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Antibiotic Sensitivity Test for a Single Drug

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 87188

A laboratory test that checks whether one particular antibiotic can stop the growth of the bacteria found in a patient's sample. It is reported separately for each drug examined, so testing a panel of drugs produces several results.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Sensitivity Test for a Single Drug cost?

$5.50

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.50 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.37 from a physician practice, and about $8.13 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$5.37$5.37 to $6.03
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.13$5.50 to $15.49

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8 · 10th to 90th $5 to $72Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $9
$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $8professional $5

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$39.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.71
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$23.44
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$8.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$30.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$10.23
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$31.62
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$12.88
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$16.98
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$12.59
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$9.33
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$309.03

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Nebraska than in Washington, DC. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

North Carolina $5.50 · 46th of 51
NE $17.38DC $5.01

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.