go back

Tuberculosis and Acid-Fast Bacteria Culture

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 87116

This is a laboratory culture that grows a sample, such as sputum or another body fluid, to look for tuberculosis or related slow-growing bacteria known as acid-fast organisms. Because these organisms grow slowly, results can take days to weeks, and the lab both identifies whether the bacteria are present and provides a preliminary identification of the type.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Tuberculosis and Acid-Fast Bacteria Culture cost?

$22.91

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $22.91 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $8.13 from a physician practice, and about $75.86 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$8.13$8.13 to $8.13
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$75.86$22.91 to $151

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $76 · 10th to 90th $13 to $186Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $8 to $22
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $76professional $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
$19.50
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$8.13
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$120.23
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$41.69
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$83.18
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$21.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$44.67
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$10.47

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 14.5 times more in West Virginia than in Rhode Island. 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· 10th of 51

$22.91

WV $117RI $8.13

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.