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Virus Identification By Tissue Culture

Massachusetts 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?

$28.18

Typical negotiated rate. In Massachusetts, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $28.18 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $26.30 from a physician practice, and about $63.10 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 9 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$26.30$24.55 to $36.31
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$63.10$37.15 to $81.28

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $63 · 10th to 90th $25 to $129Professionalmedian $26 · 10th to 90th $23 to $68
$20$50$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $63professional $26

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
$67.61
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$117.49
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$125.89
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$63.10
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$102.33
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$33.11
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$67.61
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$67.61
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$7,079.46
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$44.67
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$79.43
Health New England
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$38.90
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$125.89
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$63.10
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$38.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$66.07

Where Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts· 23rd of 51

$28.18

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.