HISTOLOGY AND CYTOLOGY MARKET ANALYSIS

The availability of refurbished microscopes can hamper the global histology and cytology market growth. Refurbished microscopes, which are microscopes that have been cleaned, checked, upgraded, and certified to like-new condition, offer a much more affordable option as compared to brand new microscopes. This affordability makes refurbished microscopes very attractive for budget constrained laboratories and pathology clinics, especially in developing regions.

Many labs and hospitals in developing countries are unable to purchase new high-quality microscopes due to financial limitations. Refurbished microscopes provide these centers an opportunity to acquire equipment that performs almost at par with new instruments but at a much lower price. This allows more labs and pathology practices to perform histology and cytology tests, which these were earlier unable to conduct due to the prohibitively high costs of new microscopes. It leads to decrease in demand for new histology and cytology microscopes from these regions. Increased availability of refurbished microscopes also impacts research and training institutes that rely on external funding. Refurbished options allow these institutes to equip their labs and train more students and researchers without having to procure expensive new instruments. For example, according to a study published in 2021 by the U.S. National Science Foundation, refurbished microscopes helped educational and research institutions in Africa and South America perform hands-on practical training for over 500 additional students and researchers due to budgetary savings. While this boosted research capabilities, it again reduced demand for new high-end microscopes.

Market Opportunities: Adoption of digital pathology and virtual slides

The adoption of digital pathology and virtual slides can offer significant opportunities for global histology and cytology market growth. With digital tools, pathologists can view whole slide images through computer monitors instead of traditional microscope slides. This allows for improved precision, collaborations across distances, and more efficient diagnosis. Rather than passing around physical glass slides, virtual slides can be shared globally online through telepathology in real-time. This is especially useful in pandemic situations where travel is restricted. Virtual slides also enable AI and deep learning applications to be applied for computer-aided disease detection and diagnosis. Over time, AI may be able to assist pathologists and improve diagnostic consistency. The transition to digital and virtual formats provides the potential to streamline workflows in laboratories and clinics. Digital images can be stored long-term, acts as a permanent record, and enables secondary consultations years later if needed. This improves data archiving over fragile glass slides. Virtual formats also lend themselves to integration with electronic health records and digital pathology networks. For example, the U.S. Veterans Health Administration operates one of the largest digital pathology networks in the world, facilitating consultations across over 150 medical centers. These technology upgrades allow for improved accessibility, collaboration, and continue to drive the paradigm shift from microscopes to computer screens.