Smear gram stain cost at US hospitals
HC Smear Gram Stain · CPT 87205
$3.63
lowest cash price
$55.55
national median
$467.92
highest cash price
881
hospitals with a published cash price
Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $3.63–$467.92 — the variation is the story.
Cheapest published cash price
$3.63
Banner North Colorado Medical Center - Loveland Campus — Loveland, COMedian cash price over time
Sep 1, 2025 ($55.35) → Sep 1, 2026 ($32.00)
By state
| State | Hospitals | Lowest cash | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 5 | $64.74 | $163.80 | $209.82 |
| Arizona | 24 | $16.11 | $34.04 | $94.24 |
| Arkansas | 11 | $13.25 | $79.95 | $93.00 |
| California | 91 | $7.25 | $86.80 | $317.22 |
| Colorado | 16 | $3.63 | $130.54 | $130.54 |
| Florida | 81 | $22.11 | $141.66 | $354.83 |
| Georgia | 25 | $20.00 | $80.34 | $467.92 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $76.50 | $76.50 | $158.72 |
| Illinois | 51 | $17.16 | $70.70 | $183.60 |
| Indiana | 26 | $31.50 | $73.80 | $117.00 |
| Iowa | 29 | $20.80 | $38.58 | $393.00 |
| Kansas | 11 | $39.60 | $53.30 | $193.80 |
| Kentucky | 23 | $12.00 | $37.20 | $142.51 |
| Louisiana | 2 | $42.64 | $42.64 | $42.64 |
| Maine | 7 | $49.85 | $77.85 | $90.40 |
| Maryland | 2 | $32.40 | $32.40 | $32.40 |
| Michigan | 27 | $5.89 | $28.00 | $116.80 |
| Minnesota | 18 | $28.00 | $31.92 | $72.00 |
| Mississippi | 11 | $15.62 | $39.75 | $88.40 |
| Missouri | 21 | $17.25 | $40.70 | $81.25 |
| Montana | 2 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $66.40 |
| Nebraska | 13 | $18.86 | $51.66 | $98.60 |
| Nevada | 4 | $68.89 | $93.07 | $129.85 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $106.05 | $106.05 | $106.05 |
| New Jersey | 22 | $4.27 | $4.70 | $21.50 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $96.18 | $96.18 | $96.18 |
| New York | 23 | $4.27 | $4.27 | $328.85 |
| North Carolina | 15 | $37.50 | $82.08 | $102.00 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $28.80 | $28.80 | $28.80 |
| Ohio | 68 | $11.00 | $54.75 | $115.20 |
| Oklahoma | 18 | $42.37 | $57.85 | $232.65 |
| Oregon | 12 | $17.85 | $34.56 | $42.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 32 | $16.80 | $33.00 | $111.20 |
| South Carolina | 11 | $37.00 | $77.50 | $235.50 |
| South Dakota | 7 | $27.20 | $38.40 | $74.40 |
| Tennessee | 37 | $7.35 | $14.19 | $341.60 |
| Texas | 114 | $26.04 | $90.63 | $207.06 |
| Virginia | 43 | $7.35 | $46.00 | $202.20 |
| Washington | 32 | $9.60 | $49.58 | $182.00 |
| West Virginia | 18 | $12.00 | $30.50 | $88.00 |
| Wisconsin | 35 | $22.23 | $40.00 | $150.70 |
| Wyoming | 4 | $5.46 | $8.18 | $9.20 |
All hospitals
| Hospital | Location | Cash price | Negotiated range |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADVENTIST HEALTH TULARE | Tulare, CA | $39.33 | $1.23 – $43.53 |
| Wamego Health Center (Wamego Hospital Association) | Wamego, KS | $39.60 | $4.27 – $54.90 |
| Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc | Manhattan, KS | $39.60 | $3.87 – $49.50 |
| HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital | OCONTO FALLS, WI | $39.60 | $4.27 – $5.55 |
| 62-1519754 BMH Golden Triangle | Columbus, MS | $39.75 | $4.10 – $11.96 |
| SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL, INC. | San Luis Obispo, CA | $39.87 | $4.27 – $228.80 |
