Blood culture cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 55 hospitals publish a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $19.04 to $544.80, with a median of $152.11. The lowest price is at Northern Regional Hospital (Mount Airy). The highest price is 28.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $152.11, is 32% above the US median of $115.50.
- That is 14.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($10.32).
- North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 55 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 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$19.04Northern Regional Hospital
Median$152.11half of hospitals charge less
Highest$544.80in North Carolina
Lowest saves$133.07vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Regional Hospital lowest Mount Airy · Mount Airy, NC Blood Culture (Labcorp) | $19.04 | $28.00 | Nov 12, 2025 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $23.50 | $47.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $24.50 | $49.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center Rutherfordton · Forest City, NC Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (includes anaerobic culture, if appropriate) | $45.08 | $112.71 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Cult Blood Isol W Pres ID | $54.54 | $202.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Raleigh Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Cult Blood Isol W Pres ID | $54.54 | $202.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Cult Blood Isol W Pres ID | $54.54 | $202.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $65.50 | $131.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| WakeMed Cary Hospital Cary · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Blood Culture for Bacteria | $67.26 | $177.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Raleigh Campus Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Blood Culture for Bacteria | $67.26 | $177.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Alleghany County Memorial Hospital Sparta · Sparta, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $67.50 | $135.00 | Aug 12, 2025 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $68.50 | $137.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $69.50 | $139.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Harris Regional Hospital Sylva · Sylva, NC Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (includes anaerobic culture, if appropriate) | $74.12 | $185.30 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Cord Blood Culture | $75.11 | $278.20 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Culture,Blood | $77.00 | $110.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Randolph Health Asheboro · Asheboro, NC BLOOD CULTURE (AER & ANA) | $79.20 | $396.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Chgl Blood Culture,Routine | $100.00 | $200.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Blood Culture | $100.24 | $179.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Person Memorial Hospital Roxboro · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (includes anaerobic culture, if appropriate) | $102.80 | $257.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $130.00 | $260.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital Dunn · Anderson Creek, NC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $136.20 | $227.00 | Apr 7, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $136.20 | $227.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $136.20 | $227.00 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| Wilson Medical Center Wilson · Wilson, NC Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (includes anaerobic culture, if appropriate) | $137.20 | $343.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Columbus Regional Healthcare System Whiteville · Whiteville, NC Blood Culture | $138.91 | $198.43 | Sep 1, 2025 source file |
| Sampson Regional Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, NC Bacterial blood culture | $140.70 | $201.00 | Nov 2, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Beaufort Hospital Washington · Washington, NC Blood Culture | $152.11 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center Greenville · Greenville, NC Blood Culture | $152.11 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $156.50 | $313.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Scotland Memorial Hospital and Edwin Morgan Center Laurinburg · Laurinburg, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $157.50 | $315.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Bertie Hospital Windsor · Windsor, NC Blood Culture | $160.72 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Chowan Hospital Edenton · Edenton, NC Blood Culture | $160.72 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Duplin Hospital Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Blood Culture | $160.72 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Blood Culture | $160.72 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Blood Culture | $160.72 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Blood Culture | $160.72 | $287.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Frye Regional Medical Center Hickory · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $168.16 | $420.40 | Jul 8, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Cult Blood Isol W Pres ID | $197.37 | $731.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $201.29 | $201.29 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC CULTURE BLOOD | $263.00 | $263.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Bladen County Hospital Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, NC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $272.40 | $454.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC CHG CULTURE BLOOD BACTERIAL | $276.00 | $276.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC CHG CULTURE BLOOD BACTERIAL | $276.00 | $276.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC CHG CULTURE BLOOD BACTERIAL | $276.00 | $276.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Hoke Hospital Raeford · Fayetteville, NC BACTERIAL BLOOD CULTURE | $544.80 | $908.00 | Mar 30, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 13 | $75.11 | $156.50 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3 | $136.20 | $136.20 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3 | $54.54 | $67.26 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $65.50 | $68.50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2 | $54.54 | $78.67 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 2 | $19.04 | $21.77 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $160.72 | $160.72 |
| Asheboro, NC | 1 | $79.20 | $79.20 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $156.50 | $156.50 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 1 | $136.20 | $136.20 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $263.00 | $263.00 |
| Clinton, NC | 1 | $140.70 | $140.70 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $201.29 | $201.29 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $54.54 | $54.54 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $160.72 | $160.72 |
| Elizabethtown, NC | 1 | $272.40 | $272.40 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Forest City, NC | 1 | $45.08 | $45.08 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $130.00 | $130.00 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $152.11 | $152.11 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 1 | $168.16 | $168.16 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $160.72 | $160.72 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $160.72 | $160.72 |
| Laurinburg, NC | 1 | $157.50 | $157.50 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $77.00 | $77.00 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $23.50 | $23.50 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $100.24 | $100.24 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $160.72 | $160.72 |
| Sparta, NC | 1 | $67.50 | $67.50 |
| Sylva, NC | 1 | $74.12 | $74.12 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $156.50 | $156.50 |
| Whiteville, NC | 1 | $138.91 | $138.91 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $160.72 | $160.72 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $152.11 | $152.11 |
| Wilson, NC | 1 | $137.20 | $137.20 |
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
- 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 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.