Tumor profiling / Blood testing & monitoring

Tempus

Tempus runs genomic tests on tumor tissue, blood and saliva to help guide treatment, check for inherited risk and monitor for remaining cancer. Your doctor orders the test.

Kevin WimerSources checked Oct 22, 2026
Tests
Tumor profiling (xT CDx, xT, xR RNA), blood profiling (xF, xF+), MRD monitoring and hereditary cancer panels.[1][2]
Samples
Tumor tissue with a matched normal blood or saliva sample for xT CDx; blood for xF and MRD; blood or saliva for hereditary tests.[3][1]
FDA status
xT CDx is FDA-approved, with companion diagnostic claims for colorectal cancer.[5][3]
Ordering
Your doctor orders through Tempus Hub, a paper form or the electronic health record.[3][1]
Cost
As of October 2026: posted self-pay price $295 (not for Original Medicare or Medicaid patients, who typically owe $0). Any U.S. patient can apply for financial assistance at access.tempus.com.[4][1]

Tempus runs genomic tests on cancer: tumor and blood profiling, inherited-risk panels, and tests that watch for leftover disease. Your doctor picks and orders the test.

What they do

  • Tumor profiling. xT CDx sequences 648 genes in tumor tissue and compares them with a normal blood or saliva sample, which separates tumor changes from inherited ones. xR adds RNA to find fusions.
  • Blood profiling. xF and xF+ use a blood draw. If there isn't enough tissue, an xT CDx order can switch to xF+.
  • Monitoring. xM tests look for traces of cancer in the blood after treatment (MRD).
  • Inherited risk. CancerNext panels use blood or saliva.

xT CDx is an FDA companion diagnostic for certain colorectal cancer drugs. Tempus also runs trial matching with cancer centers, including its TIME Trial program.

Who it's for

People with cancer whose doctors want genomic testing, monitoring or hereditary testing.

How to start

Your doctor orders it through Tempus's portal, a paper form or the electronic health record.

Cost and insurance

As of October 2026, any U.S. patient can apply for Tempus's financial assistance, whatever their insurance. You get a decision right away, including your maximum out-of-pocket cost. It's based on household income, size and other circumstances.

Tempus's posted transparency policy lists a $295 self-pay price, and says Tempus contacts you if you'll likely owe more than that. Original Medicare and Medicaid patients can't self-pay and typically owe $0. Results aren't processed until you pay or show proof of insurance. I'd confirm the current price for your test with Tempus billing first.

Questions I would ask

  1. Tissue, blood, or both?
  2. Should we add RNA testing for fusions?
  3. Will this show inherited findings, and who explains them?
  4. What will I owe, and should I apply for assistance now?
  5. Can I get the full report and raw data?

Similar companies on this site

Caris and BostonGene also profile tumors. BostonGene, like Tempus, compares the tumor with a normal sample. Guardant Health is known for blood testing. See Get the right tumor testing and Find trials worth asking about.

Contacts

Information for patientsVisit website

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