GVR Report cover Drug Testing Market Size, Share & Trends Report

Drug Testing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Consumables, Instruments, Rapid Testing Devices, Services), By Sample Type, By Drug Type, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

  • Report ID: GVR-4-68039-364-2
  • Number of Pages: 120
  • Format: Electronic (PDF)
  • Historical Range: 2016 - 2019
  • Industry: Healthcare

Report Overview

The global drug testing market size to be valued at USD 11.7 billion by 2028 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% during the forecast period. Stringent regulations by government agencies mandating alcohol and drug testing for safety purposes and increasing initiatives to monitor and combat substance abuse are anticipated to support the market growth. Also, the growing incidence of substance abuse across the globe has led to an increase in the need for its screening, which has propelled the demand for drug testing. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business closings, economic downturn, and job losses have adversely affected the mental health of people and have led to higher rates of substance abuse.

Drug Testing Market size, by sample type

As per the CDC estimates, around 13.3% of Americans initiated or increased substance abuse to cope with anxiety or emotions related to COVID-19, thus, created a high demand for drug testing. However, a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 in major economies has slow down the demand for roadside and workplace testing in 2020, thus adversely affected the market growth to some extent.

Enforcement of stringent laws by several government agencies mandating substance abuse screening for safety purposes has driven the demand for innovative products. For instance, after conducting a one-year roadside drug testing pilot program from 2017 to 2018 in five counties, in October 2019, the Michigan State Police (MSP) expanded Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program in all counties. Similarly, in August 2018, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada approved the use of roadside oral fluid screening equipment to detect drug-impaired drivers.

Various government initiatives to monitor and combat substance abuse are driving the market. The Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) offers funding and contribution for projects that address substance abuse problems in Canada. This initiative supports substance use prevention, harm reduction, and treatment initiatives across Canada. Moreover, in April 2016, the New York City government launched a series of initiatives to train doctors and counselors treating substance abuse and increasing testing for synthetic opioids. The National Drug Control Budget requested USD 34.6 billion in FY 2020 across five drug control functional areas in the U.S.: Prevention, operation, treatment, law enforcement, and interdiction.

The right to privacy and prohibition of drug and alcohol testing in several countries are likely to be major factors hampering the market growth. In many European countries, such as Finland and Belgium, unlike the U.S., there are stringent privacy rights that cannot be ignored while screening for substance abuse. In the Netherlands, pre-employment substance abuse screening is illegal. Many European countries issue penalties for unjustified testing, with criminal fines. This is considered a breach of worker’s privacy. Hence, such stringent privacy rights are likely to limit testing at workplaces, impeding market growth.

Drug Testing Market Trends

Drivers

The rising alcohol use among adolescents and the elderly, overuse of prescribed pharmaceuticals, and increased use of opioids and illegal drugs are the primary driving factors for the market growth. Also, the rising cases of illegal drug consumption and increasing crime rates associated with drug abuse are expected to drive the demand for drug testing.

Increased competition among producers and the manufacturers working on new items in a wider range of categories is gaining a larger proportion of the market. Furthermore, technological advances are anticipated to drive the global drug screening market forward during the forecast period.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted a rise in drug abuse, as mental health issues were on the rise.  Similarly, drug traffickers have bounced back from preliminary setbacks caused by the pandemic lockdown owing to the boost in technology and virtual currency transactions that operate beyond the traditional financial system granting increased anonymity. The need for drug screening goods and services is expected to increase because of these causes.

Increased awareness about prohibited driving while intoxicated, as well as bans on alcohol and drugs at workplaces and in government organizations, are projected to limit the market growth. Also, the prohibitions on alcohol consumption in many Islamic countries and the lack of infrastructure in developing economies are expected to hinder the global drug-testing market growth during the forecast period.

Product Type Insights

The consumables segment dominated the market in 2020 with a revenue share of 34.3%. The increasing launch of advanced consumables that provide improved solutions to make testing easy, accurate, and fast have accelerated the market growth. For instance, in August 2019, MedTest Dx, Inc. introduced Clinitox Calibrators and Controls at the 2019 American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Annual Scientific Meeting. These calibrators and controls perform confirmation testing for laboratories to eliminate measurement of steps and manage controls and certifications, need to acquire and set-up materials, and multiple handling.

The services segment accounted for the second-largest revenue share in 2020. An increase in strategic initiatives being undertaken by various companies such as acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships to support public safety and government agencies, has propelled the segmental growth. In August 2020, Averhealth acquired drug testing services of Treatment Assessment Screening Center (TASC). Averhealth is expected to provide enhanced substance use monitoring services for TASC's clients.

Sample Type Insights

The urine samples segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 40.8% in 2020. The segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. This high growth can be attributed to the fact that urine samples are the most commonly used sample type to detect the presence of illicit substances. However, adulteration is becoming highly common in urine samples to produce a false-negative test result, which can adversely impact market growth.

