Cepheid
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Cepheid firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cepheid
- Legal name
- Cepheid
- Website
- https://cepheid.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cepheid industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Molecular Diagnostics
- NAICS
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/NAAT/NGS-based IVD) (HLAHAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA), Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL)
Keywords
Where Cepheid is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cepheid business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Molecular Diagnostics Instruments: Cepheid generates revenue through the sale of GeneXpert instruments and systems to healthcare facilities and laboratories
- Diagnostic Test Reagents and Cartridges: Recurring revenue from the sale of Xpert test cartridges and reagents that run on the GeneXpert platform. This creates recurring consumables revenue tied to the installed base
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cepheid product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cepheid develops, manufactures, and sells the GeneXpert family of automated real-time PCR molecular diagnostic instruments (GeneXpert System, GeneXpert Infinity, GeneXpert Xpress) and a broad menu of single-use Xpert test cartridges for respiratory infections, hospital-acquired infections, tuberculosis and emerging infectious diseases, blood virology/women's health/sexual health, and oncology/human genetics. Results are typically delivered in about one hour from specimen to answer, supported by GeneXpert Dx Software, GeneXpert Xpertise Software, and Cepheid C360 connectivity solutions.
Product overview
Cepheid is a molecular diagnostics company offering a unified platform-plus-tests architecture centered on the GeneXpert System. The GeneXpert family of instruments (GeneXpert System, GeneXpert Infinity, GeneXpert Xpress) provides a flexible, fully scalable molecular diagnostics platform with cartridge-based automated sample processing and real-time PCR. The portfolio includes multiple diagnostic test categories: Respiratory tests (including Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus, Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV, Xpert Xpress Flu, Xpert Xpress Strep A), HAI & Infectious Disease tests (including Xpert GI Panel, Xpert SA Nasal Complete, Xpert MRSA/SA SSTI, Xpert C. difficile/Epi, Xpert Norovirus, Xpert Carba-R, Xpert vanA), Blood Virology/Women's Health/Sexual Health tests (including Xpert HCV, Xpert CT/NG, Xpert GBS LB XC, Xpert TV, Xpert Xpress GBS), TB & Emerging Infectious Diseases tests (including Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert MTB/XDR, Xpert Mpox, Xpert Hemorrhagic Fever Panel), and Oncology & Human Genetics tests (including Xpert BCR-ABL Ultra, Xpert FII & FV, Xpert NPM1 Mutation RUO, Xpert PML RARA RUO). The offering is complemented by GeneXpert Dx Software and GeneXpert Xpertise Software for instrument management and data handling, and Cepheid C360 for connectivity solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GeneXpert: Cepheid's flagship molecular diagnostic testing system platform.
- Xpert
Products and services
- GeneXpert System Fully scalable cartridge-based molecular diagnostics platform that automates sample processing and real-time PCR testing, providing a broad test menu for any setting from core lab to near-patient applications. Used by hospitals, clinical laboratories, and public health programs.
- GeneXpert Infinity System High-throughput version of the GeneXpert platform designed for larger laboratory settings requiring higher testing volumes. Used by clinical laboratories and high-volume hospital labs.
- GeneXpert Xpress Point-of-care variant of the GeneXpert system designed for rapid testing in near-patient settings such as physician offices and urgent care clinics.
- GeneXpert Dx Software Diagnostic software for the GeneXpert system that manages test processing, results display, and quality control. Used by laboratories and hospitals running GeneXpert instruments.
- GeneXpert Xpertise Software Enterprise software platform for GeneXpert systems providing connectivity, data management, and workflow optimization across the installed base. Used by multi-site hospital networks and reference laboratories.
- Cepheid C360 Connectivity solution enabling integration between GeneXpert systems and laboratory information systems. Used by hospital IT and laboratory informatics teams.
- Xpert GI Panel FDA-cleared and CE-marked under IVDR multiplex PCR assay detecting 11 bacterial, viral, and parasitic gastrointestinal pathogens from a single stool specimen in approximately 74 minutes. Used by hospitals and clinical laboratories for infectious gastroenteritis testing.
- Xpert MTB/RIF WHO-prequalified molecular test for tuberculosis detection that also identifies rifampicin resistance, providing results in approximately 90 minutes. Used by TB programs, hospitals, and public health laboratories globally.
- Xpert Xpress MVP (Mpox) Molecular test for mpox (Monkeypox) virus detection. Used by public health laboratories and clinical labs responding to mpox outbreaks.
- Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus Multiplex respiratory panel detecting SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV from a single sample with rapid turnaround. Used by hospitals, urgent care, and physician offices.
- Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV Rapid multiplex test for influenza A, influenza B, and RSV detection. Used by physician offices, urgent care, and hospital labs.
