POC HbA1C Testing Market Definition
The point of care (POC) hemoglobin (Hb) A1C testing market consists of sales of POC HbA1C testing devices and related services. The POC HbA1C testing devices assess the average level of blood sugar over 2 to 3 months in an individual. POC HbA1C testing devices are designed to diagnose average levels of glucose in patients’ blood and to control type I and type II diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is a chronic disease which occurs either when inadequate amount of insulin is produced by the pancreas or when the body cannot use the insulin it produces effectively. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
POC HbA1C Testing Market Size
The global POC HbA1C testing market reached a value of nearly $483.8 million in 2019, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.37% since 2015, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% to nearly $658.6 million by 2023.
Growth in the historic period resulted from rise in diabetes prevalence, and increase in disposable income. Factors that negatively affected growth in the historic period were lack of awareness, and development of alternative blood glucose monitoring methods.
Going forward, rise in Covid-19 cases, favorable government initiatives, changing lifestyles, and rise in diabetic population will drive growth. Factors that could hinder the growth of the POC HbA1C testing market in the future include inability of testing devices to assess all blood types.
POC HbA1C Testing Market Drivers
The key drivers of the POC HbA1C Testing market include:
Changing Lifestyles
Changing lifestyles are leading to an increased prevalence of diabetes; type II diabetes in particular, which in turn will drive the market for POC HbA1C testing. Long working hours, less physical activity, and unhealthy eating and drinking habits are increasing the prevalence of diabetes. Globally, the number of diabetic patients is expected to increase to 629 million by 2045. Besides, urbanization is also expected to drive the market in the forecast period. Globally, the percentage of the population living in urban areas is expected to increase from 55% in 2018 and reach 68% by 2050. Changing lifestyles, coupled with the growth in the urban population and the rise in disposable incomes and affordability among residents of cities will drive the demand for POC HbA1C testing.
POC HbA1C Testing Market Restraints
The key restraints of the POC HbA1C Testing market include:
Inability Of Testing Devices To Assess All Blood Types
The Point of Care (POC) Hemoglobin (Hb) A1C testing market is being restrained by the inability of these devices to assess all blood types. For instance, the HbA1C test is not suitable for patients with African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian descent and having a family member suffering from skin diseases such as sickle cell anemia or a thalassemia as people from this group are expected to have a different type of hemoglobin, known as a hemoglobin variant which may interfere with the results of HbA1C tests. Moreover, HbA1C test is not recommended in cases where the symptoms are visible for less than 2-3 months since the test measures the average glucose levels in the blood over past 2–3 months only. In such cases, alternative tests such as fructosamine are recommended as it gives a more appropriate measure of glycemic control in blood samples. This inability hinders the growth of the market.
POC HbA1C Testing Market Trends
Major trends influencing the POC HbA1C market include:
Increasing Use Of Home HbA1C Testing Kits
Home HbA1C testing kits allow people with diabetes to measure their HbA1c levels at home. Home HbA1c tests can be carried out within a relatively short period of time. Most home HbA1c tests require a sample of blood from the finger and then the test result may be given in different ways depending on the kit. Some kits provide a numeric result; others may provide a yes or no whether the HbA1c value is above or below a certain number. Currently, due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, diabetic patients who seek to keep their distances from hospitals and follow social distancing are increasingly using home kits to identify their risks and seek to maintain and manage their condition at home, whilst limiting their potential exposure to the virus.
Advances in Testing Technologies
Technological advances in POC HbA1C testing are helping the laboratories to conduct the tests more efficiently. Major players in the market are investing in developing advanced technologies to provide fast, accurate results in a short period thereby helping laboratories to manage the increase in demand for testing. For instance, in June 2019, Abbott introduced Afinion™ HbA1c Dx assay, an in vitro diagnostic test for the quantitative determination of HbA1c in human venous and capillary whole blood for use on the Afinion 2 Analyzer, and also Afinion AS100 Analyzer. The Afinion HbA1c Dx assay is the only rapid POC test cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assist healthcare professionals in diagnosing diabetes and also determining the patients risk of developing the disorder. The test provides reliable and accurate results of 1,2 glycated hemoglobin in just three minutes, helping physicians to evaluate patients and enable them to formulate individualized care plans during a single visit to the doctor`s office. These developments will increase the growth of the POC HbA1C testing market.
