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Darkfield Microscope Exam for Spirochetes

Minnesota 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?

$11.22

Typical negotiated rate. In Minnesota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $11.22 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $11.22 from a physician practice, and about $11.22 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$11.22$9.12 to $13.80
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$11.22$10.72 to $38.02

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $11 · 10th to 90th $11 to $85Professionalmedian $11 · 10th to 90th $8 to $22
$5$10$20$50$100facility $11professional $11

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
$10.72
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$10.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$13.49
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$104.71
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.12
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$11.22
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$107.15
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$22.39
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$85.11
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$21.88
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$100.00
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$23.99
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$44.67
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$26.30
4 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$2.14
Typical High
$2.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.76
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$2.14
Typical High
$2.69

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota· 24th of 51

$11.22

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.