Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, 91 hospitals publish a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $13.38 to $438.00, with a median of $61.20. The lowest price is at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center (Camp Hill). The highest price is 32.7× 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 Oct 2, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$13.38Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center
Median$61.20half of hospitals charge less
Highest$438.00in Pennsylvania
Lowest saves$47.82vs the median
Hospitals in Pennsylvania, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center lowest Camp Hill · Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 87070 Culture Bone Marrow. Tech | $13.38 | $56.00 | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network Reading · Reading, PA Culture Cerebrospinal Fluid. | $14.57 | $56.00 | — source file |
| Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster · Lancaster, PA 87070 Culture Respiratory w Smear, Cystic Fibrosis. Tech | $16.23 | $56.00 | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela · Pittsburgh, PA FLUID CULTURE | $16.80 | $28.00 | — source file |
| Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center Enola · Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 87070 Culture Wound. Tech | $17.62 | $56.00 | — source file |
| Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey · Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Culture Surveillance. | $18.55 | $56.00 | — source file |
| Punxsutawney Area Hospital Punxsutawney · Punxsutawney, PA THROAT CULTURE | $19.80 | $55.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Penn Highlands Brookville Brookville · Brookville, PA RHC CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $23.00 | $23.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Penn Highlands Elk Saint Marys · St. Marys, PA RHC CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $23.00 | $23.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Penn Highlands Huntingdon Huntingdon · Huntingdon, PA RHC CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $23.00 | $23.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Penn Highlands Tyrone Tyrone · Altoona, PA RHC CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $23.00 | $23.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville · Pittsburgh, PA CULTURE UTERINE | $24.00 | $40.00 | — source file |
| Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Wilkes-Barre · Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA CULTURE BACTERIA OTH | $24.48 | $102.00 | Dec 1, 2024 source file |
| UPMC Greene Waynesburg · Waynesburg, PA NOSE CULTURE | $24.57 | $35.10 | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington · Pittsburgh, PA NOSE CULTURE | $24.57 | $35.10 | — source file |
| Endless Mountains Health Systems Montrose · Montrose, PA NASOPHARYNGEAL PERTUSSIS | $31.50 | $45.00 | — source file |
| Titusville Area Hospital Titusville · Oil City, PA CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $31.80 | $53.00 | — source file |
| Armstrong County Memorial Hospital Kittanning · Pittsburgh, PA DEF CULTURE OTHER | $32.40 | $108.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center Meadowbrook · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Culture | $33.36 | $55.59 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| Gettysburg Hospital Gettysburg · Gettysburg, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $35.20 | $44.00 | — source file |
| WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital York · York-Hanover, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $35.20 | $44.00 | — source file |
| York Hospital York · York-Hanover, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $35.20 | $44.00 | — source file |
| Ephrata Community Hospital Ephrata · Lancaster, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $36.00 | $45.00 | — source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Lebanon · Lebanon, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $36.00 | $45.00 | — source file |
| Meadville Medical Center Meadville · Meadville, PA CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $37.80 | $63.00 | — source file |
| Wayne Memorial Hospital Honesdale · Honesdale, PA LEGIONELLA CULTURE | $42.00 | $60.00 | Sep 16, 2026 source file |
| Uniontown Hospital Uniontown · Pittsburgh, PA BACTERIAL CULTURE; ANY OTHER SOURCE EXCEPT URINE; BLOOD OR STOOL; AEROBIC | $43.00 | $86.00 | — source file |
| Chambersburg Hospital Chambersburg · Chambersburg, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $43.20 | $54.00 | — source file |
| Waynesboro Hospital Waynesboro · Chambersburg, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $43.20 | $54.00 | — source file |
| Indiana Regional Medical Center Indiana · Indiana, PA Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture | $43.92 | $122.00 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| Moses Taylor Hospital Scranton · Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA CULTURE BACTERIA OTH | $46.98 | $174.00 | Dec 2, 2024 source file |