| Aurora Baycare Medical Center | Green Bay, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Bay Area | Marinette, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Burlington | Burlington, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Grafton | Grafton, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc | Two Rivers, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Kenosha | Kenosha, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Fond du Lac | Fond Du Lac, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County | Sheboygan, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital | Wauwatosa, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Sinai Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro | Milwaukee, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Summit | Summit, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora Medical Center Washington County | Hartford, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| Aurora West Allis Medical Center | West Allis, WI | $40.00 | $3.42 – $14.98 |
| 64-0881013 MBMC Jackson | Jackson, MS | $40.11 | $2.50 – $11.96 |
| Morrow County Hospital | Mount Gilead, OH | $40.24 | $2.11 – $33.75 |
| Berkeley Medical Center | Martinsburg, WV | $40.35 | $4.03 – $6.75 |
| SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton | Fenton, MO | $40.70 | $4.27 – $17.60 |
| SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis | Bridgeton, MO | $40.70 | $4.27 – $17.60 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital- Wentzville | Wentzville, MO | $40.70 | $4.27 – $17.60 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles | Saint Charles, MO | $40.70 | $4.27 – $17.60 |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis | Richmond Heights, MO | $40.70 | $4.27 – $17.60 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis | Lake Saint Louis, MO | $40.70 | $4.27 – $17.60 |
| Methodist Hospital of Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | $40.90 | $3.46 – $117.86 |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center | Dubuque, IA | $40.95 | $4.14 – $63.00 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas River Park | McMinnville, TN | $41.24 | $3.00 – $16.95 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford | Murfreesboro, TN | $41.24 | $3.84 – $16.95 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands | Sparta, TN | $41.27 | $3.00 – $16.95 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb | Smithville, TN | $41.27 | $3.00 – $16.95 |
| UPMC St. Margaret | Pittsburgh, PA | $41.40 | $3.69 – $8.33 |
| Parkview Montpelier Hospital | Montpelier, OH | $41.50 | not published |
| Parkview Bryan Hospital | Bryan, OH | $41.50 | $4.27 – $12.81 |
| Banner Payson Medical Center | Payson, AZ | $41.68 | $4.27 – $11.70 |
| Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (Sacred Heart Health System, Inc.) | Pensacola, FL | $42.16 | $4.27 – $16.56 |
| Ascension St. John Medical Center (St. John Medical Center, Inc.) | Tulsa, OK | $42.37 | $4.27 – $17.08 |
| Ascension St. John Owasso (Owasso Medical Facility, Inc.) | Owasso, OK | $42.37 | $4.27 – $11.78 |
| Ascension St. John Jane Phillips (Jane Phillips Memorial Medical Center, Inc.) | Bartlesville, OK | $42.37 | $4.27 – $56.64 |
| Ascension St. John Nowata (Jane Phillips Nowata Hospital, Inc.) | Nowata, OK | $42.37 | $4.43 – $56.64 |
| Ascension St. John Sapulpa (St. John Sapulpa, Inc.) | Sapulpa, OK | $42.37 | $4.43 – $10.39 |
| Ascension St. John Broken Arrow (St. John Broken Arrow, Inc.) | Jenks, OK | $42.37 | $4.43 – $6.65 |
| St Ritas Medical Center | Lima, OH | $42.60 | not published |
| CHRISTUS St. Francis Cabrini Hospital | Alexandria, LA | $42.64 | $4.18 – $25.57 |
| Banner Ocotillo Medical Center | Chandler, AZ | $42.67 | $4.27 – $9.75 |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center | Newberg, OR | $42.75 | $4.20 – $7.81 |
| Providence Portland Medical Center | Portland, OR | $42.75 | $4.20 – $8.54 |