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Viral Culture Identification

Georgia 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 Georgia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $32.36 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $29.51 from a physician practice, and about $45.71 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$29.51$22.39 to $40.74
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$45.71$33.88 to $63.10

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $46 · 10th to 90th $26 to $105Professionalmedian $30 · 10th to 90th $17 to $60
$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $46professional $30

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
$26.92
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$64.57
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$64.57
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$61.66
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$57.54
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$25.70
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$102.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$72.44
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$112.20
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$41.69
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$46.77

Where Georgia sits

The same service costs 3.0 times more in Alaska than in Washington, DC. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Georgia $32.36 · 38th of 51
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.