| Regional Hospital of Scranton Scranton · Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA CULTURE BACTERIA OTH | $46.98 | $174.00 | Dec 2, 2024 source file |
| UPMC Kane Kane · Bradford, PA WOUND C & S /STAIN | $47.40 | $79.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Carlisle Carlisle · Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA HC CYSTIC RESP CULT | $48.00 | $80.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Hanover Hanover · York-Hanover, PA HC ROUTINE CULTURE | $48.00 | $80.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Lititz Lititz · Lancaster, PA HC CYSTIC RESP CULT | $48.00 | $80.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Memorial York · York-Hanover, PA HC LOWER RESPIRATORY CULTURE | $48.00 | $80.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals Harrisburg · Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA HC LOWER RESPIRATORY CULTURE | $48.00 | $80.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Somerset Somerset · Somerset, PA HC ROUTINE CULTURE | $48.00 | $80.00 | — source file |
| Warren General Hospital Warren · Warren, PA CULTURE W/PRESUMP ID | $50.00 | $50.00 | Sep 24, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle · Pittsburgh, PA CULTURE AEROBIC | $51.00 | $85.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Horizon - Greenville Greenville · Hermitage, PA CULTURE SPUTUM & GRAM STAIN | $52.20 | $87.00 | — source file |
| Allegheny Valley Hospital Natrona Heights · Pittsburgh, PA HC CULT AERBC OTHR PRESUM ID | $53.90 | $70.00 | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA HC CULT AERBC OTHR PRESUM ID | $56.94 | $78.00 | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Ear Culture | $58.91 | $58.91 | — source file |
| UPMC Cole Coudersport · Coudersport, PA CFS CULTURE | $61.20 | $102.00 | — source file |
| Troy Community Hospital Troy · Sayre, PA Aerobic and Anaerobic Cul | $62.20 | $77.75 | — source file |
| Mount Nittany Health State College · State College, PA CULTURE,SPUTUM | $63.45 | $141.00 | — source file |
| Saint Vincent Health Center Erie · Erie, PA HC CULT AERBC OTHR PRESUM ID | $63.96 | $78.00 | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Bedford Everett · Everett, PA CULTURE AEROBIC | $66.60 | $111.00 | — source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Philadelphia Philadelphia · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD BACTERIAL CULTURE; ANY OTHER SOURCE EXCEPT URINE; BLOOD OR STOOL; AEROBIC | $76.20 | $76.20 | — source file |
| Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber Windber · Somerset, PA CULTURE WOUND | $78.20 | $92.00 | Feb 25, 2026 source file |
| Penn Highlands Dubois DuBois · DuBois, PA Body Fluid Culture | $84.00 | $84.00 | Aug 1, 2025 source file |
| UPMC Northwest Seneca · Oil City, PA NOCARDIA CULT AND GRAM STAIN | $84.60 | $141.00 | — source file |
| Sharon Regional Medical Center Sharon · Hermitage, PA TISSUE CULTURE-TEST EXCHANGE | $88.42 | $88.42 | Jul 4, 2024 source file |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Culture Surveillance Culture | $92.30 | $142.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Johnstown · Johnstown, PA Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates | $92.80 | $232.00 | — source file |
| Robert Packer Hospital Sayre · Sayre, PA Culture Body Fluid | $104.12 | $130.15 | — source file |
| UPMC Hamot Erie · Erie, PA NOCARDIA CULT AND GRAM STAIN | $105.00 | $175.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Altoona Altoona · Altoona, PA CULTURE AEROBIC | $108.00 | $180.00 | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport · Pittsburgh, PA EYE CULTURE | $114.60 | $191.00 | — source file |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Hc Wound Culture | $117.20 | $293.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Hc Genital Culture | $117.20 | $293.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Hc Cath Tip Culture | $117.20 | $293.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Hc Fluid Culture | $117.20 | $293.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA THROAT CULTURE | $121.20 | $202.00 | — source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville · Pittsburgh, PA CULTURE CF SPUTUM | $128.40 | $214.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA GRAM NEGATIVE IDENTIFICATION | $131.40 | $219.00 | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital Darby · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Culture Environmental | $141.05 | $217.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nazareth Hospital Philadelphia · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Culture Genital | $141.70 | $218.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Robert Packer Hospital, Towanda Campus Towanda · Sayre, PA Transfusion Product Culture | $166.08 | $207.60 | — source file |