- Xpert Xpress Flu Rapid point-of-care test for influenza A and B. Used in physician offices, urgent care, and hospital point-of-care settings.
- Xpert Xpress Strep A Rapid test for Group A Streptococcus detection from throat swab specimens. Used by physician offices, urgent care, and hospital point-of-care settings.
- Xpert Xpress CoV-2 plus Rapid point-of-care PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Used by hospitals, urgent care, and physician offices.
- Xpert SA Nasal Complete Test for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) screening from nasal specimens. Used by hospitals for pre-surgical and infection control screening.
- Xpert MRSA/SA SSTI Test for MRSA and S. aureus detection from skin and soft tissue infections. Used by hospital infection control and emergency settings.
- Xpert MRSA/SA Blood Culture Test for MRSA and S. aureus detection directly from positive blood cultures. Used by hospital microbiology laboratories for bloodstream infection workups.
- Xpert MRSA NxG Next-generation MRSA screening test with enhanced performance characteristics. Used by hospitals for active surveillance and infection prevention.
- Xpert C. difficile/Epi Test for Clostridioides difficile detection and ribotyping to identify epidemic strains. Used by hospitals and stewardship/infection control programs.
- Xpert Norovirus Rapid molecular test for norovirus detection. Used by hospital laboratories during norovirus outbreaks.
- Xpert vanA Test for vancomycin resistance gene (vanA) detection to identify Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Used by hospital infection control and stewardship programs.
- Xpert Carba-R Test for carbapenem resistance genes detection, supporting CPE screening programs. Used by hospital infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship teams.
- Xpert HCV FDA-authorized test using a 100 µL fingerstick blood sample for Hepatitis C virus detection at point of care. Used by public health programs, point-of-care settings, and outreach screening.
- Xpert CT/NG Test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae detection. Used by sexual health clinics, hospitals, and reference laboratories.
- Xpert GBS LB XC Test for Group B Streptococcus detection from Lim broth enriched samples for prenatal screening. Used by hospital labor and delivery and prenatal clinics.
- Xpert Xpress GBS Rapid test for Group B Streptococcus detection. Used by hospital labor and delivery and prenatal point-of-care settings.
- Xpert TV Test for Trichomonas vaginalis detection. Used by sexual health clinics, women's health providers, and clinical laboratories.
- Xpert BCR-ABL Ultra Quantitative test for BCR-ABL fusion transcript monitoring in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Used by hospital hematology/oncology labs and reference laboratories.
- Xpert FII & FV Test for Factor II and Factor V Leiden mutations associated with thrombophilia. Used by clinical laboratories supporting hematology and prenatal genetics workflows.
- Xpert Hemorrhagic Fever Panel Rapid molecular test detecting Ebola virus (including Bundibugyo strain), Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Marburg, and Lassa viruses with results in approximately one hour. Used by public health agencies, ministries of health, and outbreak response teams.
- Xpert MTB/XDR WHO-prequalified test detecting resistance to multiple TB drugs including isoniazid, ethionamide, fluoroquinolones, and second-line injectables, with results in about 90 minutes. Used by national TB programs and reference laboratories in high-burden settings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Xpert GI Panel provides results in approximately 74 minutes compared to 48-72 hours for traditional culture methods
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cepheid
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cepheid technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Cepheid partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- U.S. GovernmentmajorCepheid coordinated with the U.S. government to support diagnostic response to the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in DRC and Uganda, following WHO's declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- World Health Organization (WHO)majorCepheid coordinated with WHO to accelerate deployment and expand testing capacity for Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak response following the WHO's declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and PreventionmajorCepheid coordinated with Africa CDC to accelerate deployment and expand testing capacity for Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak response across affected regions.
- Fleming InitiativecoreThe Fleming Initiative (a partnership between Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) and Cepheid launched the TRACE-CPE study, a two-and-a-half-year research project evaluating rapid molecular screening for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) drug-resistant bacteria in NHS hospitals. The study compares one-hour rapid diagnostics against standard 48-hour culture-based methods to assess clinical, infection control, and cost impacts.
- U.S. CDCcoreCepheid was selected by the U.S. CDC as one of four national collaborators under a federal IDIQ contract to accelerate development and deployment of rapid diagnostic technologies during public health emergencies. The collaboration grants Cepheid early access to outbreak samples, genomic sequences, and critical reference materials to accelerate next-generation diagnostic assay creation. The partnership builds on Cepheid's track record including the launch of the first point-of-care PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in the United States.
