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Legionella Fluorescent Antigen Test

South Carolina rates for HCPCS 87278

A laboratory test that looks for Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium behind Legionnaires' disease, in a sample taken from the lungs or airway. The sample is treated with antibodies carrying a fluorescent tag and examined under a special microscope, so the bacteria glow if they are present. It is used when a severe pneumonia may be caused by this organism.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Legionella Fluorescent Antigen Test cost?

$30.20

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $30.20 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $19.50 from a physician practice, and about $45.71 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$19.50$15.49 to $30.20
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$45.71$31.62 to $75.86

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $46 · 10th to 90th $23 to $95Professionalmedian $19 · 10th to 90th $9 to $36
$10$20$50$100facility $46professional $19

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$12.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$12.59
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$95.50
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$36.31
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$95.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$17.78
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$87.10
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$21.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$18.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$18.62
2 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$6.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$2.45
Typical High
$2.51

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 3.6 times more in Kansas than in Nebraska. 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.

South Carolina· 3rd of 51

$30.20

KS $38.02NE $10.47

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.