A sample from the body is spread on a slide and treated with a special fluorescent or acid-fast stain, then examined under a microscope to look for certain bacteria, fungi, or parasites that are hard to see with routine staining, including the type of bacteria that causes tuberculosis. A specialist reports back on what, if anything, is seen. It gives a fast, same-day clue about a possible infection while slower culture results are still pending.
Rates data updated October 2026.
How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?
$6.17
Typical negotiated rate. In Alabama, October 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.17 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.17 from a physician practice, and about $10.47 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 by
Who charges it
Typical
Range
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider
A doctor's office, clinic or independent provider
$4.17
$2.82 to $6.17
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department
A hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department
$10.47
$10.47 to $10.47
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $10 · 10th to 90th $6 to $10Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $2 to $6
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
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$8.32
Facility
None
$6.17
$6.17
$8.32
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$6.17
Professional
None
$2.82
$6.17
$6.17
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$3.72
Professional
None
$3.63
$3.63
$3.72
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$10.47
Facility
None
$10.47
$10.47
$10.47
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery + 31 + 55 · Aftercare only + 99 · Multiple modifiers
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$5.50
Professional
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery + 31 + 55 · Aftercare only + 99 · Multiple modifiers
$3.72
$4.47
$5.50
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$17.38
Facility
None
$4.37
$4.57
$17.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$30.20
Professional
None
$2.82
$3.39
$30.20
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.95
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$18.20
Facility
None
$1.95
$4.79
$18.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$4.37
Professional
None
$2.24
$3.09
$4.37
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
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$2.40
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$3.09
Professional
52 · Reduced service
$2.40
$3.09
$3.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.95
Median
$1.23
Typical High
$1.23
Professional
53 · Discontinued
$0.95
$1.23
$1.23
Where Alabama sits
The same service costs 4.2 times more in Kansas than in Maryland. 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.