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Darkfield Microscope Exam for Spirochetes

Utah 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?

$12.88

Typical negotiated rate. In Utah, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12.88 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $10.00 from a physician practice, and about $14.45 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$10.00$6.76 to $14.45
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$14.45$13.49 to $77.62

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $14 · 10th to 90th $12 to $100Professionalmedian $10 · 10th to 90th $5 to $15
$5$10$20$50$100facility $14professional $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
$14.45
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$100.00
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$50.12
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$19.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$14.45
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$7.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.51
Median
$2.63
Typical High
$2.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$32.36
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$16.60
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$19.50
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$51.29
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$10.47
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.94
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$7.94
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.94
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$14.79
U of Utah Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$31.62
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$44.67
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$6.76

Where Utah 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.

Utah· 16th of 51

$12.88

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.