go back

Urine Bacteria Colony Count Culture

South Carolina 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?

$66.07

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $66.07 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $8.13 from a physician practice, and about $97.72 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 6 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$8.13$6.31 to $25.12
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$97.72$21.88 to $151

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $98 · 10th to 90th $8 to $251Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $6 to $66
$5$10$20$50$100$200$500facility $98professional $8

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
$104.71
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$66.07
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$12.59
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$109.65
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.94
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$16.60
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$134.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$11.75
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$21.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$9.77
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$11.22

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 2nd of 51

$66.07

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.