Organization and Basis of Presentation (Notes)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and basis of presentation	Organization and basis of presentation Organization GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., the Company or GenMark, was formed by Osmetech plc, or Osmetech, as a Delaware corporation in February 2010, and had no operations prior to its initial public offering, or the IPO, which was completed in June 2010. Immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, GenMark acquired all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Osmetech in a reorganization, accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling-of-interests, under the applicable laws of the United Kingdom. As a result of the reorganization, all of the issued ordinary shares in Osmetech were cancelled in consideration of (i) the issuance of common stock of GenMark to the former shareholders of Osmetech and (ii) the issuance of new shares in Osmetech to GenMark. Following the reorganization, Osmetech became a subsidiary controlled by GenMark, and the former shareholders of Osmetech received shares of GenMark. Any historical discussion of GenMark relates to Osmetech and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the reorganization. In September 2012, GenMark placed Osmetech into liquidation to simplify its corporate structure. The liquidation of Osmetech was completed in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company is a leading provider of multiplex molecular diagnostic solutions designed to enhance patient care, improve key quality metrics, and reduce the total cost-of-care. The Company offers a sample-to-answer ePlex instrument and associated molecular diagnostic panels. The Company's products also include the XT-8 instrument and related diagnostic and research tests, as well as certain custom manufactured reagents, collectively referred to as the XT-8 system. The Company sells its products in the U.S. and Europe directly and through distributors. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and applicable regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred net losses from operations since its inception and has an accumulated deficit of $466,883,000 at December 31, 2018. Management expects operating losses to continue through the foreseeable future. The Company's ability to transition to attaining profitable operations is dependent upon achieving a level of revenues adequate to support its cost structure through expanding its product offerings and consequently increasing its product revenues. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities at December 31, 2018 totaled $45,168,000. The Company has prepared cash flow forecasts which indicate, based on the Company’s current cash resources available, that the Company will have sufficient resources to fund its business for at least the next 12 months from the date of this filing. Segment Reporting The Company currently operates as one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, who is the chief executive officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and assessing performance. The Company’s business operates in one operating segment because the Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates the Company’s financial information and resources and assesses the performance of these resources on a consolidated basis. Since the Company operates in one operating segment, all required financial segment information can be found in the consolidated financial statements. Use of Estimates The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the notes thereto. The Company’s significant estimates included in the preparation of the financial statements are related to accounts receivable, inventories, property and equipment, intangible assets, employee-related compensation accruals, warranty liabilities, tax valuation accounts and stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Organization and basis of presentation

Organization

GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., the Company or GenMark, was formed by Osmetech plc, or Osmetech, as a Delaware corporation in February 2010, and had no operations prior to its initial public offering, or the IPO, which was completed in June 2010. Immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, GenMark acquired all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Osmetech in a reorganization, accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling-of-interests, under the applicable laws of the United Kingdom. As a result of the reorganization, all of the issued ordinary shares in Osmetech were cancelled in consideration of (i) the issuance of common stock of GenMark to the former shareholders of Osmetech and (ii) the issuance of new shares in Osmetech to GenMark. Following the reorganization, Osmetech became a subsidiary controlled by GenMark, and the former shareholders of Osmetech received shares of GenMark. Any historical discussion of GenMark relates to Osmetech and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the reorganization. In September 2012, GenMark placed Osmetech into liquidation to simplify its corporate structure. The liquidation of Osmetech was completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The Company is a leading provider of multiplex molecular diagnostic solutions designed to enhance patient care, improve key quality metrics, and reduce the total cost-of-care. The Company offers a sample-to-answer ePlex instrument and associated molecular diagnostic panels. The Company's products also include the XT-8 instrument and related diagnostic and research tests, as well as certain custom manufactured reagents, collectively referred to as the XT-8 system. The Company sells its products in the U.S. and Europe directly and through distributors.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and applicable regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred net losses from operations since its inception and has an accumulated deficit of $466,883,000 at December 31, 2018. Management expects operating losses to continue through the foreseeable future. The Company's ability to transition to attaining profitable operations is dependent upon achieving a level of revenues adequate to support its cost structure through expanding its product offerings and consequently increasing its product revenues. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities at December 31, 2018 totaled $45,168,000. The Company has prepared cash flow forecasts which indicate, based on the Company’s current cash resources available, that the Company will have sufficient resources to fund its business for at least the next 12 months from the date of this filing.

Segment Reporting

The Company currently operates as one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, who is the chief executive officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and assessing performance. The Company’s business operates in one operating segment because the Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates the Company’s financial information and resources and assesses the performance of these resources on a consolidated basis. Since the Company operates in one operating segment, all required financial segment information can be found in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the notes thereto. The Company’s significant estimates included in the preparation of the financial statements are related to accounts receivable, inventories, property and equipment, intangible assets, employee-related compensation accruals, warranty liabilities, tax valuation accounts and stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.