# Caris Life Sciences

Caris tests tumor tissue or blood, reading the whole exome and transcriptome to look for changes that point to targeted drugs, immunotherapy or trials. Your oncologist orders it.

Author: Kevin Wimer
Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/companies/caris-life-sciences/
Stable ID: 47f21cb6-8618-4ac9-8677-d670b06a4637
Revision: de1a91d1-2b8c-4a36-9a5e-f112b3d14fbe
Published: 2026-10-23T00:11:20.320Z
Updated: 2026-10-23T03:20:46.307Z
Reviewed: 2026-10-22

## Who this is for
For people with advanced or metastatic solid tumors whose oncologist is considering comprehensive tumor profiling from tissue or blood.

Caris tests tumor tissue or blood and reads the whole exome (DNA) and whole transcriptome (RNA) to look for changes that can point to targeted drugs, immunotherapy or clinical trials. Your oncologist orders it, and the report goes to them.

## What they do

- **MI Cancer Seek** is Caris's main tissue test in the US. It sequences DNA and RNA across 23,000+ genes from one tumor sample. The FDA approved it in November 2024 as a companion diagnostic for several targeted drugs and immunotherapies. Caris offers it for adults and children (ages 1+) with advanced solid tumors.
- **Caris Assure** is the blood version, for when tissue is limited or unavailable, or the cancer has progressed. It sequences DNA and RNA from plasma and checks your white blood cells too, which helps sort out changes that aren't from the tumor. It can flag inherited findings, but Caris says it isn't a replacement for full germline testing.
- **MI Profile** is the tissue profile Caris offers outside the US and Europe.

Every report lists matching clinical trials. Caris has other tests too (early breast cancer, blood cancers, early detection) that I haven't covered here.

## Who it's for

People with advanced or metastatic solid tumors who are choosing a treatment, or whose cancer has progressed.

## How to start

Only a doctor can order Caris testing, so I'd start with my oncologist. Ask which test fits, tissue or blood. Once it's ordered, Caris asks you to fill out an online consent form. Caris also keeps a list of oncologists who have ordered its tests, if you're looking for one.

## Timing

Caris says MI Cancer Seek takes a median of 8 days from when the sample arrives, and Caris Assure a median of 7 days. Its patient FAQ says results are typically back in less than two weeks.

## Cost and insurance

As of October 2026, Caris doesn't post a self-pay price. Its Medicare advance notice (ABN) form lists estimated costs of $8,455 for MI Cancer Seek and $3,649.48 for Caris Assure if Medicare doesn't cover the test. Caris says most patients pay less than $100 out of pocket.

Caris bills your insurance directly, handles prior authorization, and appeals denials. It says it's in-network with most major commercial plans, Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and that 12+ state Medicaid plans cover MI Cancer Seek. Medicare covers FDA-approved tests like this for recurrent, relapsed, refractory, metastatic or stage III–IV cancer. If you don't meet Medicare's criteria, Caris contacts you and your doctor for an ABN before testing.

As of October 2026, Caris's financial assistance schedule (dated February 2026) cuts the bill 90–100% based on income and household size. For a household of four, that's 100% off up to $66,000 a year, 95% up to $99,000 and 90% up to $132,000. Alaska and Hawaii use a different schedule. If you're over the limits, Caris may still help case by case, for things like big medical debt or a job loss. It also offers prompt-pay discounts and payment plans.

## How it compares

Foundation Medicine and Tempus also offer tissue and blood profiling, with smaller gene panels plus RNA options. [Guardant Health](/companies/guardant-health/) offers blood and tissue tests, plus separate tests to track treatment response. [BostonGene](/companies/bostongene/) also reads the whole exome and transcriptome, and compares it with your normal DNA. Ask your oncologist which one fits your cancer and your sample.

## Questions I would ask

1. Tissue or blood, and is there enough tissue left?
2. Does the test include RNA, so fusions show up?
3. Is Caris in-network for my plan, and what will I owe?
4. If Medicare or my plan says no, what's the cost and can I get financial assistance?
5. How will the results change my treatment or trial options?

## Contacts

- Website: [Caris for patients](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/)
- Patient Services phone: (888) 979-8669, Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. CT
- Patient billing email: PatientBilling@CarisLS.com
- Billing Services phone: 1-877-630-6223
- Financial assistance: [Caris financial services](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/patient-services/financial-services/)
- Pay a bill: [Pay your bill](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/patient-services/pay-your-bill/)
- Outside the US: InternationalSupport@CarisLS.com

## Limits and context
Covers MI Cancer Seek and Caris Assure only, from Caris's public pages and forms checked in October 2026. Costs, coverage and test availability change; confirm with Caris and your plan before testing.

