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Viral Culture Identification

Colorado 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 July 2026.

How much does Viral Culture Identification cost?

$32.36

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $32.36 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $28.84 from a physician practice, and about $83.18 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$28.84$25.70 to $31.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$83.18$44.67 to $141

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $83 · 10th to 90th $26 to $170Professionalmedian $29 · 10th to 90th $21 to $34
$20$50$100$200facility $83professional $29

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
$21.38
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$32.36
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$169.82
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$33.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$40.74
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$69.18
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$120.23
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$35.48
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$70.79
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$51.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$31.62

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 3.0 times more in Alaska 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.

Colorado· 36th of 51

$32.36

AK $75.86DC $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.