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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Virginia 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?

$4.47

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4.47 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.72 from a physician practice, and about $8.91 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$3.72$2.88 to $4.90
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.91$5.37 to $13.80

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $28Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $9
$10$100$1K$10Kfacility $9professional $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
$4.07
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$14.45
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$12.59
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$26.30
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$4.17
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$7.59
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$12.59
Typical High
$20.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$7.76
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$7.94
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$10.47
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$11.22
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$9.55
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$7,413.10
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$10,232.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$18.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$5.62
2 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$2.04
Median
$2.45
Typical High
$2.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.81
Median
$1.00
Typical High
$1.02

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 44th of 51

$4.47

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.