On the other hand, the oral fluid sample segment accounted for the significant market share as it is a quicker and less invasive sample to collect at the roadside. According to NCBI 2020 study, a survey conducted among staff as well as patients concluded that oral fluid samples are preferred over urine samples as they help save time and maintain dignity, regardless of the extra costs.

Drug Type Insights

The cannabis/marijuana segment dominated the drug testing market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 25.9% in 2020. This can be attributed to the fact that marijuana or cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in key markets, thus creating a high demand for its testing kits and instruments. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2018, the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. was marijuana, which was used by about 43.5 million people.

The Opioids segment held the second-largest revenue share in 2020. This high share can be attributed to increased opioid crises in key markets including North America and the introduction of innovative opioid testing solutions. In July 2017, Alere Inc., a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories, launched Alere iCup Rx Drug Screen. This rapid point-of-care urine test developed for the detection of the most commonly abused prescription medications such as buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, opiates, methadone, and oxycodone.

End-use Insights

Drug testing laboratories dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of 36.0% in 2020. This high share can be attributed to their wide acceptance due to their accurate results. Drug testing laboratories can test for the presence of any illicit substance, which is not possible with rapid tests. Additional advantages of drug testing laboratories include the availability of sophisticated equipment, such as HPLC and spectroscopy, and trained personnel for conducting tests for effective results. Therefore, laboratories provide testing results with more sensitivity and specificity as compared to rapid tests.

Drug Testing Market share, by end use

Workplaces are projected to be the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period owing to the rising use of substance abuse screening in pre-employment as well as random drug tests to ensure drug-free premises. Moreover, in case of workplace accidents, drug tests can be used to check if the accident happened under influence of drugs, thus removing the responsibility of the employer for damages. Companies spend over USD 3,750 million on drug testing.          

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of 39.1% in 2020 and is projected to maintain the lead throughout the forecast period. The presence of prominent players implementing extensive expansion strategies and rigid regulations for workplace testing are some of the major factors contributing to the region’s leading share. Also, favorable reimbursement scenarios and the high adoption of technologically advanced solutions in the region have further supported the market growth.

Drug Testing Market Trends by Region

In Asia Pacific, the market is expected to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period as a result of the growing demand for substance abuse screening from emerging economies, such as China and India. The rising prevalence of substance abuse disorders, drug-related crimes, and fatal road accidents has boosted the demand for drug testing in these countries. However, the lack of clear regulations related to workplace drug testing is anticipated to be a major factor hampering the market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key companies are engaged in different growth strategies such as new product development, mergers and acquisitions, and geographical expansion to capture larger shares in the market. For instance, in April 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched CEDIA Mitragynine (Kratom) Assay for criminal justice and forensic use. Some of the prominent players in the global drug testing market include:

  • Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

  • Abbott Laboratories

  • Quidel Corporation

  • F. Hoffmann-La Roche

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

  • Siemens Healthineers

  • Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

  • Agilent Technologies, Inc.

  • LabCorp

  • Drägerwerk AG & CO. KGaA

  • Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL), Inc.

  • Cordant Health Solutions

  • Legacy Medical Services, LLC

  • Omega Laboratories, Inc.

Drug Testing Market Report Scope

Report Attribute

Details

Market size value in 2021

USD 8.3 billion

Revenue forecast in 2028

USD 11.7 billion

Growth Rate

CAGR of 4.9% from 2021 to 2028

Base year for estimation

2020

Historical data

2016 - 2019

Forecast period

2021 - 2028

Quantitative units

Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2021 to 2028

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Segments covered

Product type, sample type, drug type, end use, region

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA

Country scope

U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; Spain; France; Italy; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; Chile; South Africa; Saudi Arabia; UAE

Key companies profiled

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; Abbott Laboratories; Quidel Corporation; F. Hoffmann-La Roche; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.; Siemens Healthineers; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.; Agilent Technologies, Inc.; LabCorp; Drägerwerk AG & CO. KGaA; Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL), Inc.; Cordant Health Solutions; Legacy Medical Services, LLC; Omega laboratories, Inc.

Customization scope

Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analyst’s working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope.

Pricing and purchase options

Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options


Global Drug Testing Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global drug testing market report on the basis of product type, sample type, drug type, end use, and region:

Global Drug Testing Market Segmentation

  • Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

    • Consumables

    • Instruments

    • Rapid Testing Devices

    • Services

  • Sample Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

    • Urine Samples

    • Oral Fluid Samples

    • Hair Samples

    • Other Samples

  • Drug Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

    • Alcohol

    • Cannabis/Marijuana

    • Cocaine

    • Opioids

    • Amphetamine & Methamphetamine

    • LSD

    • Others

  • End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

    • Drug Testing Laboratories

    • Workplaces

    • Hospitals

    • Others

  • Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

    • North America

      • U.S.

      • Canada

    • Europe

      • Germany

      • U.K.

      • Spain

      • France

      • Italy

    • Asia Pacific

      • Japan

      • China

      • India

    • Latin America

      • Brazil

      • Mexico

      • Chile

    • MEA

      • South Africa

      • Saudi Arabia

      • UAE

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