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Viral Culture Identification

Tennessee 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?

$26.92

Typical negotiated rate. In Tennessee, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $26.92 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $26.92 from a physician practice, and about $60.26 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 6 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$26.92$25.12 to $30.20
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$60.26$31.62 to $120

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $60 · 10th to 90th $25 to $145Professionalmedian $27 · 10th to 90th $25 to $46
$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $60professional $27

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
$26.92
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$36.31
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$20.89
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$45.71
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$141.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$51.29
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$426.58
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$46.77

Where Tennessee 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.

Tennessee $26.92 · 50th 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.