Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Minnesota
In Minnesota, 82 hospitals publish a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $9.63 to $243.00, with a median of $66.72. The lowest price is at Fairview Bethesda Hospital (St. Paul). The highest price is 25.2× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 87070. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 29, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$9.63Fairview Bethesda Hospital
Median$66.72half of hospitals charge less
Highest$243.00in Minnesota
Lowest saves$57.09vs the median
Hospitals in Minnesota, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital lowest St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, ABCESS | $9.63 | $24.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Glencoe Regional Health Glencoe · Hutchinson, MN HCHG BRONCH CULTURE | $9.94 | $9.94 | — source file |
| Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids · Grand Rapids, MN HC CULTURE,SPUTUM | $11.05 | $26.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Range Regional Health Services Hibbing · Duluth, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BONE MARROW | $11.05 | $26.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Meeker County Memorial Hospital Litchfield · Litchfield, MN NEISSERIA GONORRHOEA CULTURE | $11.52 | $18.00 | Dec 28, 2025 source file |
| Windom Area Hospital Windom · Windom, MN RESPIRATORY CULTURE | $14.28 | $21.00 | Feb 3, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $14.98 | $31.20 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $14.98 | $31.20 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $14.98 | $31.20 | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Hospital St. Louis Park · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Sterility Culture | $16.38 | $63.00 | — source file |
| Regions Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Sterility Culture | $16.38 | $63.00 | — source file |
| Hutchinson Hospital Hutchinson · Hutchinson, MN Microbiology | $16.59 | $36.07 | — source file |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center Faribualt · Faribault-Northfield, MN HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $17.47 | $31.20 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $17.47 | $31.20 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $17.47 | $31.20 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Owatonna Hospital Owatonna · Owatonna, MN HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $17.47 | $31.20 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Mille Lacs Health System Onamia · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI NIS CULTURE SPUTUM | $18.20 | $26.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| New Ulm Medical Center New Ulm · New Ulm, MN HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $18.87 | $33.70 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Lakewood Health Center Baudette · Baudette, MN CULTURE AEROBIC | $23.76 | $36.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Family Healthcare Little Falls · Little Falls, MN CATHETER TIP CULTURE | $24.36 | $42.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Madison Hospital Madison · Madison, MN GROUP A BETA STREPTOCOCCUS CULTURE | $26.35 | $31.00 | Jun 23, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Luverne Medical Center Luverne · Sioux Falls, SD-MN CULTURE SPUTUM 87070 | $26.40 | $33.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BONE | $27.67 | $69.00 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital Maplewood · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BONE | $27.67 | $69.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, BONE | $27.67 | $69.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, TRACHEAL ASPIRATE | $27.77 | $69.23 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, THROAT | $28.07 | $70.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, SKIN | $28.34 | $70.67 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC CULTURE, SKIN | $30.04 | $70.67 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $31.62 | $60.00 | — source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $31.62 | $60.00 | — source file |
| Appleton Area Health Appleton · Appleton, MN Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $38.25 | $45.00 | Jul 7, 2026 source file |
| Riverwood Healthcare Center Aitkin · Aitkin, MN HC CULTURE BACTERIA EXCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $39.76 | $71.00 | — source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Cloquet · Duluth, MN-WI SLH OTHER CULTURE | $40.32 | $63.00 | — source file |
| Sanford Behavioral Health Thief River Falls Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls, MN NOCARDIA CULTURE | $43.20 | $54.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls, MN NOCARDIA CULTURE | $43.20 | $54.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Alomere Health Alexandria · Alexandria, MN CATHETER TIP CULTURE | $53.94 | $93.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI DUODENAL ASPIRATE CULTURE | $55.00 | $55.00 | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Jackson Hospital Jackson · Jackson, MN CULTURE: BACT OTHER 87070 | $57.60 | $72.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital of Wabasha Wabasha · Rochester, MN CULTURE, BACTERIAL; RESPIRATORY CF | $60.29 | $99.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $64.74 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's - Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes · Detroit Lakes, MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $68.69 | $107.00 | — source file |
