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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

South 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?

$25.70

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $25.70 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.27 from a physician practice, and about $100 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$4.27$4.17 to $7.94
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$100$24.55 to $138

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $100 · 10th to 90th $7 to $240Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $4 to $15
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $100professional $4

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
$6.76
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$245.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$15.49
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$114.82
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$14.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$97.72
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$3.55
Typical High
$7.76
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$15.49
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.95
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.46
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$7.59

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 12.0 times more in West Virginia than in Kentucky. 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.

South Carolina· 3rd of 51

$25.70

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.