- Oxford Nanopore TechnologiescoreCepheid and Oxford Nanopore Technologies have expanded their partnership to phase two, building on successful phase one collaboration that produced a beta workflow for bacterial and fungal pathogen profiling in sepsis and bloodstream infection research. The updated workflow enables pathogen identification, antimicrobial resistance profiling, and genomic antibiotic susceptibility testing predictions, with a co-commercialized RUO launch planned for Q3-2026. Both companies share a long-term ambition to deliver an end-to-end in vitro diagnostic solution for complex infectious diseases.
- OncoMark Ltd.coreCepheid acquired OncoMark Ltd., a UCD spin-out company that developed the OncoMasTR test for breast cancer. The test is aimed at reducing unnecessary chemotherapy and will be launched on Cepheid's GeneXpert platform in global markets.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cepheid competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Roche Diagnostics: Operates the cobas Liat (POC), cobas 6800/8800 (high-throughput), and broader molecular diagnostics menu. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping PCR multiplex and point-of-care molecular capabilities competing for the same hospital and reference-lab customers.
- Abbott: m-PIMA and ID NOW platforms compete in point-of-care molecular diagnostics, with Abbott leveraging a far broader diagnostics portfolio and global sales reach to pressure Cepheid in both POC and central-lab settings.
- Becton Dickinson (BD): BD MAX system and BD Veritor offer molecular and rapid diagnostics that overlap with GeneXpert menu categories. Competes broadly across HAI, women's health, and respiratory testing with a larger installed base of hospital customers.
- DiaSorin: Acquired Luminex and now offers multiplex molecular and immunoassay platforms. Competes in syndromic respiratory testing and broader hospital diagnostics where Cepheid's GeneXpert menu is sold.
Direct peers
- Hologic: Panther Fusion and Aptima molecular diagnostics franchises compete head-to-head with GeneXpert in women's health, STI, and respiratory testing. Closely aligned business model (instrument + cartridge consumables) and overlapping hospital customer base.
- bioMérieux: BioFire FilmArray syndromic panels directly compete with Cepheid's multiplex respiratory and GI panels. Same POC-to-lab workflow, similar customer base in hospital microbiology, and comparable regulatory pathway (FDA-cleared cartridge-based multiplex PCR).
- Qiagen: QIAstat-Dx is a direct multiplex cartridge-based PCR competitor to GeneXpert, particularly in respiratory and GI testing. Comparable cartridge consumables model, regulatory positioning, and target hospital/urgent-care customer base.
Emerging players
- Accelerate Diagnostics: Specializes in rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (e.g., Pheno system), partially overlapping with Cepheid's Xpert Carba-R and antibiotic stewardship offerings. Smaller and more focused, but addresses the same AMR clinical workflow.
- T2 Biosystems: T2 Magnetic Resonance-based direct-from-blood molecular diagnostics for sepsis pathogens. Targets a similar rapid molecular sepsis use case as Cepheid's emerging bloodstream infection workflow with Oxford Nanopore.
Others
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Sequencing platform partner rather than a direct competitor, but a strategic adjacency: a successful Phase 2 co-developed sepsis/BSI workflow could become a future substitute for cartridge-based multiplex PCR, making Nanopore a peer by category as much as by partnership.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cepheid social profiles
Digital presenceCepheid compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cepheid financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cepheid leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Cepheid subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cepheid funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cepheid M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cepheid
What does Cepheid do?
Cepheid develops, manufactures, and sells the GeneXpert family of automated real-time PCR molecular diagnostic instruments (GeneXpert System, GeneXpert Infinity, GeneXpert Xpress) and a broad menu of single-use Xpert test cartridges for respiratory infections, hospital-acquired infections, tuberculosis and emerging infectious diseases, blood virology/women's health/sexual health, and oncology/human genetics. Results are typically delivered in about one hour from specimen to answer, supported by GeneXpert Dx Software, GeneXpert Xpertise Software, and Cepheid C360 connectivity solutions.
Is Cepheid a public or private company?
Cepheid is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cepheid founded?
Cepheid was founded in 1996. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Cepheid based?
Cepheid is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cepheid make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Molecular Diagnostics Instruments are the primary driver. The others are diagnostic Test Reagents and Cartridges.
Who are Cepheid's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Roche Diagnostics, Abbott, Becton Dickinson (BD) and DiaSorin. Direct peers are Hologic, bioMérieux and Qiagen. Emerging players are Accelerate Diagnostics and T2 Biosystems. Oxford Nanopore Technologies is listed as an others.
Does Cepheid have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cepheid.
What industry is Cepheid in?
Cepheid's product category is Molecular Diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAAAD, Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/NAAT/NGS-based IVD), with a secondary code of HLAAALAA, Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays). Its NAICS code is 3391 and its SIC code is 2835.