go back

Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count

North Carolina 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?

$219

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $219 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $219 from a physician practice, and about $513 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$219$151 to $324
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$513$214 to $813

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $513 · 10th to 90th $214 to $1,202Professionalmedian $219 · 10th to 90th $151 to $617
$200$500$1Kfacility $513professional $219

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$288.40
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$831.76
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$660.69
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$426.58
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$245.47
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$316.23
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$489.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$426.58
3 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
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$131.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$52.48
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$338.84

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina· 41st of 51

$219

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.