The U.S. Clinical Diagnostic Equipment Market

Report Highlights

• U.S. sales are forecasted at an AAGR of 9.3% through 2007.
• The most active segments are clinical lab. instruments and POC testing.
• The global clinical diagnostic equipment market is worth more than $30 billion.
• The U.S., Western Europe and Japan comprise approximately 41%, 33% and 13%, respectively.

INTRODUCTION

The United States is the world's largest single market for diagnostic equipment, with a value of $13.6 billion in 2002. The emergence and growth of managed health care in recent years has led to cost reductions and an increase in demand for efficiency among clinical laboratories. This has resulted in consolidation among both laboratories and manufacturers, altering the structure of the clinical laboratory market.

The market, in fact, has seen changes at both ends of the testing spectrum. The introduction of total laboratory automation (TLA) using robotics, has evolved for the larger laboratories. Also, the development of inexpensive automated testing devices, known as point-of-care (POC) instruments, has allowed diagnostic testing at the patient's bedside, as well as in smaller laboratories and physician's offices. It is BCC's goal to identify and examine these trends and to forecast future market changes through the year 2007.

This comprehensive study provides readers with an intensive examination of the changing medical diagnostics . It specifically addresses changes that have occurred as the result of technological advances, cost reduction efforts and regulatory implementations. Beyond focusing on these changes, it defines the entire in vitro diagnostics industry, including its structure and dynamics. Also discussed are the major players, relative market shares, the impact of external forces and current and emerging technologies. Because of this, the analysis will prove particularly valuable to diagnostic industry decision makers, developers, directors of marketing, and research directors. It also will benefit suppliers to this industry.

SCOPE OF STUDY

The U.S. Clinical Diagnostic Equipment Market report:

• Describes the clinical diagnostic industry
• Profiles end-user segments and their changing demands
• Analyzes market influences and predicts the changes that will shape the future clinical diagnostics market through 2007
• Discusses trends and future outlook within the market segments
• Reviews activities of market leaders in each segment
• report_highlightss emerging and leading technologies that likely will impact in the future
• Provides profiles of leading players.

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 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.

AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS

Barbara Breindel has advised the medical equipment and pharmaceuticals industries with product evaluations, domestic and foreign market analyses, and consumer trend forecasts. Her studies have examined drug delivery systems, drug packaging, pharmaceuticals, microorganism testing, skin, wound and hair treatment markets, as well as the medical diagnostic equipment and laser industries. Ms. Breindel has been with BCC for over 15 years. B.S., Lehman College, N.Y.; M.B.A., Marketing, Baruch Graduate School, CCNY.