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Virus Identification By Tissue Culture

Louisiana 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?

$31.62

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $31.62 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $28.84 from a physician practice, and about $36.31 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$28.84$19.95 to $31.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$36.31$31.62 to $67.61

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $36 · 10th to 90th $26 to $107Professionalmedian $29 · 10th to 90th $15 to $36
$10$20$50$100$200facility $36professional $29

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
$27.54
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$35.48
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$97.72
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$50.12
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$162.18
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$30.20
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$32.36
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$36.31

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 15th of 51

$31.62

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.