As per a recent study published by Future Market Insights, the global RT-PCR kits market is expected to strengthen its grip by registering a CAGR of 6% during the 2023-2033 forecast period. The market is slated to accumulate a valuation of US$ 4 billion in 2023, and will ultimately reach US$ 7.1 billion in 2033. RT-PCR testing kit sales are widening amid the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and genetic disorders. Healthcare providers are continuously innovating their product portfolios to develop highly precise testing devices.
On the basis of application, RT-PCR kits will find exclusive use in detecting, identifying, and diagnosing infectious diseases, especially pathogenic ones. A clear instance of the exponential increase in demand is the COVID-19 pandemic. Without any shadow of a doubt, the pandemic was one of the most perilous humanitarian challenges in recent history. As of today, over 600 million people have been infected. Fortunately, the mortality rate has significantly reduced, thanks to the ready availability of rapid testing kits which helps detect the infection on time and provide proper treatment.
A number of countries are sanctioning home-based healthcare companies to increase the production and sales of RT-PCR test kits. For instance, in January 2023, the government of Singapore approved the retail sale of the first antigen rapid test (ART) kits for COVID-19. The agency which approved the sales is the Health and Science Authority (HSA) under the Pandemic Special Access route. The self-test kits are being developed by Cellbae, a local diagnostics and reagents company.
Besides COVID-19, RT-PCR tests are also being deployed to test for other infectious diseases, most notably flu. This is especially the case across the United States, given that the fall and winter seasons account for the maximum outbreaks of the epidemic. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the influenza season typically begins in October each year and continues until February. Hence, healthcare providers increase testing procedures during this timeframe. In December 2022, Net Medical announced the introduction of its mobile medical van service providing testing for flu, COVID, and RSV PCR respiratory testing in New Mexico.
The RT-PCR test will now most likely become the gold standard for detecting the presence of any infectious pathogens in the human body. The test is a laboratory technique involving real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which helps detect even the minutest concentration of viruses at the time of amplification of DNA. A major advantage of this test is that it detects the presence of a foreign body even before any symptoms of infections manifest themselves. Furthermore, it also detects viral presence in asymptomatic patients, enabling accurate diagnoses and treatment.
Over the past two years, the entire healthcare industry has augmented the manufacturing of RT-PCR test kits, with several high-profile collaborations occurring between healthcare & pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, NGOs, hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries. In December 2022, Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc. announced the receipt of the FDA emergency use authorization for its Applied Biosystems TaqPath Monkeypox/Orthopox Virus DNA Kit. The test is RT-PCR-based, intended to detect non-variola Orthopoxviruses within a timeframe of 3 and a half hours.
The market for RT-PCR kits also has its share of challenges, which manufacturers must navigate. One of the challenges presenting itself is a gap in the demand-supply ratio. In Japan, for instance, there are reports of significant shortfalls in availability, attributed to a shortage of materials required to manufacture the kits, mostly spurred by increasing demand for testing. Stocks are limited, causing worry among healthcare stakeholders. Also, the number of false positives arising out of the test results may lead to discrepancies in diagnoses.
Data Points
Key Statistics
Expected Market Value in 2023
US$ 4 billion
Projected Market Value in 2033
US$ 7.1 billion
Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)
CAGR of 6%
RT-PCR kits are finding extensive applications on the back of factors such as the rising incidences of infectious diseases and genetic disorders. As technological advancements continue to empower the RT-PCR kits, coupled with increasing investments in research and development activities, the market is witnessing positive growth.
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COVID-19 Pandemic to Remain Key Growth Influencer in Near Term
While the market is set for gradual growth in the foreseeable future, the recent outbreak of COVID-19, which has metamorphosed into a global pandemic is certain to assert influence on the market. Moreover, there is a continual demand for effective detection techniques on the back of rising cases of major infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, and Staph-related diseases, and genetic disorders such as cancer and syndromes.
For instance, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 219 million cases of malaria were reported around the world in the year 2018, with 92% cases in the African subcontinent alone. Statistics such as these significantly propel the demand for the RT-PCR kits.
RT-PCR Kit - A Highly Sought-out Methodology
Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time RT-PCR) is a nuclear-based method, used to detect the presence of genetic materials such as pathogens, viruses, and microorganisms, among others. Regardless of where the contamination is, RT-PCR kits will detect the foreign body.