| St. Joseph's Area Health Services Park Rapids · Park Rapids, MN CULT MRSA | $69.85 | $127.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Northfield Hospital Northfield · Faribault-Northfield, MN Culture, Ear, Eye, Nose | $71.00 | $169.00 | — source file |
| Sanford Canby Medical Center Canby · Canby, MN CULTURE: BACT RESPITOR 87070 | $76.80 | $96.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| St. Francis Medical Center Breckenridge · Wahpeton, ND-MN CULTURE AEROBIC | $84.00 | $140.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| The Cook Hospital Cook · Duluth, MN-WI CULTURE, THROAT | $85.80 | $130.00 | — source file |
| Essentia Health Virginia Virginia · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $86.04 | $137.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakewood Health System Staples · Staples, MN Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $86.18 | $139.00 | Sep 11, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Wheaton Wheaton · Wheaton, MN CULTURE: BACT RESPITOR 87070 | $87.20 | $109.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Welia Health Mora · Mora, MN HCHG THROAT CULTURE | $88.90 | $127.00 | — source file |
| Essentia Health Duluth Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $90.42 | $137.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Children's Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $90.42 | $137.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $90.42 | $137.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Microbiology | $91.02 | $246.00 | — source file |
| Ortonville Area Health Services Ortonville · Ortonville, MN CULTURE: BACT RESPITOR 87070 | $91.80 | $108.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| County of Murray Slayton · Slayton, MN CULTURE: BACT RESPITOR 87070 | $93.60 | $144.00 | — source file |
| City of Sleepy Eye Sleepy Eye · New Ulm, MN CULTURE;AEROBIC;OTHER | $94.27 | $149.00 | — source file |
| Bigfork Valley Hospital Bigfork · Grand Rapids, MN CULTURE-MRSA OTHER SOURCE | $97.27 | $137.00 | — source file |
| Aspirus Lake View Hospital Two Harbors · Two Harbors, MN Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $97.94 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Olivia Hospital Olivia · Olivia, MN Microbiology | $98.21 | $161.00 | — source file |
| Essentia Health Ada Ada · Ada, MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Deer River Deer River · Grand Rapids, MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Fosston Fosston · Grand Forks, ND-MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Holy Trinity Hospital Graceville · Graceville, MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Moose Lake Moose Lake · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Northern Pines Aurora · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Sandstone Sandstone · Sandstone, MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Perham Health Perham · Fergus Falls, MN Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $102.05 | $157.00 | Feb 1, 2026 source file |
| Lifecare Medical Center Roseau · Roseau, MN Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $102.08 | $116.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Johnson Memorial Hospital Dawson · Dawson, MN BODY FLUID CULTURE WITH GRAM STAIN | $107.10 | $126.00 | — source file |
| Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Crosby · Brainerd, MN HCHG VAG CERV CULTURE | $107.78 | $317.00 | — source file |
| Stevens Community Medical Center Morris · Morris, MN Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $111.75 | $149.00 | Jun 26, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Tracy Hospital Tracy · Marshall, MN CULTURE: BACT OTHER 87070 | $112.00 | $140.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Westbrook Hospital Westbrook · Westbrook, MN CULTURE: BACT RESPITOR 87070 | $112.00 | $140.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Astera Health Wadena · Wadena, MN Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Culture, Nares | $114.80 | $159.00 | — source file |
| Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center Brainerd · Brainerd, MN LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $115.08 | $171.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| North Valley Health Center Warren · Grand Forks, ND-MN Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $129.00 | $129.00 | Aug 3, 2026 source file |
| Mahnomen Health Center Mahnomen · Mahnomen, MN CULTURE SPUTUM 87070 | $136.80 | $152.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center International Falls · International Falls, MN CULTURE: BACT RESPITOR 87070 | $141.97 | $184.37 | May 6, 2026 source file |
| Kittson Healthcare Hallock · Hallock, MN AEROBIC CULTURE | $146.00 | $146.00 | Jun 26, 2026 source file |
| Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Ely · Duluth, MN-WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $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
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.
