Bacterial culture (wound) cost in San Francisco, CA — inpatient
In San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, 24 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid) as an inpatient: from $12.86 to $423.00, with a median of $280.40. The lowest listed price is at Sequoia Hospital — $267.54 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $133.00 at 189 hospitals.
Cash prices at 24 facilities across 17 cities for code 87070, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 23, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026.
Lowest$12.86Sequoia Hospital
Median$280.40half of hospitals charge less
Highest$423.00in this market
Difference32.9×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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.
median
Lowest $12.86Highest $586.04
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sequoia Hospital lowest Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 RL-A-MC NOC 60093 File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $12.86 | $35.31 | $15.19–$18,346.00 | 64% |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 LC-GRAM STAIN UPPER File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $28.27 | $94.24 | $65.97–$72.56 | 70% |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 LC-TISSUE AEROBIC CULTURE-CH File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $30.95 | $103.16 | $72.21–$79.43 | 70% |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 LC-GENITAL CULTURE GRAM STAI+1 more line at this price File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $32.29 | $107.62 | $75.33–$82.87 | 70% |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 LC-BODY FL AEROBIC CULTURE-CH File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $35.12 | $117.08 | $81.96–$90.15 | 70% |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 CULTGENITAL+9 more lines at this price File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $55.76 | $185.85 | $130.10–$143.10 | 70% |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 CULT BACTERIALOTHSRCEISOL ID File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $59.85 | $199.50 | $139.65–$153.62 | 70% |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 CULT EYE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $199.11 | $547.00 | $235.21–$18,346.00 | 64% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco South San Francisco, CA · (650) 742-3200 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, CA · (925) 295-4000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael San Rafael, CA · (415) 444-2000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro San Leandro, CA · (510) 454-1000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont Fremont, CA · (510) 784-4000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond Oakland, CA · (510) 752-1000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch Antioch, CA · (925) 813-6500 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco, CA · (415) 833-2646 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Richmond Campus Richmond, CA · (510) 752-1000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City Redwood City, CA · (650) 299-2000 CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $254.80 | $455.00 | $8.00–$25.00 | 44% |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG CULT WOUND+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $306.00 | $306.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG CULT WOUND+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $306.00 | $306.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG CULTURE BIOPSY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $306.00 | $306.00 | — | — |
| Eden Medical Center Castro Valley, CA · (510) 537-1234 HCHG CULT WOUND File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $306.00 | $306.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG CULTURE BIOPSY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $306.00 | $306.00 | — | — |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 CULT THROAT File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $310.50 | $853.00 | $366.79–$18,346.00 | 64% |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 CULT CSF File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $345.80 | $950.00 | $408.50–$18,346.00 | 64% |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 CULT RESPIRATORY File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $351.63 | $966.00 | $415.38–$18,346.00 | 64% |
| Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley Pleasanton, CA · (925) 847-3000 HC Cathr Tip Culture+7 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $361.60 | $904.00 | — | 60% |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 CULT EAR File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $392.76 | $1,079.00 | $463.97–$18,346.00 | 64% |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG CORE CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC+18 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Sutter Delta Medical Center Antioch, CA · (925) 779-7200 HCHG CORE CULT BODY FLUID+10 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Summit Campus-Hawthorne Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL+19 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL+18 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL+18 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Mills Health Center San Mateo, CA · (650) 696-5400 HCHG CORE CULT BODY FLUID+7 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL+18 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Burlingame, CA · (650) 696-5400 HCHG CORE CULT BODY FLUID+7 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL+19 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Eden Medical Center Castro Valley, CA · (510) 537-1234 HCHG CORE CULT NASAL+17 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Novato Community Hospital Novato, CA · (415) 209-1300 HCHG CULT OTHER SOURCE AEROBIC NOT UR/BLD/STL+10 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $423.00 | — | — |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 CULT BODY FLUID File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $586.04 | $1,610.00 | $692.30–$18,346.00 | 64% |
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 $12.86, median $280.40, highest $423.00 — a 32.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 25 facilities here, median $254.80 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 12 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.
10 rows held back from this comparison
They are priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 87070 ($87.04). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-AEROBIC BACTERIAL CULTURE | $3.47 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-UPPER RESPIRATORY CULTURE | $3.57 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-LOWER RESPIRATORY CULTURE | $3.78 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-GENITAL CULTURE ROUTINE | $4.46 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-CSF CULTURE | $5.04 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-BODY FLUID CULTURE STERILE | $5.04 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-AEROBIC CULTURE-CH | $6.06 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-AEROBIC CULTURE GRAM STAI | $7.42 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-GRAM STAIN BODY FLUID CULT | $7.42 | file |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CALC-CSF CULTURE AND GS | $7.48 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.