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Virus Identification By Tissue Culture

Alabama rates for HCPCS 87252

A laboratory test that attempts to grow a virus from a patient sample in a cell (tissue) culture, then examines the culture for changes caused by viral growth to help identify what virus is present. It is a traditional method of confirming a viral infection when other faster tests may not provide enough detail.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Virus Identification By Tissue Culture cost?

$23.44

Typical negotiated rate. In Alabama, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $23.44 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $23.44 from a physician practice, and about $26.30 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 4 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$23.44$21.38 to $30.20
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$26.30$12.59 to $30.20

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $26 · 10th to 90th $11 to $44Professionalmedian $23 · 10th to 90th $17 to $30
$10$20$50$100facility $26professional $23

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
$26.30
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$30.20
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$15.85
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$22.39
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$83.18
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$93.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$32.36
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$36.31

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 3.0 times more in Nebraska than in Washington, DC. 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.

Alabama· 43rd of 51

$23.44

NE $57.54DC $19.50

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.