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Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count

Virginia 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?

$224

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $224 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $191 from a physician practice, and about $372 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$191$115 to $257
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$372$263 to $631

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $372 · 10th to 90th $257 to $1,288Professionalmedian $191 · 10th to 90th $105 to $372
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $372professional $191

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
$199.53
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$616.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$223.87
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$1,288.25
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$181.97
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$245.47
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$398.11
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$371.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$346.74
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$478.63
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$309.03
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$10,232.93
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$1,230.27
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$316.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$436.52
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
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$44.67

Where Virginia sits

The same service costs 3.4 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.

Virginia· 40th of 51

$224

AK $589AL $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.