Bacterial culture (wound) cost in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, 98 hospitals publish a cash price for bacterial culture of a sample other than urine, blood or stool (wound, throat, fluid): from $10.26 to $234.00, with a median of $77.35. The lowest price is at Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus (Oshkosh) and 1 other hospital. The highest price is 22.8× 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$10.26Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus + 1 more
Median$77.35half pay less
Highest$234.00in Wisconsin
Lowest saves$67.09vs the median
Hospitals in Wisconsin, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus lowest Oshkosh · Oshkosh-Neenah, WI HC CULTURE, WOUND AEROBIC WITH GRAM STAIN | $10.26 | $18.00 | — source file |
| Ascension NE Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus lowest Appleton · Appleton, WI HC CULT BACT EX URINE, BLOOD, STOOL | $10.26 | $18.00 | — source file |
| St Nicholas Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis Sheboygan · Sheboygan, WI HC WATER CULTURE | $11.88 | $18.00 | — source file |
| St Vincent Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis Green Bay · Green Bay, WI HC WATER CULTURE | $11.88 | $18.00 | — source file |
| St Marys Hospital Medical Center Green Bay · Green Bay, WI HC WATER CULTURE | $11.88 | $18.00 | — source file |
| Southwest Health Center Platteville · Platteville, WI LCHG CULTURE ROUTINE | $12.00 | $16.00 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Amery Hospital East Amery · East Amery, WI Sterility Culture | $12.51 | $24.00 | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus Milwaukee · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HC CULTURE, WOUND AEROBIC WITH GRAM STAIN | $13.78 | $26.00 | — source file |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus Mequon · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HC CULTURE, WOUND AEROBIC WITH GRAM STAIN | $13.78 | $26.00 | — source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital Milwaukee · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HC CULT BACT EX URINE, BLOOD, STOOL | $13.78 | $26.00 | — source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Elmbrook Campus Brookfield · Brookfield, WI HC CULTURE, WOUND AEROBIC WITH GRAM STAIN | $13.78 | $26.00 | — source file |
| Ascension St. Francis Hospital Milwaukee · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HC CULTURE, WOUND AEROBIC WITH GRAM STAIN | $13.78 | $26.00 | — source file |
| Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital Franklin · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HC CULTURE, WOUND AEROBIC WITH GRAM STAIN | $13.78 | $26.00 | — source file |
| River Falls Area Hospital River Falls · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG CULTURE SPUTUM/LOWER RESPIRATORY QUEST | $17.47 | $31.20 | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Bellin Memorial Health Green Bay · Green Bay, WI CULTURE, BACTERIAL; JOINT | $23.15 | $50.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Ascension Calumet Hospital Chilton · Appleton, WI HC CULTURE, CSF W/ GRAM STAIN | $32.49 | $57.00 | — source file |
| Gundersen St Josephs Hospital and Clinics Hillsboro · La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN CULTURE, BACTERIAL; EYE | $33.66 | $64.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Grant Regional Health Center Lancaster · Platteville, WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $37.62 | $57.87 | Sep 18, 2026 source file |
| Hudson Hospital Hudson · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Microbiology | $41.95 | $93.00 | — source file |
| Memorial Hospital of Boscobel Boscobel · Platteville, WI CULTURE, BACTERIAL; OTHER SOURCE (CSF) | $42.23 | $82.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Berlin Berlin · Berlin, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-OSP Appleton · Appleton, WI CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton Appleton · Appleton, WI CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Fond Du Lac Fond Du Lac · Fond du Lac, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah Neenah · Oshkosh-Neenah, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-New London New London · New London, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Oshkosh Oshkosh · Oshkosh-Neenah, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Shawano Shawano · Shawano, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Waupaca Waupaca · Waupaca, WI CULTURE, BACTERIA, AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Wild Rose Wild Rose · Wild Rose, WI CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $43.79 | $78.20 | — source file |
| Gundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics Whitehall · Whitehall, WI CULTURE, BACTERIAL; OTHER SOURCE (NEEDLE TIP) | $44.38 | $70.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HBC CULTURE STERILITY CHECK | $46.06 | $83.75 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Fort Memorial Hospital Fort Atkinson · Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Respiratory Culture | $48.00 | $150.00 | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Moundview Hospital and Clinics Friendship · Friendship, WI CULTURE, BACTERIAL; RESPIRATORY | $49.28 | $97.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin Fox Valley Neenah · Oshkosh-Neenah, WI HBC FV CULTURE BACTERIA AEROBIC | $52.94 | $96.25 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Franklin Campus Franklin · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI HC CULTURE OTHER SPECIMEN AEROBIC | $54.06 | $102.00 | — source file |
