DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF STDS MARKET ANALYSIS

The global diagnostic testing of STDs market is estimated to be valued at US$ 10.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.6 % during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Analysts’ views on the global diagnostic testing of STDs market:

Increasing prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), new product launches, and strategies like mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations are expected drive the global diagnostic testing of STDs market growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to data published by the World Health Organization, on August 22, 2022, more than 1 million Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are acquired every day. In 2020, WHO estimated 374 million new infections with one of four STIs: chlamydia (129 million), gonorrhoea (82 million), syphilis (7.1 million), and trichomoniasis (156 million). More than 490 million people were estimated to be living with genital herpes, and an estimated 300 million women have a Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the primary cause of cervical cancer and anal cancer among men who have sex with men. An estimated 296 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B globally.

Figure 1. Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market Share (%), By Test Type, 2023

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Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market - Drivers

Increasing launch of new products in STD testing

Increasing launched of products in the field of STD testing is expected to drive the global diagnostic testing of STDs market growth over the forecast period. For instance, on January 5, 2023, Molbio Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., an India-based molecular diagnostics company, announced it has launched Truenat HSV 1/2 for testing Herpes Simplex Virus. The test is approved by The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and can provide sample-to-test results in an hour. Truenat is a point-of-care portable, battery-operated, IoT-enabled, real-time PCR platform with a sample-to-result time of less than 1 hour. According to the company, the platform can test over 40 diseases, including COVID-19, TB, hepatitis, HIV, HPV, dengue, and malaria.

Increasing strategies like mergers and acquisitions by key market players

Increasing strategies like mergers and acquisitions by key market players is expected to drive the global diagnostic testing of STDs market growth. For instance, on March 15, 2021, F. Hoffmann- La Roche acquired GenMark Diagnostics Inc., a U.S. based molecular diagnostics company, for US$ 24.05 per share on a fully diluted basis. GenMark Diagnostics Inc., provides molecular diagnostic tests that are designed to detect multiple pathogens from a single patient sample GenMark’s syndromic panel testing portfolio will complement F. Hoffmann-La Roche current molecular diagnostics portfolio and the F. Hoffmann-La Roche, global network will enable expanded reach for GenMark Diagnostics Inc. products. GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., has proprietary technologies, such as ePlex and eSensor XT-8, that can be utilized by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. to develop infectious disease tests including bloodstream infections.

Figure 2. Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market - Regional Analysis

Among region, North America is estimated to hold a dominant position in the global diagnostic testing of STDs market over the forecast period owing to increasing product launches. For instance, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of life science technology, entered into a partnership with Seegene Inc., a South Korea-based diagnostic products manufacturer for the development and commercialization of infectious disease molecular diagnostic products. Under the terms of the agreement, Seegene Inc. will provide diagnostic tests for use on Bio-Rad’s CFX96 Dx Real-Time PCR System for the U.S. market.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market - Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to over 100 countries across the globe, and the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020.

COVID-19 affected the economy in three main ways: by directly affecting the production and demand of drugs, by creating disruptions in distribution channels, and through its financial impact on firms and financial markets. Due to nationwide lockdowns, several countries, such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Egypt, and others, faced problems regarding the transportation of drugs from one place to another.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global diagnostic testing of STDs market due to the reduced demand for testing kits of STDs during COVID-19. For instance, according to data share by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 11, 2023, the numbers of reported STDs rapidly fell below 2019 during March and April 2020 due to reduced testing in this period. Although the number of chlamydia cases increased by 4% from 2020 to 2021, the number of chlamydial infections diagnosed and reported in 2021 was still 9% lower than the number reported in 2019 (1,644,416 cases in 2021 vs 1,808,703 in 2019). This decrease is likely due to changes in STD screening, not a reduction in new infections.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market Segmentation:

The global diagnostic testing of STDs market is segmented into test type and region.

Based on test type, the global diagnostic testing of STDs market is segmented into chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, HPV+pap smear, HSV, and chancroid. Out of which, the chlamydia segment is expected to dominate the market due to the increasing testing of chlamydia infection.

Based on region, the global diagnostic testing of STDs market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. Among these, North America is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period due to increasing launches of test kits for STDs in this region.

