Specimen Collection Cards Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type Of Specimen, By Material, By Product, By Application, By Distribution Channel, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global specimen collection cards market size was estimated at USD 424.02 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2023 to 2030. The growth of the market is attributed to favorable government regulations, efficient ergonomics, and increasing emphasis on non-invasive procedures. Moreover, an increasing number of product launches coupled with growing research and development activities are also expected to have a positive impact on market growth. During the initial phases of the pandemic, the demand for specimen collection cards was substantial due to the massive burden of testing and research activities associated with vaccine development.

However, as the vaccine and virus research proceeded further, the demand for substitute products increased due to comparatively higher applicability and availability. Further, the imposition of lockdowns and restrictions on the supply chain negatively impacted the specimen collection card industry.

The expansion of forensic toxicology applications had a significant impact on the market for specimen-collecting cards, pushing broad acceptance of these cards for efficient and dependable sample collection. Specimen collection cards have grown in popularity in forensic toxicology due to their ease, dependability, and capacity to store samples for extended periods. They have various benefits, such as noninvasiveness, reduced sample volume needs, and increased sample stability during transportation & storage, all of which lead to improved accuracy & efficiency in forensic toxicological testing.

Furthermore, the growth of the market is attributed to the increasing focus on personalized medicine, genetic testing, health monitoring, and well-being initiatives. Personalized medicine aims to customize medical treatments based on individual genetic profiles, lifestyle factors, and other relevant information. Genetic testing plays a vital role in this approach by providing insights into an individual's genetic makeup, enabling personalized diagnostics, treatment selection, and disease prevention strategies. Specimen collection cards have become essential tools in genetic testing processes, offering a convenient and reliable method of collecting various biological samples, such as saliva, blood, & tissue.

However, the market is majorly constrained by the challenges associated with sample integrity and storage. It is crucial to maintain the quality and stability of collected samples for accurate testing results. Sample contamination from various sources, including environmental pollutants, microorganisms, and chemicals, can lead to inaccurate test outcomes such as false positives or negatives.

Type Of Specimen Insights

The blood sample segment dominated the overall market with the largest revenue share of 89.91% in 2022. The dominance of the segment can be attributed to several benefits and product availability of dried blood spot collection cards worldwide. Furthermore, regulations related to newborn screening in several countries are expected to have a positive impact on segment growth. For instance, in February 2023, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced an update regarding the screening of newborns for two new additional diseases. As per the new mandate of the health department, the newborns will now also be screened for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I (MPS I) and Pompe Disease.

The saliva segment is estimated to register a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. Ongoing research and development facilities are expected to offer a favorable environment for segment growth. For instance, in June 2022, OrisDX received the price for its innovation in saliva-based diagnostics for oral cancers. The company received funding of USD 1.76 million as an investment for progressing its research.

Material Insights

The cotton & cellulose-based material segment held a market share of 56.00% in 2022. Cotton and cellulose-based specimen collection cards offer distinct advantages in specimen collection and preservation. These advantages aid in increasing its adoption among various industries, thereby driving market growth. Cotton and cellulose-based specimen collection cards are more extensively used than fiber-based cards. Cellulose-based cards, such as the Whatman 903 cards, have been widely adopted and established as the standard in several laboratories and healthcare settings.

The fiber-based material segment is expected to register a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. The adoption of fiber-based specimen collection cards is increasing in various industries at a rapid pace. These cards are made from different materials, such as synthetic fibers, and offer unique advantages to cater to specific requirements. Moreover, the fiber-based specimen collection cards demand is driven by their specialized properties and suitability for specific applications.

Product Insights

The Whatman 903 product segment held a market share of 41.86% in 2022. The segment is anticipated to witness lucrative growth in the near future owing to an increase in adoption by various government-sponsored programs and research studies. For instance, in June 2022, Scientific Reports published a research paper on the assessment of VIDAS HIV Duo Quick and Anti-HCV assays for dried blood specimen (DBS)-based serosurveillance. The study stated that it used the 903 Protein Saver Card by Cytiva Whatman to collect blood samples for HCV and HIV detection.

The FTA segment is expected to register a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. The FTA card segment is expected to witness lucrative growth in the near future owing to its growing adoption across various clinical applications. For instance, in July 2022, research was conducted on the screening of genetic diseases in newborns through DBS. FTA is one of the filter papers widely used in newborn screening. The study used around 29 DBS sets of FTA by Thermo Fisher Scientific. This method is usually preferred for various applications, including organizations working with bacterial genetics research.