| Westfields Hospital New Richmond · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Sterility Culture | $58.39 | $111.00 | — source file |
| Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center Ashland · Ashland, WI Lab Sputum Culture | $59.70 | $62.84 | — source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital Portage · Madison, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Eagle River Hospital Eagle River · Eagle River, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Langlade Hospital Antigo · Antigo, WI Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Medford Hospital Medford · Medford, WI Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Merrill Hospital Merrill · Merrill, WI Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Plover Hospital Stevens Point · Stevens Point-Plover, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital Rhinelander · Rhinelander, WI Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Stanley Hospital Stanley · Eau Claire, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital Stevens Point · Stevens Point-Plover, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital Tomahawk · Tomahawk, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Wausau Hospital Wausau · Wausau, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital Wisconsin Rapids · Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI Culture, Aerobic - Routine . Beaker1 | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Howard Young Medical Center Woodruff · Woodruff, WI Fac Culture, Bacteria, Other | $77.35 | $119.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aurora BayCare Medical Center Green Bay · Green Bay, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Elkhorn · Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Bay Area Marinette · Marinette, WI-MI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Burlington Burlington · Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Fond du Lac Fond Du Lac · Fond du Lac, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Grafton Grafton · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Kenosha Kenosha · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc Two Rivers · Manitowoc, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant · Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh Oshkosh · Oshkosh-Neenah, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County Sheboygan · Sheboygan, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Summit Summit · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Medical Center Washington County Hartford · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital Wauwatosa · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center Milwaukee · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro Milwaukee · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora St. Luke's South Shore of Aurora Health Care Metro Cudahy · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| Aurora West Allis Medical Center West Allis · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI CULTURE, AEROBIC | $80.00 | $160.00 | Nov 21, 2025 source file |
| OakLeaf Surgical Hospital Altoona · Eau Claire, WI CULTURE OTHR SPECIMN AEROBIC | $82.67 | $91.85 | — source file |
| PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Wausau Wausau · Wausau, WI Body Fluid Culture | $86.20 | $86.20 | Aug 6, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Ladysmith Ladysmith · Ladysmith, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua Minocqua · Minocqua, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Neillsville Neillsville · Neillsville, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Park Falls Park Falls · Park Falls, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Rice Lake Rice Lake · Rice Lake, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - River Region at Stevens Point Stevens Point · Stevens Point-Plover, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Weston Weston · Wausau, WI CULT AEROBIC OTH W ISOL PRES ID-TECH | $91.20 | $96.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| St Clare Memorial Hospital Oconto Falls · Green Bay, WI HC BODY FLUID CULTURE | $91.74 | $139.00 | — source file |
| Stoughton Hospital Stoughton · Madison, WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $94.05 | $171.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Glendale · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI AEROBIC CULTURE SURGICAL | $95.93 | $181.00 | — source file |
| Essentia Health St Marys Hospital-Superior Superior · Duluth, MN-WI LAB CULTURE BACTERIA | $99.03 | $134.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center Hayward · Hayward, WI Lab Sputum Culture | $99.85 | $105.10 | — source file |
| Edgerton Hospital and Health Services Edgerton · Janesville-Beloit, WI LCHG CULTURE SPUTUM | $104.39 | $143.00 | — source file |
