOC 60093 | $10.17 | $35.31 | $26.49–$29.31 | 71% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital of Folsom Folsom, CA · (916) 983-7400 RL-A-MC NOC 60093 | $13.74 | $35.31 | $3.89–$28.96 | 61% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Mercy General Hospital Sacramento, CA · (916) 453-4453 CULT UROGENITAL | $84.81 | $389.00 | $280.08–$311.20 | 78% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Woodland Memorial Hospital Woodland, CA · (530) 662-3961 CULT UROGENITAL | $106.59 | $389.00 | $42.79–$357.88 | 73% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Mercy San Juan Medical Center Carmichael, CA · (916) 537-5000 CULT UROGENITAL | $106.59 | $389.00 | $42.79–$322.87 | 73% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Hospital of Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 423-6010 CULT UROGENITAL | $112.04 | $389.00 | $291.75–$322.87 | 71% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital of Folsom Folsom, CA · (916) 983-7400 CULT UROGENITAL | $151.33 | $389.00 | $42.79–$318.98 | 61% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 688-2000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 973-5000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Roseville Roseville, CA · (916) 784-4000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULTURE SPEC BACTERIA | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULTURE CATHETER TIP | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULTURE EAR | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULTURE EYE | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT FLUID | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT CSF | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT GENITAL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT WOUND AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CULTURE BACTERIA OTHER | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC NOT UR/BLD/STL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA · (530) 757-5108 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA · (530) 757-5108 HCHG CORE CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA · (530) 757-5108 HCHG CORE CULT FLUID | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA · (530) 757-5108 HCHG CULTURE BACTERIA OTHER | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA · (530) 757-5108 HCHG CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC NOT UR/BLD/STL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Davis Hospital Davis, CA · (530) 757-5108 HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CORE CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CORE CULTURE CATHETER TIP | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CORE CULT FLUID | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CORE CULT CSF | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CORE CULT WOUND AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CULTURE BACTERIA OTHER | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC NOT UR/BLD/STL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Sacramento, CA · (916) 454-2222 HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CORE CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CORE CULT FLUID | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CORE CULT WOUND AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CULTURE BACTERIA OTHER | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC NOT UR/BLD/STL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Center For Psychiatry Sacramento, CA · (916) 386-3000 HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULTURE CATHETER TIP | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULTURE EAR | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULTURE EYE | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULT FLUID | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CORE CULT CSF | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CULTURE BACTERIA OTHER | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC NOT UR/BLD/STL | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Auburn, CA · (530) 888-4500 HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, CA · (916) 781-1000 HCHG CORE CULT BODY FLUID | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $9.68, median $254.80, highest $423.00 — a 43.7× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $254.80 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 5 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 2 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.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 87070 ($91.20). 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.
| Mercy General Hospital Sacramento, CARL-A-MC NOC 60093 | $7.70 | file |