Blood Culture Tests Market Assessment, By Product [Instruments, Consumables, Other Products], By Type [Manual Blood Culture Testing, Automated Blood Culture Testing], By Technology [Culture-Based, Proteomic Technology, Molecular Technology], By Culture Type [Bacterial, Fungal, Micro Bacterial], By End-user [Hospital Laboratories, Diagnostic Laboratories, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F
Global blood culture tests market is projected to witness a CAGR of 9.05% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 5.32 billion in 2023 to USD 10.64 billion in 2031. The blood culture tests market is anticipated to grow significantly and gain momentum over the course of the forecast period owing to the rising incidence of infectious diseases and sepsis cases, increased government initiatives and funding coupled with a strong emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment.
A blood culture test is a diagnostic process for detecting bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood sample. This test helps medical professionals identify the precise infection present in the blood and directs the course of appropriate treatment. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, advancements in diagnostic technology, and a growing focus on early and accurate diagnosis to improve patient care are all contributing factors to the growth in demand for blood culture tests. Furthermore, advances in blood culture systems and higher healthcare investments are propelling the industry forward. The new product launches keep this blood tests market active; for instance, in June 2024, bioMérieux, a world leader in providing in vitro services, received US-FDA approval for its VITEK REVEAL AST System.
Rising Antimicrobial Resistance Burden in Bloodstream Infections
The growing prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strongly supports the blood culture tests market by highlighting the need for superior diagnostic solutions. Antimicrobial resistance makes the treatment of bloodstream infection more challenging and creates a growing demand for accurate detection of pathogens and their resistance patterns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is classified as a top global health threat, with approximately 4.95 million deaths attributed to it in 2019. If not addressed, AMR could escalate into a more significant issue. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, AMR could increase global healthcare costs by an additional USD 1 trillion. These costs arise from the increased numbers of cases, enhanced difficulty of treating infections, longer and more expensive hospitalization, and costly treatments. This challenge has been immediately responded to through accelerated investment in research and development, culminating in advanced blood culture tests that bring fast results and detailed resistance data, enabling good management of antimicrobial resistance and improving patient outcomes.
Increasing Awareness and Fundings Towards Bloodstream Infections
The enhanced awareness and favorable funding scenario to cater to bloodstream infections will further fuel the blood culture tests market concerning higher innovation and access to advanced diagnostics. With increased recognition of the serious consequences of such infections, the industry has experienced significant growth in government and private sector funding. For instance, in August 2024, the Government of Australia invested over USD 3.7 million for enhanced infection control research in geriatric care facilities. Similarly, in February 2024, Wellcome Trust, a London-based health research foundation, funded USD 5.46 million (£4.2 million) to a collaborative team of researchers from Ireland and the United Kingdom to study major causes of fatal bloodstream infections. Such investments are pushing the development of integrated diagnostic platforms to improve testing efficiency and accuracy. This growing attention toward the problem of bloodstream infection, along with the financial backing needed, is therefore playing a growth-promotional role in the blood culture tests market, hence representing one of the major areas of development in healthcare.
Dominance of Consumables in the Blood Culture Tests Market
The consumables segment is expected to dominate the blood culture tests market because it comprises a wide range of products used in blood culture testing. This includes vials, culture media, test kits, assays and reagents. As the accuracy and effectiveness of blood culture testing depend greatly on the quality of the culture media, companies are now highly focused on enhancing its quality. Apart from this, companies producing new assays, culture media, and test kits are currently in the pipeline for FDA clearance. Therefore, this shows that the demand for sophisticated and high-end consumables is increasing. The innovation trend materializing into regulatory approval proves an increasing need for reliable and effective products in blood culture testing. For instance, in June 2024, Diasorin S.p.A. received US FDA (510K) approval for its LIAISON PLEX Yeast blood culture assay, which has enhanced their diagnostic capabilities for bloodstream infections by detecting 16 different fungal infections. Likewise, in April 2024, Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. received the US FDA (510k) clearance for its innovative automated positive blood culture sample preparation platform, the Accelerate ArcSystem and BC Kit.
North America Dominates Blood Culture Tests Market
North America dominates the blood culture tests market due to the high incidence of bloodstream infections in the United States and Canada, which necessitate these tests. Many aspects contribute to this dominance, including government initiatives aimed at preventing and controlling septicemia, increased investments in R&D, and being home to major players in the blood culture tests market. Some companies are merging their activities with others to improve their diagnostic products leading to better diagnostic results. For example, in November 2023, Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. collaborated with Bruker Corporation, the manufacturer of the MALDI Biotyper system for microbial identification. This agreement enabled the integration of the Arc system from Accelerate Diagnostics with Bruker MALDI Biotyper Sirius instruments and Sepsityper software to empower laboratories to fight sepsis with better technology. Moreover, in October 2022, Becton, Dickinson and Company, one of the biggest medical technology companies in the world, entered a partnership with Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc. This will help reduce blood culture contamination in hospitals across the United States to enable better test accuracy and clinical outcomes.
Future Market Scenario (2024-2031F)
Government and regulatory agencies are working with companies to enhance practices that consider supply challenges for blood culture testing. For example, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently working with BD Life Sciences to understand better the supply issues and be sure that users have information about best practices in using blood cultures and quality assurance. Indeed, these efforts demonstrate the continuing commitment to improve blood culture testing and practice in the future.
Researchers are working on reducing the overall time taken to diagnose critical health issues such as bloodstream infections and sepsis. For this, they are using advanced techniques combined with traditional blood culture testing to reduce the turnaround time. For instance, a publication in 2024 made suggestions to reduce the time between sample collection and treatment decisions for sepsis to seven to nine hours using nanopore sequencing. These developments show blood culture testing holds a promising future for accurate diagnosis and, hence, can lead to faster and more effective treatments.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
Bruker Corporation, bioMérieux, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Danaher Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Abbott Laboratories are among the blood culture tests market's leading players. The blood culture tests market is very competitive, with various competitors operating in the country and regional markets. With cutting-edge technologies as well as rapid testing methods, these companies are leading in the blood culture tests market with the goal of increasing diagnostic accuracy as well as speed. Their continued investments in research and development, as well as strategic collaborations, are critical to meeting the changing needs of the healthcare sector and improving patient outcomes. For instance,
In January 2024, bioMérieux, a leading global in vitro diagnostics company, completed the acquisition of LUMED, a Canadian software startup. LUMED specializes in clinical decision support systems that help hospitals with antimicrobial prescription and infection surveillance. The deal is valued at around USD 9.9 million (9 million euros). This acquisition will expand the data analytics portfolio of BioMérieux, with a focus on infection prevention and control.
In March 2023, Biofire Defense LLC, a bioMérieux affiliate known for its innovative pathogen detection technologies, partnered with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and it collaborates with Biofire to accelerate the development of the SPECIFIC REVEAL Rapid AST System. This novel, modular antimicrobial susceptibility testing technology intends to offer results within five hours after detecting a positive blood culture, thereby increasing the speed and efficiency of infection diagnosis.