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Viral Culture Identification

Washington, DC 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?

$25.12

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $25.12 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $25.12 from a physician practice, and about $77.62 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$25.12$25.12 to $25.12
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$77.62$54.95 to $234

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $78 · 10th to 90th $25 to $263Professionalmedian $25 · 10th to 90th $25 to $117
$20$50$100$200facility $78professional $25

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
$25.12
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$25.12
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$380.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$263.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$69.18
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$104.71
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$57.54

Where Washington, DC 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.

Washington, DC· 51st of 51

$25.12

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.