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Darkfield Microscope Exam for Spirochetes

North Carolina 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?

$9.12

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $9.12 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $9.12 from a physician practice, and about $16.22 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$9.12$7.59 to $10.47
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$16.22$9.12 to $34.67

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $16 · 10th to 90th $9 to $51Professionalmedian $9 · 10th to 90th $6 to $16
$5$10$20$50facility $16professional $9

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
$9.12
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$29.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.12
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$10.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$4.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.82
Median
$1.82
Typical High
$1.95
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$48.98
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$10.23
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.94
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$51.29
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$16.98
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.24
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$21.38
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$23.44
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.12
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$26.92
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$15.49

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina· 40th of 51

$9.12

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.