Blood Group Typing Market Overview
The blood group typing market size is predicted to witness massive growth in the coming years, because of the surging utilization of the process in forensic sciences and prenatal testing, increasing number of accident and trauma victims, resulting in a rising number of blood transfusions, and surging requirement for blood and derivatives.
Consumables, service, and instruments are the various product and service offerings in the industry. Among these, consumables presently hold the largest blood group typing market share, on account of the increase in blood donation and organ transplantation surgeries. Consumables, including anti-human globulin reagents, blood bank saline, red-blood-cell reagents, and antisera reagents, find wide application during these procedures. With the launch of improved molecular diagnostic test kits and reagents, which reduce the analysis time, the share of consumables would increase further in the near future.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based and microarray techniques, massively parallel sequencing, assay-based techniques, and numerous other techniques are used to determine a person’s blood type. The fastest growth in the global blood group typing market is predicted for PCR-based and microarray techniques, on account of the increase in the funding for research activities, aimed at studying the reactions between the antigens and antibodies, and blood’s molecular basis. Other reasons for the increasing use of this technique would by a surge in the incidence of chronic diseases, awareness about techniques based on microarrays, and requirement to identify rare blood types.
For determining the blood group, several tests are done, such as cross-matching, antigen typing, ABO blood tests, antibody screening, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing. The largest industry share is currently accounted for by antibody screening, and in the coming years, it would witness the highest blood group typing market CAGR, owing to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the growing demand for early diagnosis of diseases. Additionally, the increase in the number of transfusion-transmitted infection cases, especially in low- and middle-income nations, is also driving the usage of this test type.
North America currently leads the industry, due to the surging blood transfusion activities. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), 42% of the total blood donations in 2019 was contributed by high-income countries. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the number of prenatal tests conducted in the U.S., in 2015, at over 18 million, thereby driving the demand for blood group typing market in the region. To cater to this requirement, the market players are launching several new products, which is, in turn, expected to help the regional industry prosper.
In the coming years, Asia-Pacific (APAC) would experience the fastest industry growth, as a result of the escalating incidence of chronic diseases, many of which require blood type determination for effective treatment. Other reasons for the rapid advance of the regional blood group typing market are the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and surging number of trauma and accident victims, who require instant blood transfusion, for which identifying the blood type is essential.
Blood Group Typing Market Dynamics
Trends
The rise in blood donation activities is the key trend being witnessed in the blood group typing market across the globe. According to the WHO, every year, blood is donated 117.4 million times; between 2008 and 2015, the blood samples given by voluntary, unpaid donors, rose by 11.6 million. The organization also reports that 123 countries have a policy regarding the issue, with 104 of these having strict regulations concerning the safety and quality aspects. Apart from the general requirement for this bodily fluid in healthcare settings, the potential benefits of donating blood regularly are also driving the rise in such activities.
Drivers
One of the key drivers for the blood group typing market growth is the increase in accident and trauma victims. The WHO estimates that every year, road crashes kill over 1.24 million people. While a lot of such deaths occur due to irreparable damage to internal organs, many happen due to excessive blood loss. The first step taken to make victims stable is giving blood, which requires instant knowledge of their blood type, so that the correct sample can be given.
Opportunities
A major blood group typing market opportunity is being offered by the focus of companies on developing new and improved testing methods, to analyze the blood samples at the molecular level. For instance, blood banks are now using the flexible DNA microarray platform to process blood samples and genotypes and offer cost-effective blood screening. Another type of products being developed are those that allow for smooth management of the blood testing workload. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 2016, approved the PreciseType HEA test, a patent of Immucor, which is helpful in screening blood for the sickle cell trait.
Blood Group Typing Market Competitive Landscape
The key players in the global blood group typing market are increasingly pursuing regulatory approvals for their products, in order to lead the competition. For instance, in October 2016, the IH-1000 blood instrument patented by Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., which manufactures products for clinical diagnosis and life sciences, received the FDA Approval.
Immucor Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., BAG Health Care GmbH, Quotient Limited, Grifols S.A., DAY medical SA, Novacyt Group, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Inc., AXO Science, DIAGAST, and Agena Bioscience Inc. are the major blood group typing market players.
