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Rapid Virus Culture With Fluorescent Staining

Alabama rates for HCPCS 87254

A laboratory test that grows a virus from a patient sample in a small vial of cells spun in a centrifuge, which drives the virus into the cells faster. A fluorescent stain is then used to identify which virus is present, and each virus looked for is billed separately. It gives an answer sooner than a standard viral culture.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Rapid Virus Culture With Fluorescent Staining cost?

$17.78

Typical negotiated rate. In Alabama, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $17.78 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $18.20 from a physician practice, and about $17.78 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$18.20$16.22 to $22.39
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$17.78$11.75 to $22.39

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $18 · 10th to 90th $10 to $30Professionalmedian $18 · 10th to 90th $13 to $22
$10$20facility $18professional $18

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
$19.50
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$30.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$22.39
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$13.18
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$15.85
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$19.95
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$61.66
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$69.18
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$25.12
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$11.48
Typical High
$27.54

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 2.3 times more in Vermont 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.

Alabama· 43rd of 51

$17.78

VT $33.88DC $14.79

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.