Caris Life Sciences

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 offers blood and tissue tests, plus separate tests to track treatment response. 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
• 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
• Pay a bill: Pay your bill
• Outside the US: InternationalSupport@CarisLS.com