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Viral Culture Identification

Missouri 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?

$40.74

Typical negotiated rate. In Missouri, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $40.74 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $33.11 from a physician practice, and about $46.77 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$33.11$23.44 to $53.70
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$46.77$33.88 to $66.07

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $47 · 10th to 90th $33 to $100Professionalmedian $33 · 10th to 90th $17 to $81
$20$50$100$200facility $47professional $33

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
$33.11
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$81.28
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$33.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$117.49
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$89.13
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$77.62
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$186.21
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$87.10
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$162.18
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$40.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$44.67
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$45.71

Where Missouri 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.

Missouri· 13th of 51

$40.74

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.