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Urine Bacteria Colony Count Culture

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 87086

This lab test grows a urine sample on a culture plate and counts the number of bacterial colonies that develop, which helps determine whether a urinary tract infection is present and how significant it is. Higher colony counts generally indicate a true infection rather than incidental contamination. It's a standard test used to confirm and help guide treatment of suspected urinary tract infections.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Urine Bacteria Colony Count Culture cost?

$28.18

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $28.18 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $6.03 from a physician practice, and about $54.95 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$6.03$6.03 to $6.03
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$54.95$18.20 to $89.13

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $55 · 10th to 90th $8 to $98Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $6 to $28
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $55professional $6

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$6.03
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$13.80
Typical High
$30.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$61.66
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$16.22
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$9.77
Typical High
$28.18
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$13.80

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 11.5 times more in West Virginia than in Vermont. 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.

Washington, DC· 8th of 51

$28.18

WV $83.18VT $7.24

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.