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Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR)

South Carolina rates for HCPCS 85651

This blood test measures how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube over a set period of time, using a manual laboratory method rather than an automated instrument. A faster settling rate can be a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body, though it does not point to a specific cause.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR) cost?

$6.03

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.03 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.89 from a physician practice, and about $22.39 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$5.89$4.27 to $7.94
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$22.39$14.79 to $37.15

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $22 · 10th to 90th $5 to $52Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $3 to $9
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $22professional $6

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$6.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$5.13
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$7.94
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$56.23
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$8.91
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$25.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.95
Median
$2.69
Typical High
$5.37
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.89
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$12.59
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$5.13
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.34
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$5.01
2 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1.66
Median
$1.66
Typical High
$1.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.68
Median
$0.68
Typical High
$0.68

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 4.4 times more in Alaska than in New Jersey. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

South Carolina· 9th of 51

$6.03

AK $13.80NJ $3.16

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.