Distribution Channel Insights

The offline distribution channel segment held a market share of 70.27% in 2022. Offline channels, such as pharmacies, healthcare clinics, and diagnostic laboratories, offer convenient access to specimen collection cards for customers who prefer in-person shopping experiences. Healthcare clinics and hospitals with onsite pharmacies or diagnostic centers are additional offline channels where individuals can find specimen collection cards.

The online distribution channel segment is expected to register a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Online platforms offer a wide range of specimen collection cards for various sample types, including blood, saliva, urine, and stool. These cards are often sold individually or as part of home testing kits that include instructions and necessary components for sample collection.A few examples of online platforms providing specimen collection cards are Everlywell, HealthLabs, MyLab Box, and Personalabs.

End-use Insights

The hospitals & clinics end-use segment held a market share of 74.99% in 2022. Hospitals and clinics were key end-users of specimen collection cards in 2022, owing to mandatory newborn screening in various regions. In the U.S., approximately 98% of women give birth in hospitals. An increase in the capacity of hospitals and clinics is anticipated to boost the demand for specimen collection cards. For instance, the government of Australia announced a USD 70.12 billion (AUD 104.1 billion) budget for 2022-2023 on healthcare, which is 5.7% more than that of the last year.

The diagnostic center end-use segment is projected to register a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. Diagnostics centers are important users of specimen collection cards in the market. Hence, an increase in the number of diagnostics laboratories, coupled with a rise in diagnostic testing of HIV and HCV, is expected to boost DBS collection card market growth. As of August 2022, there were 24,802 diagnostic and medical labs in the U.S., with average 0.8% growth in the business of diagnostics & medical labs.

Application Insights

The newborn screening segment led the market with a revenue share of 25.29% in 2022. The segment growth is majorly attributed to the advancements in newborn screening, favorable government regulations, and excelling research & development for disease diagnosis. In addition, an increasing number of product launches and introductions are also expected to accelerate segment growth during the forecast period. For instance, In November 2022, PerkinElmer announced it received FDA marketing approval for its EONIS SCID-SMA assay kit to detect spinal muscular atrophy in newborns. The platform utilizes PCR to screen SCID and spinal muscular atrophy through a single DBS sample.

The research application segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period. Increasing investments in research & development activities coupled with a rising emphasis on the development of personalized medicines is estimated to accelerate the segment growth during the forecast period. In addition, various organizations are offering services for the bioanalysis of blood spot specimens and providing unique beneficial solutions that only DBS services can offer. For instance, Bioanalytical Systems, Inc. (BASi) can evaluate the bioanalysis of DBS and has established DBS analysis expertise at its bioanalytical facilities. Such solution-oriented initiatives by service companies are likely to boost segment growth.

Regional Insights

The North America region accounted for the largest market share of 41.52% in 2022. This can be attributed to the growing need to perform drug profiling for various medications, such as antiepileptics, immunosuppressants, and antibiotics. It is one of the key factors supporting the market growth. Furthermore, the presence of well-established healthcare infrastructure and the availability of government funding for research are among other factors anticipated to augment market growth in this region.

For instance, in January 2022, the National Institute of Justice allocated USD 4.5 million in funding for the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. This funding aims to facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge and technological tools to aid criminal investigations and associated agencies.

Asia Pacific is estimated to register a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. Certain factors such as rising investments in research & development, increasing rate of product penetration, and advancements in diagnostics are projected to accelerate the Asia Pacific specimen collection cards industry by 2030.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key players operating in the market are focused on partnerships, strategic collaborations, and geographical expansion, in emerging and economically favorable regions. For instance, in 2022, GenTegra LLC received funding of USD 2.8 million to leverage its research and development activities. This grant would aid the company in advancing its innovative technology for efficient and reliable RNA sample preservation & storage. Some prominent players in the global specimen collection cards market include:

• QIAGEN

• PerkinElmer Inc.

• DBS System SA

• Danaher Corporation

• Eastern Business Forms, Inc.

• Ahlstrom

• ARCHIMED Life Science GmbH

• GenTegra LLC

• FortiusBio

• CENTOGENE N.V.

Specimen Collection Cards Market Report Scope

Global Specimen Collection Cards Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global specimen collection cards market report based on type of specimen, material, product, application, distribution channel, end-use, and region:

• Type Of Specimen Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Blood

  • Saliva

  • Urine

  • Buccal Cells

  • Others

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Cotton & Cellulose-based

  • Fiber-based

  • Others

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Whatman 903

  • Ahlstrom 226

  • FTA

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • New Born Screening (NBS)

  • Infectious Diseases Testing

  • Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

  • Forensics

  • Research

  • Wellbeing/Health Monitoring

  • Other Applications

• Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Online

  • Offline

• End-use Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Hospitals & Clinics

  • Diagnostics Centers

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Sweden

    • Norway

    • Denmark

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Thailand

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait