<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-04-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001124608</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESPONSE GENETICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RGDX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001639358</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Swiftcurrent Offshore Master, Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>90 PARK AVENUE, 40TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3306000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2015-04-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-04-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>744595</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities reported herein are beneficially owned directly by Swiftcurrent Offshore Master, Ltd.  Bridger Management, LLC, Roberto Mignone, and Swiftcurrent Offshore, Ltd. may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the securities owned by Swiftcurrent Offshore Master, Ltd. as most recently reported by them on Form 4 filed on April 7, 2015.  As reported therein, Swiftcurrent Offshore Ltd. invests substantially all of its assets in Swiftcurrent Offshore Master, Ltd.  Bridger Management LLC is the investment adviser to Swiftcurrent Offshore Master Ltd. Mr. Mignone is the managing member of Bridger Management, LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Roberto Mignone, Managing Member of Investment Adviser to Swiftcurrent Offshore Master, Ltd.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