Among all segmentation, the test type segment has the highest potential due to the increasing prevalence of STDs. For instance, according to the WHO Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs published in 2021, nearly 7.1 million adults were newly infected with syphilis in the year 2020. WHO estimated that there were 661,000 infants born with congenital syphilis including, 143,000 early fetal deaths and stillbirths, 61,000 neonatal deaths.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market Cross Sectional Analysis:

The introduction of newer products and technologies in STD testing kits by key market players in Europe is expected to drive the growth of the testing segment in the region. For instance, on October 4, 2022, HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Program, Health and Wellbeing, launched a free national online service which provides people living in Ireland aged 17 and older, the option to test for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) at home. People older than 17 years can order the free STI test kit through online platforms and it is delivered by post to home. Users can complete test at home and post samples to the laboratory by post. Results are received on phone and those who require further testing and treatment are referred to participating public STI clinics.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market: Key Developments

Initiatives by government organizations to provide testing kits in cost effective manner can drive the growth of the global diagnostic testing of STDs market. For instance, in January 2023, on the occasion of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) launched the Cervical Cancer Toolkit, a comprehensive tool for combating the disease. This toolkit contains the novel HPV vaccines, high-performing diagnostic tests for HPV, and portable devices for pre-cervical cancer treatment which are very well-suited for low-resource settings.

On December 17, 2021, Becton, Dickinson and Company, a U.S.-based medical technology company, announced it has expanded the BD COR System to include a new MX instrument for high-throughput molecular testing for infectious diseases. The new instrument and its first test for sexually transmitted infections have the European Conformity (CE) marked to the in-vitro diagnostic directive 98/79/EC. It includes PX instrument that can prepare diagnostic samples by automating appropriate pre-analytical processing steps and a GX instrument that can leverage the BD Onclarity HPV Assay with extended genotyping to screen for HPV infections.

On December 14, 2021, Quest Diagnostics Inc., a U.S.-based diagnostics information service provider, announced it has acquired all assets of Labtech Diagnostics, U.S. based diagnostics service provider. With this acquisition, Quest Diagnostics Inc. got access to diagnostic innovation and more communities in southeast region of U.S. This will enable physicians to get access to diagnostic services directly from Quest Diagnostics Inc., through its Cleveland HeartLab cardiometabolic center of excellence and other laboratories in the U.S.

On September 2020, a new project was launched by The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to help countries incorporate recency testing into national HIV reporting system in seven countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. A recency test is done to check whether the infection is recent (less than six months) or not. This helps assess how HIV is being transmitted, behaviors that are facilitating HIV transmission, and optimize HIV-related data collection and information on risk factors.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market: Key Trends

Introduction of newer products for the diagnosis of STDs

Introduction of newer of testing kits to diagnose STDs can drive the growth of the market. For instance on June 20, 2023, Invex Health, an India-based specialty healthcare company, announced that it will soon launch its first oral HIV self-test. The saliva-based test, Morcheck is currently the only third generation HIV test that uses oral fluid instead of blood. It can test for both HIV 1 and HIV 2.

Collaboration strategies by key market players

Strategies like collaborations by key market players can drive the growth of the global diagnostic testing of STDs market. On February 25, 2020, Pinpoint Science Inc., a U.S.-based in-vitro diagnostic company announced a strategic collaboration with Analog Devices, Inc., a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing company, to develop and manufacture novel nanosensor diagnostic that delivers the highest accuracy results in a minute. Pinpoint Science Inc.’s nanosensors, developed with the advanced fabrication capabilities of Analog Devices, Inc., will target low-cost, handheld diagnostics and strive to provide results in under a minute with lab test level accuracy.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market: Restraints

Social stigma associated with STDs testing

Even though prevalence of STDs is very high, out of 37.7 million people having HIV in 2020 still do not know their HIV status due to limited testing. For instance, according to a study published by Journal of the International AIDS society on November 16, 2022, a total of 96 cases were considered.  Frequency of next HIV/STI testing among those already diagnosed with an STI was 35.3% and who had symptoms with STIs was 27.1%. A few potential reasons for these observations include differences in national STI-related policies, lack of standard operation procedures, clinician-level factors, poor awareness and adherence to HIV indicator condition-guided HIV testing, and stigma associated with HIV compared to other curable STIs.

To counterbalance this restraint, an awareness programs should be conducted to eliminate stigma from society.

Reduction in funding for the treatment of STDs

Reduction in funding to fight against STDs can restrain market growth in forecast period. For instance, on June 13, 2023, The Center for Disease Control, U.S. based government organization reduced funding for workers who fight sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. states. The reduction in funding was by US$ 400 million. The spending cuts are according to recently passed debt ceiling deal.

To counterbalance this restraint, more government funding for research activities should be allocated.

Global Diagnostic Testing of STDs Market - Key Players

The major players operating in the global diagnostic testing of STDs market include Vela Diagnostics USA Inc., Roche Holdings AG, Alere, Inc., Becton Dickinson & Company, bioMerieux, Danaher Corporation (Beckman Coulter), Hologic, Inc., binx health, Chembio Diagnostics, Pinpoint Science Inc., and bioLytical Laboratories.

Definition: Diagnostic testing of STDs is used for the identification and diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases are transmitted through person-to-person sexual contact. The increasing approval and launch of new diagnostic tests is expected to propel the growth of the global diagnostic testing of STDs market over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing incidence of STDs in developing and developed economies along with rising awareness is also expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.