Originally Published IVD Technology November/December 2001
Clinical applications lead growth in immunoassay testing
Richard Park
Makers of immunoassays
may have a solid niche in clinical applications but, according to one recent
report, other areas could offer growing opportunities for sales in coming years.
Clinical applications are by far the dominant player in immunoassay testing,
with revenues estimated to total $13.8 billion in 2001, according to an October
report by Business Communications Company, Inc. (BCC; Norwalk, CT). The report,
titled Immunoassays: Technologies, Markets, projects that revenues generated
from clinical immunoassay testing will reach $16.8 billion by 2006 at an average
annual growth rate (AAGR) of 4.1% (see table).
| Application | 2001 | 2006 | AAGR% 2001–2006 |
| Clinical | 13,800 | 16,800 | 4.1 |
| Food | 414 | 760 | 12.9 |
| Environment | 17.8 | 23.1 | 5.4 |
| Total | 14,232 | 17,583 | 4.4 |
| Projected worldwide sales of clinical, food, and environmental immunoassay applications, 2001 and 2006 (million $). Source: BCC. | |||
In 1999, sales
of actual immunoassay test kits and other related products exceeded $3.9 billion,
according to a 2000 report by Theta Reports (New York City). Theta found that
these immunoassay tests are used mostly in commercial and hospital-based laboratories,
accounting for about 80% of all diagnostic testing conducted each year.
The BCC study estimates that global revenues of immunoassay testing in the clinical,
food safety, and environmental areas will total $14.2 billion in 2001. At a
growth rate of 4.4%, revenues from testing are anticipated to reach $17.6 billion
by 2006 (see table).
The BCC report says that revenues from food safety and environmental immunoassay
testing are also expected to show growth during the 5-year forecast period.
For food safety immunoassay testing, revenues are estimated to increase from
$414 million in 2001 to $760 million in 2006, at a growth rate of 12.9%. Revenues
of environmental immunoassay testing are projected to rise at a growth rate
of 5.4% from $17.8 million in 2001 to $23.1 million in 2006.
The BCC study points to the continuing need for immunoassay testing, as well
as ongoing genetic research, as factors contributing to the growth of the immunoassay
market.
“The number of different sample types between and within each field of
clinical, food safety, and environmental immunoassay testing reflects the need
for immunoassay testing methods and the versatility of immunoassay technology,”
says the BCC report. “As the human genome–sequencing project nears
completion and other organisms’ genomes are sequenced, the number of known
proteins and potential number of proteins are increasing. The increase in the
number of proteins available increases the potential number of diagnostic immunoassays
in clinical, food, and environmental applications using current and developing
technologies.”
Analysts generally agree with the BCC report’s findings that the immunoassay
market will continue to grow.
“The global market for immunoassays continues to expand as new disease
states are identified, new therapies become available, and the worldwide standard
of living and access to healthcare improve,” says Joanne Stephenson, vice
president for business development at Response Biomedical Corp. (Burnaby, BC,
Canada). “This is the largest growth segment of the diagnostics market
primarily due to the advent of portable immunoassay systems.”
Other analysts concur with the study’s conclusion that advances in genetic
research will have a beneficial effect on the immunoassay market.
“There is opportunity for new diagnostic assays in the clinical, food,
and environmental markets. The veterinary market is also a significant market
segment that should be considered,” says Paul Wernke, an independent consultant
in Strongsville, OH.
“The development of proteomics as an outgrowth of genomics will contribute
to the growth of the immunoassay market,” adds Wernke. “However, proteomics
will likely benefit the clinical and veterinary diagnostics markets more than
the environmental and food markets. While information regarding genetic traits
may be valuable for the clinical and veterinary markets, it is the expression
of genes into proteins that will provide the most data about a subject’s
current disease status.”
For more information about the report, contact BCC at 203/853-4266 or via e-mail
at publisher@bccresearch.com.
Copyright ©2001 IVD Technology
