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Virus Identification By Tissue Culture

Tennessee 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?

$20.89

Typical negotiated rate. In Tennessee, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $20.89 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $20.42 from a physician practice, and about $85.11 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 6 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$20.42$19.50 to $23.44
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$85.11$24.55 to $120

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $85 · 10th to 90th $20 to $174Professionalmedian $20 · 10th to 90th $19 to $35
$10$20$50$100$200facility $85professional $20

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
$20.42
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$30.20
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$13.18
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$35.48
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$107.15
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$39.81
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$125.89
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$26.30
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$36.31

Where Tennessee 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.

Tennessee· 50th of 51

$20.89

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.