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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Nevada 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 October 2026.

How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?

$5.37

Typical negotiated rate. In Nevada, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.37 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.98 from a physician practice, and about $6.31 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$3.98$2.82 to $6.17
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$6.31$5.37 to $7.59

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6 · 10th to 90th $5 to $19Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $8
$10$100$1Kfacility $6professional $4

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$28.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$7.41
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$3.31
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$7.59
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$2.63
Typical High
$3.98
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$19.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$7.76
Hometown Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.86
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.71
Hometown Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.86
Median
$1.86
Typical High
$1.86
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$18.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$12.59

Where Nevada sits

The same service costs 4.2 times more in Kansas than in Maryland. 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.

Nevada· 33rd of 51

$5.37

KS $16.98MD $4.07

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.