| Black River Memorial Hospital Black River Falls · Black River Falls, WI Genital Culture, Routine (LabCorp) | $107.10 | $119.00 | Jan 8, 2026 source file |
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center - Walworth Lake Geneva · Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI CHG CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $112.36 | $149.82 | Mar 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercyhealth Hospital & Trauma Center Janesville · Janesville-Beloit, WI CHG CUL BACT XCPT URINE BLOOD/STOOL AEROBIC ISOL | $112.36 | $149.82 | Mar 1, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison · Madison, WI HC BACTERIAL CULTURE - OTHR SOURCE | $114.76 | $143.45 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Durand Durand · Durand, WI HC MICROBIOLOGY - CULTURE AEROBIC | $118.18 | $118.18 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Tomah Memorial Hospital Tomah · Sparta, WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $131.53 | $228.75 | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Marshfield Marshfield · Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI LEGIONELLA CULTURE-TECH | $137.75 | $145.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Crossing Rivers Health Medical Center Prairie Du Chien · Prairie Du Chien, WI Bacterial culture, any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic | $145.00 | $145.00 | Jul 23, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Beaver Dam Beaver Dam · Beaver Dam, WI LEGIONELLA CULTURE-TECH | $150.10 | $158.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital Pleasant Prairie · Kenosha, WI Culture CSF | $170.78 | $227.71 | — source file |
| Cumberland Memorial Hospital Cumberland · Rice Lake, WI CULTURE BACTERIAL | $179.10 | $179.10 | — source file |
| Spooner Health System Spooner · Spooner, WI ID AEROBIC ISOLATE, OTHER - REF | $181.80 | $202.00 | — source file |
| Vernon Memorial Healthcare Viroqua · La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN CULTURE, BACTERIAL; RESPIRATORY | $234.00 | $234.00 | — source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 17 | $13.78 | $80.00 |
| Green Bay, WI | 5 | $11.88 | $23.15 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 5 | $10.26 | $43.79 |
| Appleton, WI | 4 | $10.26 | $38.14 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 3 | $77.35 | $82.67 |
| Madison, WI | 3 | $77.35 | $94.05 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3 | $17.47 | $41.95 |
| Platteville, WI | 3 | $12.00 | $37.62 |
| Stevens Point-Plover, WI | 3 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Wausau, WI | 3 | $77.35 | $86.20 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 2 | $43.79 | $61.90 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 2 | $104.39 | $108.38 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 2 | $33.66 | $133.83 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 2 | $80.00 | $80.00 |
| Rice Lake, WI | 2 | $91.20 | $135.15 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 2 | $11.88 | $45.94 |
| Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI | 2 | $80.00 | $96.18 |
| Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI | 2 | $77.35 | $107.55 |
| Antigo, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Ashland, WI | 1 | $59.70 | $59.70 |
| Berlin, WI | 1 | $43.79 | $43.79 |
| Black River Falls, WI | 1 | $107.10 | $107.10 |
| Brookfield, WI | 1 | $13.78 | $13.78 |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 1 | $150.10 | $150.10 |
| Durand, WI | 1 | $118.18 | $118.18 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1 | $99.03 | $99.03 |
| Eagle River, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| East Amery, WI | 1 | $12.51 | $12.51 |
| Friendship, WI | 1 | $49.28 | $49.28 |
| Hayward, WI | 1 | $99.85 | $99.85 |
| Kenosha, WI | 1 | $170.78 | $170.78 |
| Ladysmith, WI | 1 | $91.20 | $91.20 |
| Medford, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Merrill, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Minocqua, WI | 1 | $91.20 | $91.20 |
| Manitowoc, WI | 1 | $80.00 | $80.00 |
| Marinette, WI-MI | 1 | $80.00 | $80.00 |
| Neillsville, WI | 1 | $91.20 | $91.20 |
| New London, WI | 1 | $43.79 | $43.79 |
| Park Falls, WI | 1 | $91.20 | $91.20 |
| Prairie Du Chien, WI | 1 | $145.00 | $145.00 |
| Rhinelander, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Spooner, WI | 1 | $181.80 | $181.80 |
| Shawano, WI | 1 | $43.79 | $43.79 |
| Sparta, WI | 1 | $131.53 | $131.53 |
| Tomahawk, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Waupaca, WI | 1 | $43.79 | $43.79 |
| Whitehall, WI | 1 | $44.38 | $44.38 |
| Wild Rose, WI | 1 | $43.79 | $43.79 |
| Woodruff, WI | 1 | $77.35 | $77.35 |
| Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI | 1 | $48.00 | $48.00 |
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$60.23
- Kansas$59.19
- Kentucky$103.20
- Louisiana$28.15
- Maine$61.51
- Maryland$112.37
- Massachusetts$40.00
- Michigan$53.00
- Minnesota$68.69
- 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$39.59
- North Carolina$77.74
- North Dakota$64.80
- Ohio$68.50
- Oklahoma$44.13
- Oregon$52.38
- Pennsylvania$61.20
- 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
- Wyoming$73.60
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.