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Rapid Strep Throat Test

South Carolina rates for HCPCS 87880

A swab sample from the throat is tested using a rapid immunoassay kit to check for the bacteria that cause strep throat, with results available quickly in the office rather than waiting for a throat culture to grow. A positive result can help a clinician decide whether antibiotics are needed right away.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Rapid Strep Throat Test cost?

$22.39

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $22.39 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $15.85 from a physician practice, and about $38.02 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$15.85$9.12 to $30.20
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$38.02$30.20 to $66.07

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $38 · 10th to 90th $17 to $93Professionalmedian $16 · 10th to 90th $8 to $30
$10$20$50$100facility $38professional $16

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
$12.88
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$26.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$21.38
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$28.18
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
QW · Waived lab test
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$29.51
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$89.13
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.94
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$30.20
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
QW · Waived lab test
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$17.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$102.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$19.05
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$16.60
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
$14.79
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$19.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$16.98
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
$6.46
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$6.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.57
Median
$2.57
Typical High
$2.63

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 5.2 times more in Alaska than in Alabama. 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· 8th of 51

$22.39

AK $54.95AL $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.