# Foundation Medicine Foundation Medicine tests tumor tissue or blood for gene changes that can point to targeted drugs, immunotherapy or clinical trials. Your doctor orders it, and the report goes to your care team. Author: Kevin Wimer Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/companies/foundation-medicine/ Stable ID: 3c7420d0-44d6-461d-8faf-3a9d170e61b9 Revision: e76b5c5b-e803-40ce-9de3-6f2c7d83502f Published: 2026-10-25T03:12:58.825Z Updated: 2026-10-25T03:12:58.825Z Reviewed: 2026-10-22 ## Who this is for For people with solid tumors or blood cancers whose care team wants genomic testing to guide treatment. A healthcare provider must order the test. Foundation Medicine tests tumor tissue or blood for gene changes that can point to a targeted drug, immunotherapy or a trial. Your doctor orders it, and the report goes to your care team. ## What they do - **FoundationOne CDx** tests biopsy tissue: 324 genes, plus MSI and TMB. It's FDA-approved for all solid tumors. - **FoundationOne Liquid CDx** tests tumor DNA from two tubes of blood. - **Others:** Heme for blood cancers, RNA for fusions, IHC protein tests, and MRD to watch for recurrence. Both CDx tests are FDA companion diagnostics for many targeted drugs, including several for ALK-positive lung cancer, my cancer type. ## Who it's for People with solid tumors, especially advanced ones, or blood cancers, who are choosing a treatment. ## How to start A doctor has to order it. Ask yours which test fits, and whether to use tissue or blood. Client Services can send you a copy of your report. ## Cost and insurance As of October 2026, Foundation Medicine says 86% of its patients owe $0. Its FoundationAccess team checks benefits and handles prior authorization and appeals. - **Assistance:** if you qualify, you pay no more than $100 in your lifetime. Fee-for-service Medicaid patients qualify automatically. - **Self-pay (U.S.):** $3,500 for FoundationOne CDx, Liquid CDx or Heme. $2,919.60 for RNA. $125 per IHC test. - **Failed test:** no charge. If you have insurance and choose self-pay, you can't get assistance. ## Questions I would ask 1. Tissue, blood, or both? 2. Is there enough tissue, or would I need a new biopsy? 3. Would RNA testing for fusions help? 4. What will I owe, and should I apply for assistance first? 5. Can I get the full report and raw data? ## Similar companies on this site [Caris](/companies/caris-life-sciences/) and [BostonGene](/companies/bostongene/) also profile tumor DNA and RNA. [Guardant Health](/companies/guardant-health/) is best known for blood tests. More in [Get the right tumor testing](/resources/tumor-testing/) and [Get your reports, raw data and sample details](/resources/medical-records/). ## Contacts - Website: [foundationmedicine.com/patient](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/patient) - Billing and coverage: [Billing and financial assistance](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/resource/billing-and-financial-assistance) - Financial assistance: [Financial support](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/patient/financial-support) - Phone: 888-988-3639 (Client Services, Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET) - Email: client.services@foundationmedicine.com ## Limits and context A test can't promise a treatment match, and results depend on having a good sample. Financial assistance applies only to tests ordered in the U.S. and its territories. ## Relationships and disclosures I have no financial or business relationship with Foundation Medicine. ## Sources - [Foundation Medicine: patients and caregivers](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/patient) — Foundation Medicine; official; checked 2026-10-22; Testing process step by step: care team orders, sample sent, results shared with care team; 86% of patients have $0 responsibility. - [Foundation Medicine: patient FAQs](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/faq/patient-faqs) — Foundation Medicine; official; checked 2026-10-22; Test menu (CDx, Liquid CDx, Heme, RNA, IHC, MRD, germline, PGx); all tests must be ordered by a healthcare provider; when to test; sample types; report copies via Client Services; no charge if the test fails. - [FoundationOne CDx](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/test/foundationone-cdx) — Foundation Medicine; official; checked 2026-10-22; FDA-approved tissue test for all solid tumors; 324 genes; MSI, TMB, HRDsig; fusion detection including ALK. - [FoundationOne Liquid CDx](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/test/foundationone-liquid-cdx) — Foundation Medicine; official; checked 2026-10-22; FDA-approved blood test; 324 genes; two 8.5 mL tubes of blood. - [Foundation Medicine: financial support](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/patient/financial-support) — Foundation Medicine; official; checked 2026-10-22; Benefits investigation; $100 lifetime maximum for qualifying patients; Medicaid rules; U.S. self-pay rates ($3,500 CDx/Liquid CDx/Heme, $2,919.60 RNA, $125 IHC); insured self-pay ineligible for assistance. - [Foundation Medicine: billing and financial assistance](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/resource/billing-and-financial-assistance) — Foundation Medicine; official; checked 2026-10-22; FoundationAccess benefits investigation, prior authorization and appeals; financial assistance only for tests ordered in the U.S. and territories; Client Services hours. - [FDA: list of cleared or approved companion diagnostic devices](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/list-cleared-or-approved-companion-diagnostic-devices-in-vitro-and-imaging-tools) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration; official; checked 2026-10-22; Lists FoundationOne CDx (P170019, first approved 11/30/2017) and FoundationOne Liquid CDx (P190032, 08/26/2020) as companion diagnostics, including for ALK rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer. Organization website: https://www.foundationmedicine.com/ Information/access: [Information for patients](https://www.foundationmedicine.com/patient) Service status: available ## Company facts - **Tests:** FoundationOne CDx (tumor tissue) and FoundationOne Liquid CDx (blood) each cover 324 genes. Other tests cover blood cancers, RNA fusions, IHC and recurrence monitoring. (Sources: fmi-faq, fmi-f1cdx, fmi-f1lcdx) - **Samples:** Tumor tissue from a biopsy or surgery, or blood, depending on the test your care team orders. (Sources: fmi-faq) - **FDA status:** FoundationOne CDx and FoundationOne Liquid CDx are FDA-approved companion diagnostics, including for ALK-positive lung cancer drugs. (Sources: fda-cdx, fmi-f1cdx) - **Ordering:** A healthcare provider must order every test. The report goes to your care team, and you can request a copy. (Sources: fmi-faq, fmi-patient) - **Cost:** As of October 2026: U.S. self-pay $3,500 for FoundationOne CDx, Liquid CDx or Heme; $2,919.60 for RNA; $125 per IHC test. Qualifying patients pay no more than $100 in their lifetime. No charge if the test fails. (Sources: fmi-financial, fmi-faq, fmi-billing) Topics: tumor-testing Capabilities: tumor-testing, blood-monitoring Related record IDs: 47f21cb6-8618-4ac9-8677-d670b06a4637, 2614018f-a950-44fe-a445-09fc42bd6342, eedb734b-9696-4e66-bf29-5c63cbf6a3ba, f7221927-6b87-4be3-9a7c-906768a192a5, 892119f9-0439-4e43-b467-66c99bc7be7c Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/kevinace Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.