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Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug

South Carolina rates for HCPCS 87181

A follow-on laboratory test once bacteria have been grown from a sample. The organism is exposed to an antibiotic mixed into the material it is growing on, to see whether that drug stops it and at what strength, with a result reported for each drug tested.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug cost?

$7.94

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7.94 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.08 from a physician practice, and about $22.91 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$7.08$4.79 to $12.02
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$22.91$18.20 to $45.71

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $23 · 10th to 90th $7 to $71Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $3 to $12
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $23professional $7

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
$3.72
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$3.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$4.17
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$74.13
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$12.02
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$30.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$6.17
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$5.01
Typical High
$33.88
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$16.98
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.75
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$6.61
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
$1.86
Median
$1.86
Typical High
$1.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.74
Median
$0.74
Typical High
$0.76

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 9.1 times more in Kansas 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.

South Carolina· 3rd of 51

$7.94

KS $11.75KY $1.29

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.