go back

Viral Culture Identification

Kentucky 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?

$28.84

Typical negotiated rate. In Kentucky, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $28.84 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $28.84 from a physician practice, and about $33.88 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$28.84$16.98 to $39.81
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$33.88$28.18 to $50.12

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $34 · 10th to 90th $28 to $65Professionalmedian $29 · 10th to 90th $17 to $47
$20$50$100$200facility $34professional $29

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$46.77
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$46.77
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$35.48
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$46.77
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$47.86
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$67.61
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$72.44
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$302.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$46.77
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
$13.80
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$23.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$9.55

Where Kentucky 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.

Kentucky· 34th of 51

$28.84

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.