## Relationships and disclosures
I am a patient of Caris Life Sciences, not a partner.

## Sources
- [Caris Life Sciences official website](https://www.carislifesciences.com/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Company identity and stated molecular profiling services.
- [Caris for patients and caregivers](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Test options (MI Cancer Seek, Caris Assure), only a physician can order, consent form, in-network coverage, most patients pay under $100 out of pocket, results typically under two weeks.
- [Caris Patient Services](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/patient-services/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Patient Services hours, phone (888) 979-8669, PatientBilling@CarisLS.com and international support email.
- [Caris financial services](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/patient-services/financial-services/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Insurance billing, prior authorization and appeals, Medicare ABN process, financial assistance eligibility.
- [Caris Financial Assistance Program (Feb 2026)](https://d35ibn74wp9llh.cloudfront.net/000d31fd-e04b-4936-be1c-11acbe19e1ec/87875c43-1614-4626-a820-d7746796b40b/87875c43-1614-4626-a820-d7746796b40b_source__v.pdf) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Income and household-size discount schedule (100%, 95%, 90%), Alaska/Hawaii exception, case-by-case hardship help. Document dated 02 Feb 2026.
- [Caris financial assistance application](https://d35ibn74wp9llh.cloudfront.net/000d31fd-e04b-4936-be1c-11acbe19e1ec/600d32e7-d2ee-4df2-8cfc-7f6915506ed5/600d32e7-d2ee-4df2-8cfc-7f6915506ed5_source__v.pdf) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Prompt-pay discounts and discounted payment plans; how to submit an application.
- [Caris Medicare ABN form (English)](https://d35ibn74wp9llh.cloudfront.net/000d31fd-e04b-4936-be1c-11acbe19e1ec/cdfbe498-b3c9-46da-9ef2-460cd74f5aa7/cdfbe498-b3c9-46da-9ef2-460cd74f5aa7_source__v.pdf) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Estimated costs if Medicare does not cover: MI Cancer Seek $8,455.00; Caris Assure $3,649.48.
- [MI Cancer Seek](https://www.carislifesciences.com/physicians/physician-tests/mi-cancer-seek/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; WES/WTS of 23,000+ genes from tissue, FDA CDx indications, ages 1+, median 8-day turnaround, typical out-of-pocket under $100.
- [Caris Assure](https://www.carislifesciences.com/physicians/physician-tests/caris-assure/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Blood test with WES/WTS plus white blood cell analysis, for limited tissue or progression, median 7-day turnaround.
- [MI Profile](https://www.carislifesciences.com/physicians/physician-tests/mi-profile/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Tissue WES/WTS profile available outside the USA, EEA, EU and Switzerland.
- [Caris payer information](https://www.carislifesciences.com/payer/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; In-network with most major commercial payers, Medicare and Medicare Advantage; 12+ state Medicaid plans cover MI Cancer Seek; Caris Assure germline caveat.
- [Contact Caris](https://www.carislifesciences.com/about/contact/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Customer Support 1.888.979.8669 and Billing Services 1.877.630.6223, Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CT.
- [Caris pay your bill](https://www.carislifesciences.com/patients/patient-services/pay-your-bill/) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Online bill payment and billing help by phone.
- [FDA approval letter for MI Cancer Seek (P240010)](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf24/P240010A.pdf) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration; research; checked 2026-10-22; FDA approved MI Cancer Seek on November 5, 2024 as an NGS companion diagnostic for solid tumors.
- [CMS National Coverage Determination 90.2: Next Generation Sequencing](https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?ncdid=372) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; research; checked 2026-10-22; Medicare coverage of FDA-approved NGS companion diagnostics for recurrent, relapsed, refractory, metastatic or stage III-IV cancer.
- [Current official Caris logo](https://www.carislifesciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CarisLS_Color_Primary_Logo.png) — Caris Life Sciences; official; checked 2026-10-22; Official logo currently linked from the Caris homepage header; original PNG retained without alteration.

Organization website: https://www.carislifesciences.com/

Organization type: Company

Services: Genomic testing

## Company facts
- **Focus:** Molecular testing for cancer. (Sources: official)
- **Test:** MI Cancer Seek (tissue) and Caris Assure (blood), both whole exome and whole transcriptome sequencing. (Sources: mi-cancer-seek, caris-assure)
- **FDA status:** MI Cancer Seek was FDA-approved as a companion diagnostic on November 5, 2024. (Sources: fda-p240010)
- **Timing:** Median 8 days (MI Cancer Seek) and 7 days (Caris Assure) from sample receipt. (Sources: mi-cancer-seek, caris-assure)
- **Cost:** As of October 2026, Caris's Medicare ABN lists estimated costs of $8,455 (MI Cancer Seek) and $3,649.48 (Caris Assure) if not covered. (Sources: abn)
- **Insurance:** In-network with most major commercial plans, Medicare and Medicare Advantage. (Sources: payer, financial-services)
- **Financial help:** As of October 2026, income-based discounts of 90-100% (schedule dated February 2026). (Sources: fap-2026)
- **Ordering:** Only a physician can order Caris testing. (Sources: patients)

Topics: tumor-testing
Capabilities: tumor-testing

Related record IDs: eedb734b-9696-4e66-bf29-5c63cbf6a3ba, 2614018f-a950-44fe-a445-09fc42bd6342

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Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.