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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase in valuation allowance | $ 11,800,000 | $ 14,100,000 | $ 8,500,000
Loss before income taxes | (59,539,000) | (38,560,000) | $ (43,119,000)
Operating loss carryforwards related to windfall tax deductions | 2,300,000 |  |
Research and development tax credit carryforwards | 35,131,000 | 33,800,000 |
Unrecognized tax benefits | 0 | $ 0 |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards | 466,000,000 |  |
Research and development tax credit carryforwards | $ 23,300,000 |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Minimum |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year | 2016 |  |
Research and development tax credit carryforwards, expiration year | 2018 |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Maximum |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year | 2035 |  |
Research and development tax credit carryforwards, expiration year | 2035 |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards | $ 114,000,000 |  |
Research and development tax credit carryforwards | $ 18,000,000 |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction | Minimum |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year | 2016 |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction | Maximum |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year | 2035 |  |
Cerus Europe B.V. |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Undistributed earning of foreign subsidiary | $ 4,800,000 |  |
Unrecognized deferred tax liability for unrepatriated earnings | $ 1,600,000 |  |
Latest Tax Year |  |  |
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax year remain subject to examination by the taxing jurisdictions | 2015 |  |

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