Point-of-Care growth 2010

The lateral-flow point-of-care (POC) test market is expected to grow steadily and increase by more than 40% in five years. According to a report by Kalorama Information (New York City), titled “Lateral-Flow Technology and the Future of Point-of-Care Diagnostics,” the combined over-the-counter (OTC) and professional lateral-flow POC tests generated global revenues of $1.88 billion in 2005.

Of this total, self-testing accounted for $635 million, while professional POC testing brought in $1.245 billion. With an average annual growth rate of 8%, this market is projected to reach $2.725 billion by 2010.

The United States and Europe dominate the market for clinical lateral-flow POC tests. In 2005, the U.S. and European markets accounted for $940 million, or 50%, and $752 million, or 40%, respectively. Japan and Asia generated $94 million, or 5%, while the rest of the world took up the remaining 5% of the market.

The report stated that the use of clinical lateral-flow POC tests has been continually growing since the early 1990s. Such growth in lateral-flow testing has been driven primarily by expanded test menus and increased use of current test menus. This expansion was in response to increased interest in public health issues and the prevalence of chronic diseases.

Continued growth in lateral-flow POC testing will mainly come from the professional sector’s investment in POC testing for cardiac markers, cholesterol, and infectious diseases. The compound annual growth rate for professional POC tests is projected to be 12%. Meanwhile, aside from pregnancy tests, the OTC test market has stalled. However, some future growth can be expected in self-testing for infectious diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases and urinary tract infections.