go back

Viral Culture Identification

Mississippi 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?

$38.90

Typical negotiated rate. In Mississippi, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $38.90 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $36.31 from a physician practice, and about $54.95 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 5 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$36.31$26.92 to $60.26
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$54.95$36.31 to $60.26

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $55 · 10th to 90th $30 to $69Professionalmedian $36 · 10th to 90th $25 to $69
$20$50$100facility $55professional $36

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
$33.88
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$69.18
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$16.98
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$54.95
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$67.61
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$67.61
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$45.71
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$69.18

Where Mississippi 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.

Mississippi· 21st of 51

$38.90

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.