PREECLAMPSIA DIAGNOSTICS MARKET ANALYSIS

The high cost of diagnostic tests can hamper the global preeclampsia diagnostics market growth. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organ systems. It is a leading cause of maternal and fetal illness and death globally. However, due to the high cost of diagnostic tests, many expectant mothers in developing nations are unable to afford regular checkups and testing to detect preeclampsia early. Diagnostic tests play a key role in the early identification and timely management of preeclampsia. Tests such as blood pressure monitoring, complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, urinalysis, and ultrasound are generally used to diagnose preeclampsia. However, the equipment, infrastructure and skilled professionals required to conduct these tests makes the overall diagnosis highly expensive. For example, ultrasound machines that can help detect signs of preeclampsia cost between US$ 30,000 to US$ 150,000 depending on the model. Repeat scans may sometimes be required, which further increases the overall treatment cost. This high expenditure acts as a massive barrier for expectant mothers with limited financial resources.

Market Opportunities: Development of point-of-care diagnostic kits

The development of point-of-care diagnostic kits provides a great opportunity to improve screening and diagnosis of preeclampsia.  Preeclampsia diagnosis largely relies on frequent visits to healthcare facilities to monitor blood pressure and protein levels in urine samples. This conventional approach poses challenges in low resource settings with limited access to quality healthcare. Point-of-care diagnostic kits allow for simplified, affordable testing that does not require extensive clinical laboratories or trained healthcare workers. These have the potential to decentralize preeclampsia screening and enable early diagnosis in primary health centers, community clinics, and even at home. This can significantly expand access to diagnostics and allow for timely clinical management of preeclampsia cases. Point-of-care diagnostic kits employ innovative technologies to qualitatively or quantitatively detect markers of preeclampsia from whole blood, serum, plasma or urine samples collected via finger-prick or dipstick method. Some test results can be automatically generated within 15-30 minutes, compared to hours or days needed for laboratory-based tests.