Bacterial culture (wound) cost in San Jose, CA
In San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, 6 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $14.00 to $361.60, with a median of $254.80. The lowest listed price is at Good Samaritan Hospital — $240.80 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $133.00 at 193 hospitals.
Cash prices at 6 facilities across 6 cities for code 87070, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 31, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Hospital lowest Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE GASTRIC | $14.00 | $14.00 | $2.10–$14.00 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital lowest Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULT NASOPHARYNGEAL | $14.00 | $14.00 | $2.10–$14.00 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital lowest Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE CATHETER TIP | $14.00 | $14.00 | $2.10–$14.00 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital lowest Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE BRONCHIAL | $14.00 | $14.00 | $2.10–$14.00 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE RESPIRATORY | $15.00 | $15.00 | $2.25–$15.00 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE GENITAL | $15.94 | $15.94 | $2.39–$15.94 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE SURGICAL SPEC | $59.50 | $59.50 | $8.93–$59.50 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE BODY FLUID | $121.00 | $121.00 | $18.15–$121.00 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| El Camino Hospital Mountain View, CA · (650) 940-7000 HC CULTURE, BACTERIAL; ANY OTHER SOURCE EXCEPT URINE, BLOOD OR STOOL, AEROBIC, WITH ISOLATION A | $151.00 | $604.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Clara Santa Clara, CA · (408) 236-6400 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Jose San Jose, CA · (408) 972-7000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% | — source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Bone Culture | $348.00 | $696.00 | $338.19 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Respiratory Cult/Sput | $348.00 | $696.00 | $338.19 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Wound-Deep/Surg/Asp | $348.00 | $696.00 | $338.19 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Bartlett Cath Cult | $361.00 | $722.00 | $350.82 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Catheter Tip Culture | $361.00 | $722.00 | $350.82 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 Labbactps Cult Bact Any Src | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Bone Mro Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Biopsy/Tiss (Gen) Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC CSF Culture | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Fluid Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Genital Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Wound Clt | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Mac/Othr Wtr Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Bone Marrow Sterlty Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Fluid Sterility Test | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Cystic Fib Resp Cult | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Ortho Aero Cul W/Gram Stain | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanford Health Care Stanford, CA · (650) 723-4000 HC Respiratry Cultr | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Nasal Np Culture | $422.50 | $845.00 | $410.59 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Cystic Fib Resp Cult | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Ortho Aero Cul W/Gram Stain | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Bone Marrow Sterlty | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Mac/Othr Wtr | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Labbactps Cult Bact Any Src | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Wound Culture | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Genital Culture | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Fluid Culture | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Fluid Sterility Test | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC CSF Culture | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Biopsy/Tissue (Gen) | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Bone Marrow Cult | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Palo Alto, CA · (650) 497-8000 HC Respiratory Cult | $452.00 | $904.00 | $439.25 | 50% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE BONE MARROW | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE CSF | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE TISSUE | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE WOUND | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE EYE | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE ASPIRATE | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE BRONCH WASH | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULT THROAT | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE SPUTUM | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Los Gatos, CA · (408) 559-2011 CULTURE EAR | $2,030.44 | $2,030.44 | $304.57–$2,030.44 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $14.00, median $254.80, highest $361.60 — a 25.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 4 facilities here, median $254.80. 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 0 of 4 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.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 87070 ($92.00). 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.
| El Camino Hospital Mountain View, CAHC 086868 LEGIONELLA CULT* | $4.58 | file |