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Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count

Louisiana rates for HCPCS 88261

Grows cells from a blood or tissue sample, arrests them while their chromosomes are visible, and photographs and arranges the chromosomes so their number and structure can be checked. A stain is used that gives each chromosome a striped pattern, letting missing, extra, or rearranged pieces be spotted. This is the most limited version, examining only a small number of cells.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count cost?

$324

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $324 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $282 from a physician practice, and about $457 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$282$158 to $331
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$457$316 to $676

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $457 · 10th to 90th $257 to $871Professionalmedian $282 · 10th to 90th $145 to $355
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $457professional $282

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
$281.84
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$1,348.96
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$676.08
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$69.18
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$812.83
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$331.13
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,096.48
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$407.38
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$263.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$363.08

Where Louisiana sits

The same service costs 3.4 times more in Alaska than in Florida. 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.

Louisiana· 14th of 51

$324

AK $589FL $174

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.