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Separating Selected Cells From A Tissue Sample

Washington rates for HCPCS 88381

A laboratory preparation step in which a very small, specific group of cells is separated out from a tissue sample viewed under a microscope. Isolating those cells means that a later test measures only the area of interest instead of the surrounding normal tissue, which makes the result more reliable. It produces material for further testing rather than a diagnosis of its own.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Separating Selected Cells From A Tissue Sample cost?

$240

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $240 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $240 from a physician practice, and about $224 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 11 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$240$81.28 to $355
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$224$145 to $309

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $224 · 10th to 90th $141 to $407Professionalmedian $240 · 10th to 90th $48 to $468
$50$100$200$500$1Kfacility $224professional $240

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
$223.87
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$223.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$269.15
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$169.82
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$446.68
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$263.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$501.19
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$446.68
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$363.08
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$281.84
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$275.42
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$251.19
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$489.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$426.58
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$194.98
11 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
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$204.17
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$331.13
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,445.44
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$83.18
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$239.88
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$30.90
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$245.47
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$57.54
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$436.52
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$50.12
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$346.74

Where Washington sits

The same service costs 6.5 times more in North Dakota 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.

Washington· 18th of 51

$240

ND $363AL $56.23

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.