Point of Care Diagnostics

Report Highlights

• POC testing revenue reached an estimated $5.05 billion in 2005 and is expected to grow at a 13.8% AAGR through 2010, yielding sales of nearly $9.65 billion.
• A major force driving the growth of this industry is the effort to provide better patient care by improving the time to treatment (TAT) that POC testing offers. Other forces include cost containment, the aging population, the increased incidence of certain diseases, and technological advances.
• Glucose testing meters and supplies accounted for 47.9% of POC sales in 2005 and are expected to grow at a 9.4% AAGR through 2010. The worldwide incidence of diabetes is predicted to double in the next 25 years.

INTRODUCTION

The United States is the world's largest single market for diagnostic testing, and one of the most active segments within the diagnostic industry is pointof- care (POC) testing. POC testing is growing in both home use and POC near-patient applications. However, but the projected POC near-patient applications are forecasted to grow at a 15.5% average annual growth rate (AAGR) as opposed to 9.3% AAGR for the home use segment.

Over the last few decades, there has been a strong trend toward POC testing because of an increasing demand for near-patient testing that provides rapid results. More tests are being performed at the hospital patients' bedsides, in physicians' office laboratories, outpatient clinics, emergency rooms and intensive care units. Critical care instruments combining selected important chemistry, hematology and hemostasis parameters have entered the market for POC testing in the emergency and operating rooms. The trend toward greater POC testing is driven by the faster diagnostic benefits it provides.

This important report studies the flourishing near-patient testing business. It provides a complete review and analysis of the current POC markets and provides forecasts of market growth through 2010. In addition, it provides an overview of POC products, and descriptions of current and emerging technologies. The study also covers federal regulation of POC testing, international developments, and patents that will affect the future of the industry.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This comprehensive study:

• Describes the point of care (POC) industry
• Estimates the current and future market sizes
• Discusses product segments
• Analyzes market influences and predicts the future of POC
• Reviews business activities of market leaders
• report_highlightss emerging and leading technologies.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

The primary data collection methodology for this report involved interviews with industry and government agency personnel, industry observers, scientists and industry professional organizations. In addition to these primary data sources, secondary data research techniques were used in a literature search of BCC's extensive library as well as medical and business libraries.

All data collected were analyzed by BCC personnel to determine specific findings and make forecasts. Once these forecasts were obtained, they were validated by consultation with industry experts. Consequently, all estimates provided in this report represent a consensus opinion of BCC personnel, industry participants and industry observers.

Growth forecasts are made in constant dollars based on the U.S. manufacturers' (wholesale) price level unless otherwise noted.