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Urine Bacteria Colony Count Culture

Iowa 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?

$19.50

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $19.50 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $12.30 from a physician practice, and about $48.98 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 8 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$12.30$8.13 to $25.70
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$48.98$17.78 to $89.13

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $49 · 10th to 90th $10 to $120Professionalmedian $12 · 10th to 90th $6 to $52
$2$10$50$200facility $49professional $12

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
$11.22
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$120.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$12.59
Typical High
$53.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$19.95
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$56.23
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$69.18
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$20.89
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$48.98
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$10.00
Oscar Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$138.04
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$18.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$22.39
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$8.13

Where Iowa 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.

Iowa· 17th of 51

$19.50

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.