Tests Based on Immune Reactions are a Big Business, Says Report

News provided by

Kalorama Information

Sep 07, 2017, 15:11 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Market researcher Kalorama Information says that the market for immunoassays, or tests that bind antibodies to antigens to detect the presence of a substance (an analyte) in a patient, is over $20 billion.  Kalorama defines immunoassay tests in terms of three major segments:  immunoassays performed in centralized laboratories for clinical indications such as screening, diagnosis, and/or monitoring patients, point-of-care or rapid immunoassays also performed for clinical indications, and immunoassays performed to screen the blood supply to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections.  Everything from infections to thyroid ailments to cancer can be tested using these technologies.  The finding was made in the company's report: Immunoassay Markets (Infectious Disease, Tumor Markers, Thyroid, Allergy, Drugs of Abuse, Therapetutic Drug Monitoring, Others).

Immunoassays have been used in clinical laboratory medicine since the 1960s, and are indispensable tools in clinical diagnostics.  A wide range of types of immunoassays is now used to measure proteins (including antibodies), hormones, drugs, and other analytes.  Fully automated immunoassay systems are now found in clinical laboratories. Even though the field of immunoassays is now mature, companies have continued to develop new immunoassays and immunoassay instrument platforms to improve the sensitivity of the assays. New developments are designed to make multiplexing possible, to miniaturize the platforms for point-of­-care, and to identify and develop assays for novel biomarkers, thus further expanding the potential of immunoassays for the future.

"Future prospects for the immunoassay market are mixed, because mature assays will show only moderate growth, while emerging assays for novel biomarkers will fuel most of the growth of this market," said Bruce Carlson, Kalorama's Publisher.

The report notes five drivers of immunoassay markets.

  • Increased knowledge of disease physiology derived from molecular biology and human genome studies will enhance the position of analytes detected by immunoassays. The function of genes is measured by the presence of gene products, proteins. Thus, immunoassays (in addition to molecular assays) will have an important role in post genomic medicine.

  • Development of new immunoassays for novel biomarkers is an important driver of the immunoassay.  Additional information about companies developing these new assays can be found in the profiles in Chapter 8.  In addition to the development of new tests based on novel biomarkers, many of factors are affecting the immunoassay market.

  • One market driver in healthcare for many years has been the growing population, and the growing number of older people in need of healthcare.  Each month, 870,000 people turn 65. By 2021, 2.0 million people will celebrate their 65th birthdays each month. This is important because an aging population will push up pension and healthcare costs, forcing major increases in public spending that could slow economic growth in rich and poor countries. While aging population is generally thought to be an issue in developed countries, the report suggests that aging is affecting every country in every part of the world. While developed nations have relatively high proportions of people aged 65 and older, the most rapid increases in the older population are in the developing world.

  • Another major driver of the IVD market as a whole, including the immunoassay market, is patients with chronic diseases. Major diseases for which immunoassays are available are discussed in the report.

  • In addition, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act increased the number of Americans with health insurance. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 47.951 million people in the United States (or 15.4% of the total population) did not have health insurance in 2012.   With repeal attempts stalled in Congress, the system is in place, for now.

Kalorama Information's report, Immunoassay Markets, can be found at: https://www.kaloramainformation.com/Immunoassay-Infectious-Disease-Tumor-Markers-Thyroid-Allergy-Drugs-Abuse-Therapetutic-Drug-Monitoring-11116430/

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 on our company website.  

Please link any media or news references to our reports or data to http://www.kaloramainformation.com/.

Press Contact:                                                         
Bruce Carlson
212 807 2262 
[email protected]

SOURCE Kalorama Information

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