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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Washington, DC 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?

$12.30

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12.30 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.07 from a physician practice, and about $37.15 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$4.07$4.07 to $4.07
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$37.15$12.30 to $70.79

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $37 · 10th to 90th $4 to $76Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $4 to $19
$5$10$20$50$100facility $37professional $4

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
$4.07
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$75.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.07
Typical High
$4.07
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$60.26
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$19.95
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$42.66
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$10.96
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.16
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$9.12

Where Washington, DC 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.

Washington, DC· 7th of 51

$12.30

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.