The increasing adulteration of food products and the growing need for accurate diagnosis are creating potential growth opportunities for real-time PCR system manufacturers. A kit using the real-time RT-PCR method is considered one of the most accurate methods to track, detect, and study contagious viruses such as the coronavirus.
Furthermore, the RT-PCR technique is capable of delivering accurate diagnosis at a quick turnaround time, usually half the time it takes in laboratories. With the mounting cases of COVID-19 around the world, the need for quick and efficient testing is intensifying and the RT-PCR kit is the most sought-out methodology in the health-care industry, thereby creating a spike in the demand for these kits.
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North America Exhibits Dominance Backed by High Adoption Rate; Europe Follows Closely
North America is currently dominating the global RT-PCR kit market and is expected to maintain its supremacy in the future. The region is invigorated by factors such as high spending on healthcare, increased adoption of the novel kits, availability of R&D grants, and commercialization of the kits.
Closely following North America is Europe, which is the second most lucrative region for manufacturers in the RT-PCR kit market, backed by the healthy presence of testing laboratories, research facilities, and pharmaceutical industries. Likewise, Asia Pacific is also expected to create substantial revenue opportunities owing to the investments in the research and development sector in the emerging economies.
Quantitative Kits Lead Market While Digital Kits Gain Traction
The Real-time PCR Kit market is bifurcated into quantitative and digital segments based on the technology, with the quantitative segment holding the lion's share in market value in 2018 owing to a higher adoption rate. However, the digital type PCR is growing in terms of value and volume at a higher rate.
The digital systems bestow higher sensitivity and accuracy as compared to quantitative PCR approaches. Backed by the aforementioned advantages, the digital PCR segment is expected to attain a significant market value by the end of the forecast period.
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A Wide Array of Applications Pushing the Demand
The RT-PCR kits have been utilized in a wide array of applications in both basic and diagnostic research. Some of the major end-use applications are human genetic testing, forensic sciences, pathogen detection, oncology testing, blood screening, and infectious disease testing. Additionally, the kits have been gradually gaining traction in applications in the food microbiology segment to identify adulteration of food, which is expected to propel the market demand.
COVID-19 Influence Propelling Demand for RT-PCR Kits
As the COVID-19 pandemic has permeated into every corner of the world, the need for the efficient testing technique and kits is higher than ever.
The IAEA, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is extending its support and expertise to help various countries to use real-time polymerase chain reaction, which is one of the most accurate laboratory methods for detecting, tracking, and studying the coronavirus.
To detect coronaviruses early in the body using real-time RT-PCR, scientists need to convert the RNA to DNA. This is a process called 'reverse transcription', thus giving the name Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time RT-PCR) to the kit.
Opportunities Abound in RT-PCR Kit Market Landscape amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Currently, the RT-PCR kits for diagnosis of COVID-19 are being procured from the USA and supplied to government testing laboratories across the country. This is creating substantial revenue opportunities for manufacturers. Recently, the government has allowed two private companies - MyLab, an Indian organization, and German-based Altona Diagnostics - to supply COVID-19 test kits to both the government as well as private testing laboratories.
Moreover, two South Korean firms, namely Seegene and SD Biosensor received approval to supply RT-PCR based COVID-19 diagnostic kits in India. Additionally, the Indian government approved 12 rapid antibody test kits for COVID-19 diagnosis. Such initiatives are giving a significant boost to the market.
Competitive Landscape of RT-PCR Kits Market
Some of the key players in the RT-PCR kit market are F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Qiagen N.V,, Takara Bio, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Biomérieux S.A., Fluidigm Corporation, Danaher Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, Merck KGaA, Becton Dickinson and Company, Promega Corporation, Eppendorf AG, Analytik Jena AG, Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., Cole-Parmer Instrument Company Llc, and Bioneer Corporation among others.
With mounting cases of COVID-19 and sky-rocketing demand, the market players are racing to expand profit pools. Recent developments in the RT-PCR landscape are:
In 2019, Qiagen, announced the development of a range of next-generation systems for digital PCR, in the life sciences industry.
In 2019, Abbott entered into an eight-year partnership agreement with Japanese Red Cross Society (JRC) to develop serological instrumentation, tests, and consumables used for blood and plasma screening in Japan.
