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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Oklahoma 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?

$7.59

Typical negotiated rate. In Oklahoma, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7.59 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.13 from a physician practice, and about $20.42 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 6 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$5.13$3.98 to $5.37
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.42$5.37 to $30.20

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $20 · 10th to 90th $4 to $36Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $6
$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $20professional $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
$4.07
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$5.89
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$3.31
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$36.31
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$5.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$14.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$7.76
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$100.00
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$7.08
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$7.41
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$4.57

Where Oklahoma 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.

Oklahoma $7.59 · 25th 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.