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Viral Culture Identification

Alabama rates for HCPCS 87255

This is a laboratory test that attempts to grow a virus from a patient sample in living cells, then identifies it using methods other than watching for the visible changes it causes to those cells. It is one way to confirm a viral infection, though it has largely been supplemented by faster molecular tests in many settings.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Viral Culture Identification cost?

$38.90

Typical negotiated rate. In Alabama, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $38.90 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $23.44 from a physician practice, and about $39.81 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$23.44$17.38 to $38.90
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$39.81$39.81 to $39.81

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $40 · 10th to 90th $37 to $40Professionalmedian $23 · 10th to 90th $14 to $39
$20$50$100facility $40professional $23

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$38.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$38.90
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$23.44
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery + 31 + 55 · Aftercare only + 99 · Multiple modifiers
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$30.20
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$107.15
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$194.98
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$23.99
2 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$7.76

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 3.7 times more in Alaska than in Maryland. 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· 17th of 51

$38.90

AK $93.33MD $25.12

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.