Blood culture cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 81 hospitals publish a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $13.95 to $335.00, with a median of $91.80. The lowest price is at Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa (Corning). The highest price is 24.0× the lowest.
- The median here, $91.80, is 21% below the US median of $115.50.
- That is 8.9× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($10.32).
- Iowa ranks 20th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 8 of 81 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 87040. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$13.95Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa
Median$91.80half of hospitals charge less
Highest$335.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$77.85vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa lowest Corning · Corning, IA HC RHC CULTURE BLOOD | $13.95 | $31.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Bacterial blood culture | $15.00 | $15.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC RHC CULTURE BLOOD | $15.50 | $31.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada · Ames, IA CHG BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $27.20 | $34.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA Culture Blood | $27.30 | $91.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $38.58 | $48.22 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $38.58 | $48.22 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $43.80 | $54.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Loring Hospital Sac City · Sac City, IA HC AEROB BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $46.14 | $57.68 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Hawarden Regional Healthcare Harwarden · Harwarden, IA CULTURE-BLOOD | $53.55 | $63.00 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Blood Culture For Bacteria | $54.00 | $54.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Bacterial blood culture | $56.00 | $70.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Adair County Memorial Hospital Greenfield · Greenfield, IA Bacterial blood culture | $56.25 | $75.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Culture Blood | $60.45 | $93.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Culture Blood | $60.45 | $93.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA CULT BLOOD ROUTINE M/L/P/R/W/E/O/J/S1/L1/PL/G1 | $61.04 | $109.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA CULTURE, BACTERIAL; BLOOD, LEGIONELLA | $70.09 | $118.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Knoxville · Pella, IA Bacterial blood culture | $72.00 | $120.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Regional Medical Center Manchester · Manchester, IA BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $72.00 | $90.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Bacterial blood culture | $74.25 | $99.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Bacterial blood culture | $74.56 | $186.40 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA CULT BLOOD ROUTINE M/L/P/R/W/E/O/J/S1/L1/PL/G1 | $77.00 | $97.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Bacterial blood culture | $77.34 | $96.67 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Audubon County Memorial Hospital Audubon · Audubon, IA Bacterial blood culture | $80.00 | $80.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Bacterial blood culture | $81.74 | $122.00 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Bacterial blood culture | $81.90 | $117.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia Waukon · Waukon, IA Bacterial blood culture | $82.08 | $144.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS CTRX-TRANS CULT | $82.20 | $137.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Van Diest Medical Center Webster City · Webster City, IA CULTURE BLOOD | $85.60 | $107.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Bacterial blood culture | $85.80 | $165.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Bacterial blood culture | $88.20 | $126.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Palo Alto County Hospital Emmetsburg · Emmetsburg, IA Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (includes anaerobic culture, if appropriate) | $91.50 | $122.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS CTRX-TRANS CULT | $91.80 | $153.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Bacterial blood culture | $92.80 | $160.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Bacterial blood culture | $99.00 | $165.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Bacterial blood culture | $100.75 | $155.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA GHS CULTURE, BLOOD | $103.80 | $173.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Hospital Albia · Albia, IA Bacterial blood culture | $114.00 | $190.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Culture Blood | $118.95 | $183.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville · Dubuque, IA HC Culture Blood | $118.95 | $183.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Culture Blood | $118.95 | $183.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Culture Blood | $118.95 | $183.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC Culture Blood | $118.95 | $183.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $119.20 | $149.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA CULT BLOOD W/ARD | $121.00 | $186.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Bacterial blood culture | $122.25 | $163.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Keokuk County Health Center Sigourney · Sigourney, IA BLOOD CULTURE (SO) | $123.90 | $177.00 | Mar 16, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Bacterial blood culture | $124.00 | $155.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Bacterial blood culture | $126.60 | $211.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Bacterial blood culture | $126.60 | $211.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Bacterial blood culture | $129.00 | $129.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Bacterial blood culture | $132.00 | $176.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Van Buren County Hospital Keosauqua · Keosauqua, IA Bacterial blood culture | $136.50 | $195.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Culture Blood | $139.10 | $214.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $139.65 | $147.