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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

New Jersey 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?

$8.13

Typical negotiated rate. In New Jersey, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.13 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.79 from a physician practice, and about $19.05 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 7 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$4.79$4.17 to $6.17
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$19.05$9.77 to $33.88

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $19 · 10th to 90th $6 to $74Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $10
$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $19professional $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
$6.61
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$10.47
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$3.24
AmeriHealth
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$11.48
Typical High
$24.55
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$15.49
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$2.69
Typical High
$6.03
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$9,549.93
Typical High
$23,988.33
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$6.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$12.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$7.76

Where New Jersey 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.

New Jersey $8.13 · 18th 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.