Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Charlotte, NC
In Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, 17 hospitals list a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $28.50 to $267.50, with a median of $170.65. The lowest listed price is at Piedmont Medical Center and 1 other hospital — $142.15 less than the median here. Across North Carolina, the median is $71.80 at 54 hospitals.
Cash prices at 17 facilities across 14 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 Dec 1, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$28.50Piedmont Medical Center + 1 more
Median$170.65half of hospitals charge less
Highest$267.50in this market
Difference9.4×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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC.
median
Lowest $28.50Highest $492.75
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Medical Center lowest Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/10 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $28.50 | $38.00 | $1.00–$155.28 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center lowest Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/10 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $28.50 | $38.00 | $1.00–$155.28 | 25% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Quant. Brush Culture File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $29.98 | $111.05 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Tip Culture File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $31.86 | $118.00 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/7 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $41.25 | $55.00 | $1.00–$155.28 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/7 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $41.25 | $55.00 | $1.00–$155.28 | 25% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Group B Strep Culture File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $44.28 | $164.00 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Brushings Culture File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $52.92 | $196.00 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Quantitative BAL/Bronch Wash Culture+2 more lines at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $71.01 | $263.00 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Culture - Sputum+1 more line at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $76.68 | $284.00 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville, NC · (704) 878-5661 Culture - Genital.+3 more lines at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $82.35 | $305.00 | $9.17–$38.00 | 73% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/3 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $85.50 | $114.00 | $1.00–$155.28 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/3 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $85.50 | $114.00 | $1.00–$155.28 | 25% |
| MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center Chester, SC · (803) 581-3151 HB CULTURE BACTERIAL (ROUTINE) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $102.00 | $204.00 | — | 50% |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 Cult Aerobic Cath Tip Presumpt ID+2 more lines at this price source file | $121.23 | $449.00 | $39.42–$291.85 | 73% |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 HC CULT AEROBIC RESP PRESUMPT ID+2 more lines at this price source file | $143.10 | $530.00 | $45.00–$344.50 | 73% |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord, NC · (704) 783-3000 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$324.24 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton, NC · (980) 212-2000 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$324.24 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro, NC · (704) 694-5131 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 1, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$324.24 | 50% |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte, NC · (704) 548-6000 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 5, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$331.06 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte, NC · (704) 379-5000 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 5, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$314.00 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe, NC · (704) 283-3100 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 4, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$324.24 | 50% |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte, NC HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE File of Dec 4, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$314.00 | 50% |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte, NC · (704) 355-2000 HC CULTURE OTHER SOURCE+1 more line at this price File of Dec 5, 2025 · source file | $170.65 | $341.30 | $8.79–$307.17 | 50% |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 Cult Aerobic CSF Presumpt ID+2 more lines at this price source file | $177.93 | $659.00 | $45.00–$428.35 | 73% |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 HC CULT AEROBIC OTHER PRESUMPT ID+2 more lines at this price source file | $189.00 | $700.00 | $45.00–$455.00 | 73% |
| MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center Chester, SC · (803) 581-3151 HB CULTURE BTA+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $197.50 | $395.00 | — | 50% |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG CULTURE BODY FLUID File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $200.00 | $200.00 | $5.17–$190.00 | — |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG CULTURE BODY FLUID File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $200.00 | $200.00 | $5.17–$190.00 | — |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont, NC · (704) 834-4891 CHG CULTURE BODY FLUID File of May 11, 2026 · source file | $200.00 | $200.00 | $5.17–$190.00 | — |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 Cult Aerobic Tissue Presumpt ID+2 more lines at this price source file | $211.41 | $783.00 | $45.00–$508.95 | 73% |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville, NC · (704) 660-4000 HC CULT AEROBIC BODY FLD PRESUMPT ID+2 more lines at this price source file | $218.97 | $811.00 | $45.00–$527.15 | 73% |
| MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC · (803) 286-1481 HB CULTURE BTA+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $267.50 | $535.00 | — | 50% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/13+1 more line at this price File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $269.25 | $359.00 | $1.00–$359.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/13+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $269.25 | $359.00 | $1.00–$359.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/11 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $272.25 | $363.00 | $1.00–$363.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/11 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $272.25 | $363.00 | $1.00–$363.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $291.00 | $388.00 | $1.00–$388.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $291.00 | $388.00 | $1.00–$388.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/22+2 more lines at this price File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $300.75 | $401.00 | $1.00–$401.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/15+2 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $300.75 | $401.00 | $1.00–$401.00 | 25% |
| MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC · (803) 286-1481 HB CULTURE BHS File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $356.50 | $713.00 | — | 50% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/5 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $398.25 | $531.00 | $1.00–$531.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/5 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $398.25 | $531.00 | $1.00–$531.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/25+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $401.25 | $535.00 | $1.00–$535.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/25+1 more line at this price File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $401.25 | $535.00 | $1.00–$535.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/8 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $564.00 | $1.00–$564.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/8 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $423.00 | $564.00 | $1.00–$564.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/20 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $453.00 | $604.00 | $1.00–$604.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/20 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $453.00 | $604.00 | $1.00–$604.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/6 File of Apr 15, 2026 · source file | $492.75 | $657.00 | $1.00–$657.00 | 25% |
| Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC · (803) 329-1234 CULTURE BACT OTH SOURCE/6 File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $492.75 | $657.00 | $1.00–$657.00 | 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
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 $28.50, median $170.65, highest $267.50 — a 9.4× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 16 facilities here, median $170.65. 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 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 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.