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Legionella Fluorescent Antigen Test

Virginia 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?

$12.02

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12.02 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $10.72 from a physician practice, and about $20.89 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$10.72$7.41 to $12.59
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.89$15.49 to $36.31

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $21 · 10th to 90th $13 to $72Professionalmedian $11 · 10th to 90th $6 to $19
$10$100$1K$10Kfacility $21professional $11

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
$11.75
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$36.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$13.18
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$75.86
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$12.02
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$12.59
Typical High
$15.49
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$47.86
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$9.77
Typical High
$20.89
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$22.91
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$23.44
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$24.55
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$8.51
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$10,232.93
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$10,232.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$18.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$15.49
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
$5.89
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$6.92
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.34
Median
$2.63
Typical High
$2.75

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 40th of 51

$12.02

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.