Report: Challenge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases an Opportunity for IVD Industry

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Dec 07, 2015, 09:27 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly one out of every five dollars earned in infectious disease testing is the result of a test for sexually transmitted disease or women's health test, according to Kalorama Information. The healthcare market research firm said that responding to resilient and rebounding rates of STIs and the increasing specialization in medicine to optimally treat female patients and conditions, many in the IVD industry have prioritized assay menus in those areas across platforms, but foremost in molecular diagnostics. The finding was made in Kalorama Information's report, The World Market for Infectious Disease Diagnostic Tests.

"With consistent national reporting in the United States, it has become apparent that STIs have rebounded from reported historical lows and been resilient to eradication goals," said Emil Salazar, Kalorama IVD analyst in a recent blog post.

Within IVD, infectious disease tests for STIs and women's health typically do not include diagnostics for HIV or viral hepatitis, which independently represent multi-billion-dollar markets. The most significant pathogens in STI and women's health testing include Chlamydia (CT), gonorrhea (NG), syphilis, ToRCH panel pathogens, and human papillomavirus (HPV). The infections are highly impactful to community health, maternal health, and prenatal and neonatal health. A diverse range of IVD products are used to screen for and assess STIs and other women's health infections, including cultures, laboratory immunoassays, rapid immunoassays, molecular assays, and high-throughput blood screening assays.

Chlamydia has been on the rise since reporting began in the United States. Gonorrhea declined nearly 75% between 1975 and 1997, but thereafter remained roughly constant through 2009 before rising slightly every year through 2012. After declining nearly 90% between 1990 and 2000, syphilis reached its lowest rate in the United States since reporting had begun in 1941. The dramatic decline of syphilis and the regional concentration of the disease lead the Surgeon General to release a national eradication plan in 1999 and later updated in 2006. However, the rate of syphilis subsequently increased each year from 2001 to 2009 and jumped another 22% between 2011 and 2013.

In some cases, the observed increases in STIs may be a result of improved screening efforts rather than an actual groundswell in infections. Among sexually active U.S. women aged 16 to 24 years with commercial insurance plans, Chlamydia screening nearly doubled between 2001 and 2012 to 45% of the subjects. Increased Chlamydia screening has also impacted gonorrhea reporting as multiplex CT/NG testing is highly common.

"While truly rising STI incidence in the United States is debatable, the above trends are nonetheless positive for the IVD industry since STI screening is becoming more commonplace in healthcare given an ongoing emphasis upon preventative care and improving national insurance coverage. Positive trends in STI screening rates are also expected in developing healthcare systems," Salazar said.

For more information, Kalorama's complete study of the market, The World Market for Infectious Disease Diagnostic Tests is available at their website at: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=88121&productid=9367616.

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog at www.kaloramainformation.com.

Contact:
Bruce Carlson
(212) 807-2622
[email protected]
www.KaloramaInformation.com

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SOURCE Kalorama Information