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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 July 2026.

How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?

$5.89

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.89 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.17 from a physician practice, and about $13.18 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 8 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$4.17$4.07 to $5.25
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$13.18$6.17 to $46.77

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $13 · 10th to 90th $5 to $110Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $14
$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $13professional $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
$6.61
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$14.13
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$21.38
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$2.63
Typical High
$4.17
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$38.02
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$13.80
Typical High
$23.99
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$9.33
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$7.94
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$10.47
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$8.91
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$11.22
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$10,000.00
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$10,000.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$9.33
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$5.62

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia $5.89 · 44th 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.