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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

North Carolina 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?

$13.18

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $13.18 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.37 from a physician practice, and about $21.88 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 8 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$4.27 to $7.59
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$21.88$8.91 to $57.54

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $22 · 10th to 90th $5 to $89Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $15
$10.0$100.0$1.0Kfacility $22professional $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
$4.79
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$15.49
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$25.12
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.12
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$23.44
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$4.90
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$24.55
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$8.32
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$20.42
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$10.47
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$12.02
Oscar Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$363.08
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$10.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.69
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$7.59
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina $13.18 · 6th 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.