LYON, France -- Yole Développement announces its report "Point of Care Testing, Applications of Microfluidic Technologies." In 2017, the point-of-care market will reach $38B which represents 16% of the whole in-vitro diagnostic market. According to the global IVD market, the POC sub market is today highly concentrated around a few powerful players: Top 10 POC players are covering more than 90% of the market", announces Frédéric Breussin, Business Unit Manager, Medical Technologies at Yole Développement.
POC testing based on microfluidics technology is booming
Once basic application requirements such as robustness, simplicity of use and reliability are met, added value of tests based on microfluidics are well proven: fast results, low consumption of reagents, and cost reduction. Despite these advantages, there is a general feeling that this market does not take off. Based on a complete analysis of what happened over the last three years we have been able to draw conclusions from the past. Yole Développement believes that strong growth will still happen.
Indeed many acquisitions occurred recently and several products under development will finally reach the market in the coming years. The POC testing market based on Microfluidics technology will reach more than $16B in 2017.
Highly segmented market
It's worth noting that there are several applications for POC technologies but the market requirements are often misunderstood or worse ignored. Based on a rigorous segmentation, Yole Développement's analysts have been able to gather all the information necessary to understand market needs for each application.
POC 2012 report describes the following applications:
- Emergency testing
- Home tests
- Doctor office screening
- Decentralized Hospital tests
- Environment testing
- Forensic and military
- Third world infections
- Agro-Food
Each of them is developed with market data, trends and drivers, keys players and technologies used.
In parallel, Yole Développement's new report provides an overview of nearly 60 new technologies (commercialized or close to the market) with information on the commercial status, targeted application, technology description, sample volume, sensitivity level, target price).
Gap between developers arguments and diagnostics criteria
We often observe a large gap between technology developers arguments for microfluidic technology and diagnostics companies basic requirements for POC testing. Moreover, if several microfluidic-based POC Tests (ex: I-Stat, Triage, BD MAX System...) have met success, pitfalls and challenges are numerous and really important to identify.
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Technical and regulatory challenges
POC testing is facing several technical requirements. Some of them are universal; for instance, the specificity and the sensitivity need to be higher than the reference method, whereas others are highly depending on the application. -
Economical challenges
The analysis of the value chain provides an understanding of costs related to the different manufacturing steps (included packaging and quality control) in relation to the cost of the final test which includes reagent, commercialization and distribution costs. -
Supply & value chain challenges
The report describes the microfluidic supply chain, from R&D to commercialization and distribution. It shows for each type of material the main players and their role in the supply chain.
Future perspectives For the future, several perspectives have been explored for the widely use of POC technologies. For example, the report addresses emerging application as personalized medicine, and new technologies for testing in developing countries (microfluidic paper technology, HIV and tuberculosis tests).
Authors:
Frédéric Breussin, is expert in microfluidics for diagnostics and life sciences. He has supported many companies in their innovation and product development strategy in making the bridge between micro systems technologies and their applications in life sciences, diagnostics and medical device industries. He holds an Engineering diploma from INSA Rouen and a DEA in fluid mechanics from University of Rouen.
Benjamin Roussel, is a Market Analyst in Microfluidic and Medical Technologies fields. He holds a State qualification as a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University Claude Bernard Lyon, complemented by a master degree in Technology and Innovation Management from EMLyon Business School.
Companies cited in the report
3M, Abaxis, Abbott Point of Care, Accumetrics, Akonni Biosystems, Alere, Amic, Axis Shield POC, Becton, Disckinson and Co, Bio-Rad, BioCartis, CD4 Initiative Test, Cepheid, Chempaq, Curetis, Daktari, DNA electronics, Enigma Diagnostics, Genefluidics, Great Basin, Handylab (BD), IBM, Idaho Technology Inc., Ikerlan, INO, Iquum, Johnson&Johnson.
About Yole Développement
Beginning in 1998 with Yole Développement, we have grown to become a group of companies providing market research, technology analysis, strategy consulting, media in addition to finance services. With a solid focus on emerging applications using silicon and/or micro manufacturing, Yole Développement group has expanded to include more than 50 associates worldwide covering MEMS, microfluidics & medical, advanced packaging, compound semiconductors, power electronics, LED, and photovoltaic. The group supports companies, investors and R&D organizations worldwide to help them understand markets and follow technology trends to develop their business.