Blood culture cost in Minnesota
In Minnesota, 82 hospitals publish a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $18.20 to $243.00, with a median of $116.44. The lowest price is at Mille Lacs Health System (Onamia). The highest price is 13.4× the lowest.
- The median here, $116.44, is about the same as the US median of $115.50.
- That is 11.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($10.32).
- Minnesota ranks 30th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 4 of 82 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. §144.589): a hospital may not charge an uninsured patient whose household income is under $125,000 more than the lowest amount it would be paid for the same service by a private insurer, counting the insured patient's share. If the cash price below is higher, ask the billing office to apply this limit. Each hospital's page here shows the range of insurer rates in its own file (the "Insurers pay" column), a starting point when you ask. Other states' laws.
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 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$18.20Mille Lacs Health System
Median$116.44half of hospitals charge less
Highest$243.00in Minnesota
Lowest saves$98.24vs the median
Hospitals in Minnesota, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mille Lacs Health System lowest Onamia · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI NIS CULTURE BLOOD | $18.20 | $26.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Hutchinson Hospital Hutchinson · Hutchinson, MN Microbiology | $19.92 | $43.31 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Hospital St. Louis Park · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Microbiology | $20.28 | $78.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Bacterial blood culture | $37.42 | $71.00 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Bacterial blood culture | $37.42 | $71.00 | Apr 30, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES | $45.00 | $45.00 | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Cloquet · Duluth, MN-WI BACTERIAL CULTURE BC AEROBIC | $48.64 | $76.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center Faribualt · Faribault-Northfield, MN HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $61.66 | $110.10 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $61.66 | $110.10 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $61.66 | $110.10 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Owatonna Hospital Owatonna · Owatonna, MN HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $61.66 | $110.10 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $67.49 | $140.60 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $67.49 | $140.60 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $67.49 | $140.60 | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Welia Health Mora · Mora, MN HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $69.30 | $99.00 | Apr 27, 2026 source file |
| Regions Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Microbiology | $70.46 | $271.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital of Wabasha Wabasha · Rochester, MN CULTURE, BACTERIAL; BLOOD | $72.47 | $119.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Luverne Medical Center Luverne · Sioux Falls, SD-MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $72.80 | $91.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI Fac Blood Culture for Bacteria | $72.90 | $134.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| New Ulm Medical Center New Ulm · New Ulm, MN HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $73.75 | $131.70 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $74.53 | $185.85 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $75.27 | $187.69 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital Maplewood · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $75.27 | $187.69 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Outpatient Services | $75.27 | $187.69 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $75.27 | $187.69 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $75.40 | $188.03 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $75.51 | $188.30 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids · Grand Rapids, MN HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $79.51 | $187.06 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $79.90 | $188.00 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Range Regional Health Services Hibbing · Duluth, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BLOOD | $80.02 | $188.26 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Lakewood Health Center Baudette · Baudette, MN BLOOD CULTURE ROUTINE | $81.76 | $146.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Aitkin Community Hospital Aitkin · Aitkin, MN HC BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $86.52 | $154.50 | Aug 12, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Jackson Hospital Jackson · Jackson, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $90.40 | $113.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Northfield Hospital Northfield · Faribault-Northfield, MN Culture, Blood | $95.00 | $225.00 | Apr 16, 2026 source file |
| St. Francis Medical Center Breckenridge · Wahpeton, ND-MN CULT BLOOD AEROBIC | $96.99 | $159.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Meeker County Memorial Hospital Litchfield · Litchfield, MN BLOOD CULTURE | $99.84 | $156.00 | Dec 28, 2025 source file |
| Riverwood Healthcare Center Aitkin · Aitkin, MN HC BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $107.52 | $192.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Unity Family Healthcare Little Falls · Little Falls, MN BLOOD CULTURE | $107.88 | $186.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Perham Health Perham · Fergus Falls, MN Bacterial blood culture | $108.55 | $167.00 | Feb 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Lake View Hospital Two Harbors · Two Harbors, MN Fac Blood Culture for Bacteria | $110.28 | $134.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Alomere Health Alexandria · Alexandria, MN BLOOD CULTURE | $113.68 | $196.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Wheaton Wheaton · Wheaton, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $119.20 | $149.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Lakewood Health System Staples · Staples, MN Bacterial blood culture | $123.38 | $199.00 | Sep 11, 2026 source file |
