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Darkfield Microscope Exam for Spirochetes

Louisiana rates for HCPCS 87166

Examination of fluid or scrapings under a microscope arranged so that light strikes the sample from the side, making extremely thin corkscrew-shaped bacteria stand out bright against a dark background. It is used mainly to look for the organism that causes syphilis in fluid taken from a sore, and it can give an answer straight away.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Darkfield Microscope Exam for Spirochetes cost?

$13.18

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $13.18 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $9.55 from a physician practice, and about $20.42 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$9.55$5.13 to $12.30
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.42$13.80 to $29.51

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $20 · 10th to 90th $11 to $40Professionalmedian $10 · 10th to 90th $5 to $15
$5$10$20$50facility $20professional $10

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
$12.02
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$57.54
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$28.84
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.40
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$11.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$13.80
Typical High
$14.79
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$7.41
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.40
Median
$2.75
Typical High
$2.95
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$35.48
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.33
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$13.18
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$67.61
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$13.18
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$11.22
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$12.30

Where Louisiana sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Alaska than in Kentucky. 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.

Louisiana· 15th of 51

$13.18

AK $25.70KY $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.