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Viral Culture Identification

Arizona 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?

$28.84

Typical negotiated rate. In Arizona, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $28.84 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $20.42 from a physician practice, and about $67.61 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$20.42$17.78 to $25.12
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$67.61$32.36 to $100

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $68 · 10th to 90th $23 to $155Professionalmedian $20 · 10th to 90th $14 to $39
$20$50$100facility $68professional $20

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
$25.70
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$31.62
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$23.44
BCBS Arizona
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$131.83
BCBS Arizona
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$40.74
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$95.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$51.29
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$162.18
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$22.39
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$38.02
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
$11.22
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$11.22
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$4.57

Where Arizona 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.

Arizona· 36th of 51

$28.84

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.