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 | $9.63 | $27.67 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 11 | $11.05 | $90.42 |
| Grand Rapids, MN | 3 | $11.05 | $97.27 |
| Brainerd, MN | 2 | $107.78 | $111.43 |
| Faribault-Northfield, MN | 2 | $17.47 | $44.24 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 2 | $99.03 | $114.02 |
| Hutchinson, MN | 2 | $9.94 | $13.26 |
| New Ulm, MN | 2 | $18.87 | $56.57 |
| Thief River Falls, MN | 2 | $43.20 | $43.20 |
| Ada, MN | 1 | $99.03 | $99.03 |
| Aitkin, MN | 1 | $39.76 | $39.76 |
| Appleton, MN | 1 | $38.25 | $38.25 |
| Alexandria, MN | 1 | $53.94 | $53.94 |
| Baudette, MN | 1 | $23.76 | $23.76 |
| Canby, MN | 1 | $76.80 | $76.80 |
| Dawson, MN | 1 | $107.10 | $107.10 |
| Detroit Lakes, MN | 1 | $68.69 | $68.69 |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 1 | $102.05 | $102.05 |
| Graceville, MN | 1 | $99.03 | $99.03 |
| Hallock, MN | 1 | $146.00 | $146.00 |
| International Falls, MN | 1 | $141.97 | $141.97 |
| Jackson, MN | 1 | $57.60 | $57.60 |
| Litchfield, MN | 1 | $11.52 | $11.52 |
| Little Falls, MN | 1 | $24.36 | $24.36 |
| Madison, MN | 1 | $26.35 | $26.35 |
| Mahnomen, MN | 1 | $136.80 | $136.80 |
| Mora, MN | 1 | $88.90 | $88.90 |
| Morris, MN | 1 | $111.75 | $111.75 |
| Marshall, MN | 1 | $112.00 | $112.00 |
| Olivia, MN | 1 | $98.21 | $98.21 |
| Ortonville, MN | 1 | $91.80 | $91.80 |
| Owatonna, MN | 1 | $17.47 | $17.47 |
| Park Rapids, MN | 1 | $69.85 | $69.85 |
| Roseau, MN | 1 | $102.08 | $102.08 |
| Rochester, MN | 1 | $60.29 | $60.29 |
| Sandstone, MN | 1 | $99.03 | $99.03 |
| Slayton, MN | 1 | $93.60 | $93.60 |
| Staples, MN | 1 | $86.18 | $86.18 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 1 | $26.40 | $26.40 |
| Two Harbors, MN | 1 | $97.94 | $97.94 |
| Wadena, MN | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 |
| Westbrook, MN | 1 | $112.00 | $112.00 |
| Wheaton, MN | 1 | $87.20 | $87.20 |
| Windom, MN | 1 | $14.28 | $14.28 |
| Wahpeton, ND-MN | 1 | $84.00 | $84.00 |
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 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.
Bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid) in other states
- Alabama$76.99
- Alaska$144.65
- Arizona$67.60
- Arkansas$38.48
- California$133.00
- Colorado$99.60
- Connecticut$48.32
- Delaware$199.38
- District of Columbia$89.70
- Florida$86.20
- Georgia$82.46
- Hawaii$80.40
- Idaho$58.88
- Illinois$90.00
- Indiana$93.42
- Iowa$60.45
- Kansas$58.75
- Kentucky$103.20
- Louisiana$29.24
- Maine$61.51
- Maryland$112.37
- Massachusetts$40.00
- Michigan$53.00
- Mississippi$53.04
- Missouri$68.30
- Montana$65.00
- Nebraska$77.42
- Nevada$112.00
- New Hampshire$92.10
- New Jersey$29.16
- New Mexico$84.78
- New York$38.38
- North Carolina$77.74
- North Dakota$64.80
- Ohio$68.50
- Oklahoma$44.13
- Oregon$52.38
- Pennsylvania$61.70
- Puerto Rico$30.00
- Rhode Island$68.80
- South Carolina$123.54
- South Dakota$89.18
- Tennessee$40.20
- Texas$69.48
- Utah$102.73
- Vermont$84.27
- Virginia$68.95
- Washington$88.20
- West Virginia$50.50
- Wisconsin$77.35
- Wyoming$73.60
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.