go back

Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Louisiana 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?

$6.92

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.92 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.89 from a physician practice, and about $10.47 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$5.89$4.27 to $6.61
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$10.47$6.46 to $19.95

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $10 · 10th to 90th $6 to $112Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $3 to $8
$1.0$10.0$100.0$1.0Kfacility $10professional $6

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
$5.75
Median
$13.80
Typical High
$199.53
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$7.41
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$19.95
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$9.55
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$33.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.57
Median
$3.55
Typical High
$6.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$7.59

Where Louisiana sits

The same service costs 12.0 times more in West Virginia than in Kentucky. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Louisiana $6.92 · 30th of 51
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.