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Viral Culture Identification

Illinois 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?

$33.11

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $33.11 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $27.54 from a physician practice, and about $56.23 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$27.54$23.44 to $34.67
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$56.23$35.48 to $77.62

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $56 · 10th to 90th $29 to $174Professionalmedian $28 · 10th to 90th $3 to $69
$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0$500.0facility $56professional $28

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
$27.54
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$69.18
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$20.89
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$346.74
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$26.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$154.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$61.66
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$208.93
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$43.65
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$18.62
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$67.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$33.88

Where Illinois 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.

Illinois $33.11 · 34th 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.