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Virus Identification By Tissue Culture

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $31.62 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $22.39 from a physician practice, and about $69.18 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 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$22.39$20.89 to $24.55
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$69.18$39.81 to $107

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $69 · 10th to 90th $22 to $182Professionalmedian $22 · 10th to 90th $20 to $39
$20$50$100$200facility $69professional $22

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
$22.39
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$34.67
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$8,511.38
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$22.91
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$63.10
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$38.02
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$26.30
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$45.71
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$169.82
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$22.39
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$151.36
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$64.57
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$177.83
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$37.15
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$31.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$45.71

Where Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania· 18th 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.