Global bacterial & viral specimen collection market is estimated to witness high growth owing to increasing prevalence of communicable diseases & advancements in pathogen identification techniques
Global bacterial & viral specimen collection market is estimated to be valued at USD 19.85 Bn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.3% over the forecast period (2024-2031). The market is witnessing significant growth, owing to increasing prevalence of communicable diseases worldwide and advancements in pathogen identification techniques. Furthermore, growing geriatric population who are more susceptible to such diseases, healthcare infrastructure expansion in developing nations, and increasing demand for point-of-care testing can also drive the market growth.
Market Dynamics:
Global bacterial & viral specimen collection market growth is driven by increasing prevalence of communicable diseases and advancements in pathogen identification techniques. Rising incidence of communicable diseases like COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, and others has boosted demand for specimen collection kits for rapid diagnosis. Advancements in fields of genomics and proteomics have facilitated development of advanced pathogen identification techniques like PCR, ELISA and others. This has boosted the need for precise specimen collection and preservation methods to obtain quality samples for accurate test results, thus, driving the market growth.
Growing prevalence of infectious diseases boosts demand for bacterial & viral specimen collection
Growing prevalence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, influenza, sepsis, pneumonia, and others can drive the global bacterial & viral specimen collection market growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infectious diseases account for around 26% of global mortality. Growing awareness regarding early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases prompt more individuals to get tested. This boosts demand for specimen collection products that enable safe and effective collection of samples for laboratory testing. Sample collection kits help in accurate diagnosis by ensuring samples are collected and transported without contamination or loss of viability. Their ease of use also encourages more people to get screened. Rising healthcare expenditures in developing nations can also drive the market growth.
Increasing geriatric population vulnerable to infections can drive the market growth
Growing global population aged 60 years and older can drive the market growth. Older adults tend to have weaker immune systems, thus, making them more susceptible to contagious diseases. Existing chronic conditions may complicate their case. As a result, this population group undergoes more laboratory testing to diagnose and properly treat infectious illnesses. The need for reliable sampling methods to aid accurate testing and management of disease boosts demand for bacterial & viral specimen collection products. Their importance in providing protection against nosocomial infections in hospitalized senior patients can drive the market growth.
Costly nature of sample collection devices may limit uptake in price-sensitive markets
Global bacterial & viral specimen collection market growth can be hampered due to relatively high cost of sample collection devices, especially in developing Asian, African, and Latin American countries. Factors driving up prices include stringent regulatory approval procedures, specialized manufacturing expertise required to ensure sterility and prevent sample degradation, and logistical challenges involved in transportation. This price obstacle hampers uptake in cost-sensitive markets where patients have limited financial means or lack health insurance. It may discourage individuals from getting tested or cause a shift to cheaper alternatives that compromise quality. To tackle this restraint, manufacturers are engaging in co-development with governments and non-profits to make essential products affordable and accessible.
Growing reliance on home-based sample collection kits presents opportunities
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has vastly accelerated the adoption of home-based specimen collection models. Authorities and healthcare providers are embracing home sample collection kits as a safe, convenient way to reduce infection risks and maintain social distancing norms. These also help overcome issues like lack of transportation, long waiting periods at healthcare facilities, and staffing shortages faced during crisis situations. The success of home-based testing for COVID-19 is stimulating interest in replicating the model for other infectious illnesses. This rapidly growing trend represents a lucrative opportunity for kit manufacturers to expand access and tap into new consumer segments seeking ease and privacy.
Increasing Focus on Point-of-Care Testing Boosts Demand for Self-collection Swabs
Rising focus on developing fast, reliable point-of-care diagnostic tests that can be performed near patients can offer growth opportunities as such near-patient testing requires easier-to-use specimen collection methods. Due to their simplicity, self-collection nasal or throat swabs are well-suited as patient-friendly sampling tools for point-of-care applications. Their popularity is ascending as these minimize workflow complexities and produce results within a short timeframe. Diagnostic companies are collaborating with bacterial and viral specimen collection product manufacturers to develop integrated, sample-to-result testing solutions leveraging self-sampling swabs. This integration of sampling and testing workflows at or near care settings creates a winsome business case driving investment and innovation.
Growing burden of infectious illness, aging populations, home healthcare expansion, and point-of-care diagnostic advancements can boost demand for reliable bacterial and viral specimen collection products. While high costs inhibit market access to some degree, opportunities around self-sampling and home-testing pave the way for sustainable growth of this industry. With strategic measures to lower prices and focus on emerging channels, more manufacturers can reap the rewards.
Key Developments:
- On June 4, 2024, a study published in The Lancet by the European Health Union, highlighted Dutch scientist Rochelle Niemeijer’s development of an affordable, AI-driven tool for diagnosing bacterial infections. Niemeijer is a finalist for the Young Inventors Prize, competing against teams from Tunisia and Ukraine, for her work advancing one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
- On January 19, 2024, ELITechGroup launched the ‘GI Bacterial PLUS ELITe MGB Kit,’ an in-vitro diagnostic tool for detecting key gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens, including Yersinia enterocolitica, Clostridium difficile, Shigella species, Campylobacter species, and Salmonella species.
- In December 2023, HiMedia Laboratories Private Limited, a bioscience firm, announced that it had received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to import the NG-Test CARBA 5 kit from NG Biotech, a biotechnology company based in France
- In January 2022, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and Pfizer Inc. announced a collaboration to explore the role of diagnostics in enhancing antimicrobial stewardship globally. This collaboration will assess current diagnostic practices to identify both benefits and gaps in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship. The aim is to improve patient care, clinical practices, and health care economics by advancing the role of diagnostics in combating AMR.
Key Player:
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Quidel Corporation, Puritan Medical Products, Becton, Dickinson and Company, COPAN Diagnostics Inc., Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC, Medical Wire & Equipment, Trinity Biotech PLC, HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Hardy Diagnostics, Wuxi NEST Biotechnology Co., Ltd., VIRCELL S.L., DiaSorin S.P.A., Titan Biotech Ltd., Pretium Packaging L.L.C., Spectrum Solutions L.L.C., BioMérieux SA, GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., Hologic, Inc., Roche Diagnostics