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Bacterial blood culture | $146.40 | $183.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $149.38 | $154.00 | — source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $149.38 | $154.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Culture Blood | $158.60 | $244.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Franklin General Hospital Hampton · Hampton, IA Bacterial blood culture | $162.90 | $181.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $164.90 | $170.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB CULTURE, BLOOD | $167.30 | $239.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB CULTURE, BLOOD | $167.30 | $239.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital Spencer · Spencer, IA Culture Blood | $168.00 | $224.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Bacterial blood culture | $180.25 | $180.25 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Culture Blood | $183.00 | $183.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC CULTURE BLOOD | $184.47 | $429.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA BLOOD CULTURE 15-DAY HOLD | $190.00 | $190.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| Decatur County Hospital Leon · Leon, IA Bacterial blood culture | $209.60 | $262.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Culture Blood | $217.75 | $335.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Culture Blood | $217.75 | $335.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Bacterial blood culture | $232.00 | $290.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Culture Blood | $335.00 | $335.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 7 | $43.80 | $121.00 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 4 | $43.80 | $60.45 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $43.80 | $82.20 |
| Dubuque, IA | 3 | $43.80 | $118.95 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $122.25 | $167.30 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $15.50 | $27.30 |
| Ames, IA | 2 | $27.20 | $52.27 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $15.00 | $48.37 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $103.80 | $131.20 |
| Albia, IA | 1 | $114.00 | $114.00 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $146.40 | $146.40 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $81.90 | $81.90 |
| Audubon, IA | 1 | $80.00 | $80.00 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $126.60 | $126.60 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $132.00 | $132.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $38.58 | $38.58 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $183.00 | $183.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $74.56 | $74.56 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $74.25 | $74.25 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $126.60 | $126.60 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $13.95 | $13.95 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $38.58 | $38.58 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $88.20 | $88.20 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $124.00 | $124.00 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $118.95 | $118.95 |
| Emmetsburg, IA | 1 | $91.50 | $91.50 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $149.38 | $149.38 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $99.00 | $99.00 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $43.80 | $43.80 |
| Greenfield, IA | 1 | $56.25 | $56.25 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $43.80 | $43.80 |
| Hampton, IA | 1 | $162.90 | $162.90 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $92.80 | $92.80 |
| Harwarden, IA | 1 | $53.55 | $53.55 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $180.25 | $180.25 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $61.04 | $61.04 |
| Keosauqua, IA | 1 | $136.50 | $136.50 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $77.00 | $77.00 |
| Leon, IA | 1 | $209.60 | $209.60 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $72.00 | $72.00 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $190.00 | $190.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $43.80 | $43.80 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $139.10 | $139.10 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $43.80 | $43.80 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $118.95 | $118.95 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $118.95 | $118.95 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $56.00 | $56.00 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $72.00 | $72.00 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $149.38 | $149.38 |
| Sac City, IA | 1 | $46.14 | $46.14 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $119.20 | $119.20 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $100.75 | $100.75 |
| Sigourney, IA | 1 | $123.90 | $123.90 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $164.90 | $164.90 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $43.80 | $43.80 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $168.00 | $168.00 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $139.65 | $139.65 |
| Waukon, IA | 1 | $82.08 | $82.08 |
| Webster City, IA | 1 | $85.60 | $85.60 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $70.09 | $70.09 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What blood culture is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Blood culture explained.
Blood culture for bacteria in other states
- Alabama$81.98
- Alaska$209.15
- Arizona$126.65
- Arkansas$49.26
- California$272.16
- Colorado$209.10
- Connecticut$67.61
- Delaware$188.16
- District of Columbia$95.80, 3 hospitals
- Florida$341.00
- Georgia$150.76
- Hawaii$100.10
- Idaho$113.25
- Illinois$144.59
- Indiana$130.50
- Kansas$78.30
- Kentucky$112.10
- Louisiana$45.00
- Maine$83.73
- Maryland$109.77
- Massachusetts$79.00
- Michigan$63.00
- Minnesota$116.44
- Mississippi$89.20
- Missouri$111.24
- Montana$151.46
- Nebraska$186.89
- Nevada$236.30
- New Hampshire$140.45
- New Jersey$55.27
- New Mexico$131.08
- New York$62.83
- North Carolina$152.11
- North Dakota$85.00
- Ohio$93.60
- Oklahoma$73.78
- Oregon$110.16
- Pennsylvania$84.80
- Puerto Rico$44.42
- Rhode Island$82.80
- South Carolina$153.60
- South Dakota$164.00
- Tennessee$54.23
- Texas$204.31
- Utah$282.52
- Vermont$136.00
- Virginia$103.50
- Washington$149.05
- West Virginia$74.19
- Wisconsin$85.80
- Wyoming$110.78
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.