Blood culture cost in Louisiana
In Louisiana, 61 hospitals publish a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $12.07 to $305.25, with a median of $45.00. The lowest price is at Sterling Surgical Hospital (Slidell). The highest price is 25.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $45.00, is 61% below the US median of $115.50.
- That is 4.4× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($10.32).
- Louisiana ranks 2nd of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 6 of 61 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 10, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$12.07Sterling Surgical Hospital
Median$45.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$305.25in Louisiana
Lowest saves$32.93vs the median
Hospitals in Louisiana, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Surgical Hospital lowest Slidell · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA 87040 - BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $12.07 | $191.25 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $12.98 | $59.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings · Lake Charles, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $13.60 | $40.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Covington · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Blood Culture | $14.70 | $105.00 | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $15.60 | $60.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $16.80 | $60.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics Lafayette · Lafayette, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $17.16 | $66.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $18.24 | $57.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Bernard Parish Hospital Chalmette · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $18.56 | $58.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bayou Bend Health System Franklin · Morgan City, LA Bacterial blood culture | $22.40 | $32.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Allen Parish Hospital Kinder · Kinder, LA BLOOD CULTURE SO | $22.80 | $38.00 | Feb 12, 2026 source file |
| North Oaks Medical Center Drive. Hammond · Hammond, LA Non Standardized Blood Cult | $22.97 | $285.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St Anne General Hospital Raceland · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $24.20 | $55.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Cult Bact Blood | $24.20 | $110.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Fairway Medical Center Covington · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA Blood Culture Routine LC | $25.80 | $263.00 | Mar 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St. Martin Hospital Breaux Bridge · Lafayette, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $25.80 | $86.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Leonard J Chabert Medical Center Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $27.73 | $59.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lafayette General Medical Center Lafayette · Lafayette, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $28.14 | $134.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sabine Medical Center Many · Many, LA BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $29.10 | $97.00 | Jun 19, 2026 source file |
| Acadia General Hospital Crowley · Lafayette, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $32.66 | $142.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital Kaplan · Lafayette, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $34.20 | $76.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Franklin Medical Center Winnsboro · Winnsboro, LA Blood Culture, Routine LC | $34.80 | $58.00 | May 21, 2026 source file |
| Monroe Surgical Hospital Monroe · Monroe, LA CULTURE BLOOD | $34.83 | $46.44 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Monroe · Monroe, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $35.65 | $155.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center Independence · Hammond, LA BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $36.00 | $60.00 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Blood Culture | $40.64 | $254.00 | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner Kenner · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $41.44 | $148.00 | Sep 16, 2026 source file |
| Reeves Memorial Medical Center Bernice · Monroe, LA CULTURE, BLOOD BACTERIA | $45.00 | $90.00 | Aug 26, 2026 source file |
| St Charles Parish Hospital Luling · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $46.17 | $171.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Acadia St Landry Church Point · Lafayette, LA CULTURE BLOOD | $46.44 | $61.92 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Morehouse General Hospital Bastrop · Monroe, LA BLOOD CULTURE | $48.00 | $60.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Willis Knighton Medical Center Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Cult Bact Blood Aerob Isol | $49.91 | $62.39 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Madison Parish Hospital Tallulah · Tallulah, LA BLOOD CULTURE | $53.14 | $106.27 | May 19, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA BLOOD CULTURE WITH ARD | $58.00 | $145.00 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Richland Parish Hospital-Delhi Delhi · Monroe, LA Bacterial blood culture | $60.45 | $93.00 | Oct 27, 2026 source file |
| Jackson Parish Hospital Jonesboro · Jonesboro, LA Blood Culture REF | $61.00 | $61.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Blood Culture | $64.48 | $403.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| St Charles Surgical Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA LCMC CULTURE BLOOD | $69.83 | $198.00 | Aug 17, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Cult Bact Blood | $75.74 | $541.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lasalle General Hospital Jena · Jena, LA BLOOD CULTURE | $81.60 | $136.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Helena Parish Hospital Greensburg · Baton Rouge, LA CULTURE BLOOD | $84.62 | $84.62 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Blood Culture Adults/Peds | $85.86 | $318.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Minden Medical Center Minden · Minden, LA BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $88.20 | $294.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Baton Rouge General Medical Center Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA CULT BLOOD | $89.08 | $127.25 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Surgical Specialty Center Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA CULTURE BLOOD | $90.75 | $121.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Louisiana Extended Care of Natchitoches Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA BLOOD CULTURE | $96.00 | $96.00 | Oct 25, 2026 source file |
| Terrebonne General Medical Center - Parish Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC BLOOD CULTURE | $104.94 | $141.75 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Byrd Regional Hospital Leesville · Leesville, LA BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $108.30 | $361.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| St. Frances Cabrini Hospital Alexandria · Alexandria, LA HC 87040 BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $120.12 | $462.00 | Jan 13, 2026 source file |
| Acadian Medical Center Eunice · Lafayette, LA CULTURE BLOOD | $129.15 | $430.50 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| Opelousas General Main Campus Opelousas · Opelousas, LA Blood Culture | $130.00 | $260.00 | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Lady of the Sea General Hospital Cut Off · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA CULTURE BLOOD 1 | $136.99 | $136.99 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| West Feliciana Parish Hospital St Francisville · Baton Rouge, LA Z/ CULTURE BLOOD | $139.46 | $232.43 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Rapides Regional Medical Center Alexandria · Alexandria, LA CULTURE BLOOD | $146.00 | $146.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Bunkie General Hospital Bunkie · Bunkie, LA BLOOD CULTURE | $150.00 | $150.00 | Mar 16, 2026 source file |
| Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Lake Charles · Lake Charles, LA Blood test to screen for bacteria in the blood | $167.94 | $279.90 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hardtner Medical Center Olla · Olla, LA Blood Culture, Routine LC | $256.80 | $321.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northern Louisiana Medical Center Ruston · Ruston, LA BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $305.25 | $555.00 | Jun 19, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 13 | $12.98 | $40.64 |
| Lafayette, LA | 7 | $17.16 | $32.66 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 5 | $18.24 | $89.08 |
| Monroe, LA | 5 | $34.83 | $45.00 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 4 | $24.20 | $66.34 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 3 | $15.60 | $16.80 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 3 | $12.07 | $14.70 |
| Alexandria, LA | 2 | $120.12 | $133.06 |
| Hammond, LA | 2 | $22.97 | $29.48 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 2 | $13.60 | $90.77 |
| Natchitoches, LA | 2 | $58.00 | $77.00 |
| Bunkie, LA | 1 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Jena, LA | 1 | $81.60 | $81.60 |
| Jonesboro, LA | 1 | $61.00 | $61.00 |
| Kinder, LA | 1 | $22.80 | $22.80 |
| Leesville, LA | 1 | $108.30 | $108.30 |
| Many, LA | 1 | $29.10 | $29.10 |
| Minden, LA | 1 | $88.20 | $88.20 |
| Morgan City, LA | 1 | $22.40 | $22.40 |
| Olla, LA | 1 | $256.80 | $256.80 |
| Opelousas, LA | 1 | $130.00 | $130.00 |
| Ruston, LA | 1 | $305.25 | $305.25 |
| Tallulah, LA | 1 | $53.14 | $53.14 |
| Winnsboro, LA | 1 | $34.80 | $34.80 |
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
- Iowa$91.80
- Kansas$78.30
- Kentucky$112.10
- 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.