| Geisinger St Luke's Hospital - Orwigsburg Campus Orwigsburg · Pottsville, PA HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $215.10 | $239.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Miners Campus Coaldale · Pottsville, PA HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $215.10 | $239.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Allentown Campus Allentown · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Anderson Campus Easton · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Bethlehem Campus Bethlehem · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Carbon Campus Lehighton · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Easton Campus Easton · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Lehighton Campus Lehighton · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Monroe Campus Stroudsburg · East Stroudsburg, PA HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Sacred Heart Campus Allentown · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $216.63 | $261.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Muncy Muncy · Williamsport, PA CULTURE AEROBIC | $232.20 | $387.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Wellsboro Wellsboro · Wellsboro, PA CULTURE AEROBIC | $232.20 | $387.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Williamsport Williamsport · Williamsport, PA NOCARDIA CULT AND GRAM STAIN | $232.20 | $387.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA HC CATHETER TIP CULTURE | $235.20 | $392.00 | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA OTHR SOURCE AEROBIC ISOL P0125 | $250.20 | $417.00 | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA HC CATHETER TIP CULTURE | $300.00 | $500.00 | — source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Grand View Campus Sellersville · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $310.50 | $345.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Hospital - Upper Bucks Campus Quakertown · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HB CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $310.50 | $345.00 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| Evangelical Community Hospital Lewisburg · Lewisburg, PA Bacterial Culture, Any Other Source Except Urine, Blood or Stool, Aerobic | $378.80 | $473.50 | — source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA NOCARDIA CULT AND GRAM STAIN | $438.00 | $730.00 | Mar 6, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 16 | $16.80 | $85.77 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 12 | $33.36 | $117.20 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 7 | $216.63 | $216.63 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 5 | $13.38 | $18.55 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 4 | $35.20 | $41.60 |
| Lancaster, PA | 3 | $16.23 | $36.00 |
| Sayre, PA | 3 | $62.20 | $104.12 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 3 | $24.48 | $46.98 |
| Altoona, PA | 2 | $23.00 | $65.50 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 2 | $43.20 | $43.20 |
| Erie, PA | 2 | $63.96 | $84.48 |
| Hermitage, PA | 2 | $52.20 | $70.31 |
| Oil City, PA | 2 | $31.80 | $58.20 |
| Pottsville, PA | 2 | $215.10 | $215.10 |
| Somerset, PA | 2 | $48.00 | $63.10 |
| Williamsport, PA | 2 | $232.20 | $232.20 |
| Brookville, PA | 1 | $23.00 | $23.00 |
| Bradford, PA | 1 | $47.40 | $47.40 |
| Coudersport, PA | 1 | $61.20 | $61.20 |
| DuBois, PA | 1 | $84.00 | $84.00 |
| Everett, PA | 1 | $66.60 | $66.60 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 1 | $216.63 | $216.63 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 1 | $35.20 | $35.20 |
| Honesdale, PA | 1 | $42.00 | $42.00 |
| Huntingdon, PA | 1 | $23.00 | $23.00 |
| Indiana, PA | 1 | $43.92 | $43.92 |
| Johnstown, PA | 1 | $92.80 | $92.80 |
| Lebanon, PA | 1 | $36.00 | $36.00 |
| Lewisburg, PA | 1 | $378.80 | $378.80 |
| Montrose, PA | 1 | $31.50 | $31.50 |
| Meadville, PA | 1 | $37.80 | $37.80 |
| Punxsutawney, PA | 1 | $19.80 | $19.80 |
| Reading, PA | 1 | $14.57 | $14.57 |
| St. Marys, PA | 1 | $23.00 | $23.00 |
| State College, PA | 1 | $63.45 | $63.45 |
| Waynesburg, PA | 1 | $24.57 | $24.57 |
| Wellsboro, PA | 1 | $232.20 | $232.20 |
| Warren, PA | 1 | $50.00 | $50.00 |
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$61.62
- Arkansas$38.48
- California$133.00
- Colorado$107.50
- Connecticut$51.32
- Delaware$225.91
- District of Columbia$89.70
- Florida$90.00
- Georgia$82.46
- Hawaii$80.40
- Idaho$58.88
- Illinois$91.00
- Indiana$94.20
- Iowa$60.45
- Kansas$58.00
- Kentucky$103.20
- Louisiana$29.09
- Maine$69.00
- Maryland$112.37
- Massachusetts$40.00
- Michigan$53.00
- Minnesota$68.69
- Mississippi$53.04
- Missouri$67.70
- Montana$65.00
- Nebraska$81.03
- Nevada$112.00
- New Hampshire$92.10
- New Jersey$29.16
- New Mexico$82.59
- New York$37.80
- North Carolina$71.80
- North Dakota$64.80
- Ohio$67.75
- Oklahoma$41.82
- Oregon$52.38
- Puerto Rico$30.00
- Rhode Island$68.80
- South Carolina$123.54
- South Dakota$85.30
- Tennessee$39.10
- Texas$67.00
- Utah$102.73
- Vermont$84.27
- Virginia$68.95
- Washington$87.60
- West Virginia$50.50
- Wisconsin$77.35
- Wyoming$73.60
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.