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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 October 2026.

How much does Viral Culture Identification cost?

$26.92

Typical negotiated rate. In Georgia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $26.92 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $22.39 from a physician practice, and about $45.71 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$22.39$16.60 to $45.71
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$45.71$33.88 to $67.61

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $46 · 10th to 90th $26 to $117Professionalmedian $22 · 10th to 90th $10 to $59
$10$20$50$100facility $46professional $22

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
$22.39
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$67.61
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$64.57
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$117.49
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$58.88
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$25.70
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$102.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$51.29
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$112.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$70.79
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
$14.13
Typical High
$16.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$6.61

Where Georgia 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.

Georgia· 46th of 51

$26.92

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.