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Darkfield Microscope Exam for Spirochetes

Missouri 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?

$13.49

Typical negotiated rate. In Missouri, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $13.49 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $11.22 from a physician practice, and about $22.39 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$6.76 to $22.91
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$22.39$15.14 to $39.81

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $22 · 10th to 90th $11 to $100Professionalmedian $11 · 10th to 90th $6 to $23
$5$10$20$50$100facility $22professional $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
$9.55
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$10.96
Typical High
$11.22
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$52.48
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$28.84
BCBS Kansas City
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$42.66
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$64.57
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$23.99
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$100.00
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$14.79
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$10.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$15.14
2 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
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$6.46
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.91
Median
$1.95
Typical High
$2.57

Where Missouri 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.

Missouri· 13th of 51

$13.49

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.