| St. Joseph's Area Health Services Park Rapids · Park Rapids, MN CULT BLOOD AEROBIC | $124.32 | $222.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Glencoe Regional Health Glencoe · Hutchinson, MN HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $125.67 | $125.67 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| Ortonville Area Health Services Ortonville · Ortonville, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $127.50 | $150.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| City of Sleepy Eye Sleepy Eye · New Ulm, MN CULTURE, BLOOD | $129.70 | $205.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| County of Murray Slayton · Slayton, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $130.65 | $201.00 | Nov 2, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Virginia Virginia · Duluth, MN-WI BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $131.88 | $210.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Canby Medical Center Canby · Canby, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $133.60 | $167.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| The Cook Hospital Cook · Duluth, MN-WI CULTURE, BLOOD | $135.30 | $205.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| Olivia Hospital Olivia · Olivia, MN Microbiology | $137.25 | $225.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Duluth Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $138.60 | $210.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Children's Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $138.60 | $210.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $138.60 | $210.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Johnson Memorial Hospital Dawson · Dawson, MN BLOOD CULTURE | $142.80 | $168.00 | Sep 8, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's - Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes · Detroit Lakes, MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $144.45 | $225.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $145.60 | $182.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Madison Hospital Madison · Madison, MN BLOOD CULTURE | $147.90 | $174.00 | Jun 23, 2026 source file |
| Lifecare Medical Center Roseau · Roseau, MN Bacterial blood culture | $149.60 | $170.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Tracy Hospital Tracy · Marshall, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $149.60 | $187.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Westbrook Hospital Westbrook · Westbrook, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $149.60 | $187.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Astera Health Wadena · Wadena, MN Blood Culture | $150.90 | $209.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Ada Ada · Ada, MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Deer River Deer River · Grand Rapids, MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Fosston Fosston · Grand Forks, ND-MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Holy Trinity Hospital Graceville · Graceville, MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Moose Lake Moose Lake · Duluth, MN-WI BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Northern Pines Aurora · Duluth, MN-WI BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Sandstone Sandstone · Sandstone, MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $151.50 | $205.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Stevens Community Medical Center Morris · Morris, MN Bacterial blood culture | $151.50 | $202.00 | Jun 26, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Microbiology | $153.55 | $415.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Glacial Ridge Hospital Glenwood · Glenwood, MN Bacterial blood culture | $158.10 | $188.21 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Kittson Healthcare Hallock · Hallock, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $169.00 | $169.00 | Jun 26, 2026 source file |
| Bigfork Valley Hospital Bigfork · Grand Rapids, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD | $171.75 | $241.90 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center Brainerd · Brainerd, MN BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $174.98 | $260.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| North Valley Health Center Warren · Grand Forks, ND-MN Bacterial blood culture | $177.00 | $177.00 | Oct 22, 2026 source file |
| Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Crosby · Brainerd, MN HCHG BLOOD CULTURE-BACTEC | $185.64 | $546.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center International Falls · International Falls, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $190.38 | $247.24 | May 6, 2026 source file |
| Appleton Area Health Appleton · Appleton, MN Bacterial blood culture | $194.65 | $229.00 | Jul 7, 2026 source file |
| Mahnomen Health Center Mahnomen · Mahnomen, MN CULTURE BACTERIAL BLOOD AEROBIC W/ID ISOLATES 87040 | $209.70 | $233.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Ely · Duluth, MN-WI Bacterial blood culture | $243.00 | $300.00 | Sep 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 20 | $18.20 | $68.98 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 11 | $48.64 | $138.60 |
| Grand Rapids, MN | 3 | $79.51 | $151.50 |
| Aitkin, MN | 2 | $86.52 | $97.02 |
| Brainerd, MN | 2 | $174.98 | $180.31 |
| Faribault-Northfield, MN | 2 | $61.66 | $78.33 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 2 | $151.50 | $164.25 |
| Hutchinson, MN | 2 | $19.92 | $72.80 |
| New Ulm, MN | 2 | $73.75 | $101.72 |
| Ada, MN | 1 | $151.50 | $151.50 |
| Appleton, MN | 1 | $194.65 | $194.65 |
| Alexandria, MN | 1 | $113.68 | $113.68 |
| Baudette, MN | 1 | $81.76 | $81.76 |
| Canby, MN | 1 | $133.60 | $133.60 |
| Dawson, MN | 1 | $142.80 | $142.80 |
| Detroit Lakes, MN | 1 | $144.45 | $144.45 |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 1 | $108.55 | $108.55 |
| Glenwood, MN | 1 | $158.10 | $158.10 |
| Graceville, MN | 1 | $151.50 | $151.50 |
| Hallock, MN | 1 | $169.00 | $169.00 |
| International Falls, MN | 1 | $190.38 | $190.38 |
| Jackson, MN | 1 | $90.40 | $90.40 |
| Litchfield, MN | 1 | $99.84 | $99.84 |
| Little Falls, MN | 1 | $107.88 | $107.88 |
| Madison, MN | 1 | $147.90 | $147.90 |
| Mahnomen, MN | 1 | $209.70 | $209.70 |
| Mora, MN | 1 | $69.30 | $69.30 |
| Morris, MN | 1 | $151.50 | $151.50 |
| Marshall, MN | 1 | $149.60 | $149.60 |
| Olivia, MN | 1 | $137.25 | $137.25 |
| Ortonville, MN | 1 | $127.50 | $127.50 |
| Owatonna, MN | 1 | $61.66 | $61.66 |
| Park Rapids, MN | 1 | $124.32 | $124.32 |
| Roseau, MN | 1 | $149.60 | $149.60 |
| Rochester, MN | 1 | $72.47 | $72.47 |
| Sandstone, MN | 1 | $151.50 | $151.50 |
| Slayton, MN | 1 | $130.65 | $130.65 |
| Staples, MN | 1 | $123.38 | $123.38 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 1 | $72.80 | $72.80 |
| Thief River Falls, MN | 1 | $145.60 | $145.60 |
| Two Harbors, MN | 1 | $110.28 | $110.28 |
| Wadena, MN | 1 | $150.90 | $150.90 |
| Westbrook, MN | 1 | $149.60 | $149.60 |
| Wheaton, MN | 1 | $119.20 | $119.20 |
| Wahpeton, ND-MN | 1 | $96.99 | $96.99 |
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
- Louisiana$45.00
- Maine$83.73
- Maryland$109.77
- Massachusetts$79.00
- Michigan$63.00
- 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.