Company Overview
About Karius
Karius is a Redwood City, CA-based life sciences company founded in 2014 that developed the Karius Test — a single blood draw that uses next-generation sequencing and AI to detect over 1,000 pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites) in seriously ill patients. The test is used when conventional cultures and targeted diagnostics fail, providing clinicians at transplant centers, children''s hospitals, and ICUs with a comprehensive pathogen report within 24 hours.
Business Model & Competitive Advantage
Karius has raised $409M in total funding. In May 2024, the company closed a $100M Series C co-led by Khosla Ventures, 5AM Ventures, and Gilde Healthcare, with participation from SoftBank Vision Fund 2, General Catalyst, HBM Healthcare Investments, and others. The Karius Test is currently used across 400+ healthcare institutions — including 90+ transplant centers and 40+ children''s hospitals in the U.S. In April 2025, Karius launched Karius Focus | BAL, a microbial cell-free DNA test specifically designed to identify pathogens causing pneumonia and other lung infections from bronchoalveolar lavage samples, available nationwide.
Competitive Landscape 2025–2026
Karius operates at the intersection of infectious disease medicine and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis — its broad-spectrum pathogen detection can help clinicians de-escalate empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic use when specific pathogens are identified, contributing to AMR stewardship. The company competes with traditional culture-based diagnostics and targeted molecular tests, but its non-invasive, comprehensive approach is increasingly viewed as a standard of care for immunocompromised and critically ill patients.
Key Differentiators
Market Leader
Karius is recognized as a market leader in the Life Sciences & BioTech sector, demonstrating strong industry presence and customer trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
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