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Rapid Virus Culture With Fluorescent Staining

North Carolina 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 North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $17.78 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $17.38 from a physician practice, and about $20.89 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 7 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$17.38$15.49 to $23.99
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.89$16.98 to $60.26

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $21 · 10th to 90th $15 to $95Professionalmedian $17 · 10th to 90th $13 to $26
$10$20$50$100$200facility $21professional $17

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
$15.49
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$25.70
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$13.49
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$69.18
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$17.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$29.51
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$58.88
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$31.62
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$6.46
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$27.54
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$112.20

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina· 40th 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.