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Viral Culture Identification

West 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?

$27.54

Typical negotiated rate. In West Virginia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $27.54 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $26.92 from a physician practice, and about $51.29 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$26.92$25.12 to $31.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$51.29$14.45 to $85.11

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $51 · 10th to 90th $14 to $166Professionalmedian $27 · 10th to 90th $21 to $32
$20$50$100$200facility $51professional $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
$14.45
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$31.62
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$45.71
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$40.74
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$102.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$302.00
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$204.17
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$20.42
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$38.90
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$46.77

Where West Virginia 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.

West Virginia· 49th of 51

$27.54

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.