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Viral Culture Identification

Virginia 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?

$33.88

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $33.88 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $25.70 from a physician practice, and about $52.48 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 8 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$25.70$25.12 to $31.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$52.48$33.88 to $126

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $52 · 10th to 90th $25 to $229Professionalmedian $26 · 10th to 90th $17 to $79
$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $52professional $26

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
$25.12
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$64.57
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$134.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$25.70
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$151.36
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$48.98
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$50.12
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$66.07
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$54.95
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$70.79
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$10,000.00
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$10,000.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$57.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$35.48

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia $33.88 · 26th 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.