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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Arizona rates for HCPCS 87206

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 July 2026.

How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?

$6.46

Typical negotiated rate. In Arizona, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.46 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.90 from a physician practice, and about $10.96 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 5 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$4.90$3.98 to $33.11
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$10.96$6.92 to $21.38

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $11 · 10th to 90th $5 to $26Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $35
$5$10$20$50$100facility $11professional $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
$7.24
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$26.92
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$35.48
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$25.12
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$21.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$17.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$8.32
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$100.00
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$4.27
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.76
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$7.41

Where Arizona sits

The same service costs 12.0 times more in West Virginia 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.

Arizona· 34th of 51

$6.46

WV $60.26KY $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.