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Virus Identification By Tissue Culture

Washington 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?

$34.67

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $34.67 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $24.55 from a physician practice, and about $56.23 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$24.55$23.44 to $33.88
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$56.23$31.62 to $93.33

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $56 · 10th to 90th $26 to $145Professionalmedian $25 · 10th to 90th $19 to $40
$10$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $56professional $25

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
$24.55
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$56.23
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$72.44
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$26.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$93.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$40.74
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$64.57
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$52.48
Pacific Source
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$52.48
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$81.28
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$31.62
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$70.79
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$26.30
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$31.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$31.62
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$46.77

Where Washington 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.

Washington· 12th of 51

$34.67

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.