Opportunities And Recommendations In The POC HbA1C Testing Market
Opportunities – The top opportunities in the POC HbA1C testing market segmented by product type will arise in the consumables segment which will gain $436.75 million of global annual sales by 2023. The top opportunities in the POC HbA1C testing market segmented by technology will arise in the affinity binding chromatography segment which will gain $245.37 million of global annual sales by 2023. The top opportunities in the POC HbA1C testing market segmented by end user will arise in the physician office/outpatient center segment which will gain $374.28 million of global annual sales by 2023.
Market-trend-based strategies for the POC HbA1C testing market include developing and deploying technologies to capture and analyze data from the medical devices, M&A growth strategies to expand their customer base and geographic presence, online marketing strategies to expand their customer base and geographic presence. Player-adopted strategies in the POC HbA1C testing industry include expanding the diagnostics product portfolio and increase investments in R&D, expanding its business through collaborations, strengthening of its research and development network capability globally.
Recommendations – To take advantage of the opportunities, The Business Research Company recommends that POC HbA1C Testing companies consider focusing on green diabetes care devices, expand in emerging markets, leverage e-commerce to maximize reach and revenues, offer cost-effective products in low income countries , making the products more user friendly to target elder population and increase awareness on diabetes.
POC HbA1C Testing Market Segmentation
The POC HbA1C Testing market is segmented by type of product, by technology, by end-user and by geography.
By Type Of Product-
The POC HbA1C testing market can be segmented by type of product
- a) Instruments
- b) Consumables
The consumables market was the largest segment of the POC HbA1C testing market segmented by product, accounting for $316.31 million or 65.4% of the total in 2019 and is expected to be the fastest-growing segment going forward at a CAGR of 8.4%.
By Technology –
The POC HbA1C testing market can be segmented by technology
- a) Ion-Exchange HPLC
- b) Enzymatic Assay
- c) Affinity Binding Chromatography
- d) Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay
- e) Others
The turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay market was the largest segment of the POC HbA1C testing market, accounting for $222.01 million or 45.9% of the total in 2019 and affinity binding chromatography market is expected to be the fastest-growing segment going forward at a CAGR of 11.1%.
By End User –
The POC HbA1C testing market can be segmented by End User
- a) Hospitals
- b) Physician Office/Outpatient Center
- c) Home Care
- d) Others
The physician office/outpatient center market was the largest segment of the POC HbA1C testing market segmented by end user, accounting for $270.96 million or 56.0% of the total in 2019 and is expected to be the fastest-growing segment going forward at a CAGR of 8.4%.
By Geography–
The POC HbA1C testing market is segmented into
- o North America
- o Western Europe
- o Asia Pacific
- o Eastern Europe
- o South America
- o Middle East
- o Africa
North America was the largest region in the POC HbA1C testing market, accounting for 41.5% of the total in 2019. It was followed by Asia Pacific, Western Europe, and then the other regions. Going forward, the fastest-growing regions in the POC HbA1C testing market will be Africa and Middle East.
POC HbA1C Testing Competitive Landscape
Major Competitors are:
- • Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
- • Siemens Healthineers AG
- • Menarini Group
- • F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
- • ARKRAY Inc.
Other Competitors Include:
- • Aina Blood Monitoring Sysyem
- • Getein Biotech, Inc
- • Sugentech, Inc.
- • Alere Inc.
- • Danaher Corporation
- • bioMerieux
- • Abbott Laboratories
- • EKF Diagnostics
- • Trinity Biotech
- • HemoCue
- • PTS Diagnostics
- • Diazyme Laboratories
- • Osang Healthcare
- • Tosoh Bioscience
- • Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
- • Instrumentation Laboratory
- • Nova Biomedical
- • Quidel Corporation