Automated Microbial Identification Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Instruments, Consumables, Services), By Technology (PCR-based Systems, Mass Spectrometry Systems, Flow Cytometry Systems), By End-User (Clinical Laboratories, Hospitals, Research and Academic Institutes, Biopharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Others) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2024-2032

Market Overview

The global automated microbial identification systems market revenue was valued at USD 509.05 million in 2023. It is expected to reach USD 882.18 million by 2032, growing at a 6.3% CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2032). The increasing need for quick and precise microbial infection identification across a range of industries, such as clinical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and food safety, is the main factor propelling the automated microbial identification market. Moreover, technological developments that improve efficiency and accuracy in microorganism identification include the combination of artificial intelligence and molecular techniques.

Automated microbial identification uses automated systems or instruments to identify microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and fungi based on their biochemical, phenotypic, or genotypic characteristics. These systems operate with different technologies, such as mass spectrometry, PCR, and flow cytometry, to examine microorganisms' genetic and biochemical characteristics and produce accurate identification outcomes. The automated microbial identification system has various applications in environmental studies, clinical settings, and manufacturing facilities.

Clinical laboratories, hospitals, research institutes, and biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies use automated microbial identification systems for various purposes, such as diagnosing infectious diseases, monitoring food safety, and developing new therapeutics. The automated microbial identification system can offer faster and more accurate testing than the conventional methods that rely on culturing.

Market Dynamics

Global automated microbial identification market drivers:

Rising Demand for Faster and More Accurate Diagnostic Solutions

The demand for automated microbial identification systems is related to the high occurrence of infectious diseases, the importance of timely diagnosis and therapy, and the recognition of the advantages of quick microbiology testing. Automated microbial identification systems can offer more rapid and precise results than traditional methods, such as culture-based techniques, which can require several days to identify the microorganisms that cause the infection. For instance, The Atellica Solution is a flexible, scalable, and automation-ready system that combines immunoassay and clinical chemistry analyzers from Siemens Healthineers. Atellica CI Analyzer is designed to provide laboratory diagnostics professionals with more control and simplicity over their operations and faster and more precise results for their patients. This is expected to drive market growth.

Global automated microbial identification market restraint:

High Cost of Automated Microbial Identification Systems

Automated microbial identification systems are more expensive and come with a lot of sophisticated features and functionalities. In addition to labor costs, the consumables required for identification techniques are costly. For example, a system based on MALDI-TOF costs approximately USD 150,000–850,000. These costs may deter some laboratories, especially in developing countries, from adopting automated microbial identification systems. Therefore, the high cost of automated microbial identification systems may pose a challenge for market expansion.

Global automated microbial identification market opportunities:

AI and ML Applications in Microbial Identification 

Automated microbial identification systems can learn from data and improve their performance and accuracy with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These technologies can also help to discover new insights and patterns from complex and diverse microbial data, such as genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and phenotypic information. Moreover, the application and scope of microbial identification systems are expanded to meet the increasing demands of fields such as bioremediation, bioterrorism, personalized medicine, and antimicrobial resistance.

For instance, the US Department of Energy program aims to support projects that use AI and ML to address scientific and technical challenges in bioenergy research, such as synthetic biology, biosystem design, and bioprocess development. BioAutomata is a self-driving biofoundry that uses AI and ML to automate and optimize the design, construction, and testing of microbial systems for various applications, such as biofuels, bioplastics, and biopharmaceuticals. Such factors create opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

North america dominates the global market

Based on region, the global automated microbial identification market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. 

North America is the most significant global automated microbial identification market shareholder and is expected to expand substantially during the forecast period. The presence of established healthcare infrastructure enables the adoption of advanced technologies and equipment for microbial identification. The increased funding for research and development in the biotechnology and life science sector supports the innovation and commercialization of new microbial identification products and services.

Furthermore, there is increasing concern about environmental monitoring and food safety, which call for the use of microbial identification systems to guarantee the safety and quality of water sources and food products. The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence hosted the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) launch, a global network of pathogen genomic actors. By employing pathogen genomics to identify and stop infectious disease threats before they spread to become epidemics or pandemics, the IPSN seeks to enhance public health decision-making.

Moreover, numerous organizations, including the Global Virome Project, the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), support the IPSN. In February 2024, a USD 4 million catalytic grant fund for pathogen genomic surveillance organizations, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, was announced by the IPSN. The IPSN is expected to significantly impact global health security, enabling faster and more accurate identification of emerging pathogens and informing timely and effective interventions. The IPSN will also contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and innovation in the field of pathogen genomics.

Europe is expected to expand steadily over the forecast period. One of the reasons why Europe is the second-largest market for automated microbial identification is the region's high prevalence of infectious illnesses. These diseases require rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment, which automated microbial identification systems can facilitate. Another reason is the increasing investment and innovation in the field of microbiology and biotechnology in Europe. The European Commission launched the EU Microbiome Initiative, which aims to foster research and innovation on the role of microbiomes in health, food, and the environment.

Segmental Analysis

The global automated microbial identification market is bifurcated into product type, technology, and end-user.

Based on product type, the global automated microbial identification market is segmented into instruments, consumables, and services.

The instrument segment dominates the global market. The instruments segment is dominating the automated microbial identification market due to the increasing demand for rapid and accurate microbial identification, the technological advancements in the instruments, and the rising adoption of automated systems in laboratories. Infectious disease diagnosis and treatment, food and drink quality control and safety, pharmaceutical and biotechnology product development and production, environmental monitoring and protection, and rapid and accurate microbial identification are interdependent.

Moreover, technological advancements in the instruments have improved the sensitivity, specificity, speed, and throughput of microbial identification and reduced the cost and complexity of the procedures. The rising adoption of automated systems in laboratories has enhanced the efficiency, productivity, and standardization of microbial identification and reduced human error and contamination risks.

Consumables, which include a broad range of goods like reagents, assay kits, and culture media, are essential to the automated microbial identification market. These consumables are necessary for automated microbial identification systems' sample preparation, processing, and analysis. The rising prevalence of infectious diseases, especially in clinical and research settings, technological advancements, and the growing need for accurate diagnostics are propelling the consumables segment.

Based on technology, the global automated microbial identification market is segmented into PCR-based systems, mass spectrometry systems, and flow cytometry systems.

PCR-based systems are a type of technology used for microbial identification based on the amplification and analysis of specific DNA or RNA sequences. PCR-based systems with high sensitivity and specificity can identify a wide range of microorganisms, such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. PCR-based systems are widely used for clinical diagnosis, epidemiology, food safety, and environmental monitoring.

Mass Spectrometry Systems use mass spectrometry (MS) to estimate the mass-to-charge ratio of ions generated from a sample. Mass spectrometry systems can identify microbes by analyzing their molecular composition, structure, and fragmentation patterns. Mass spectrometry systems can also quantify the abundance of microbes or their metabolites in a sample. Mass spectrometry systems are used for proteomics, metabolomics, drug discovery, and forensic science.

Flow cytometry systems are systems that use flow cytometry (FC) to measure the physical and chemical features of cells or particles in a fluid stream. Flow cytometry systems can identify microbes by labeling them with fluorescent markers, such as antibodies, probes, or dyes, and detecting their optical properties. Flow cytometry systems can also sort and isolate microbes of interest based on their fluorescence intensity or other parameters. Flow cytometry systems are used for immunology, microbiology, cell biology, and biotechnology.

Based on the end-user, the global automated microbial identification market is bifurcated into clinical laboratories, hospitals, research and academic institutes, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and others.

The hospital segment is the largest contributor to the global market. This is because hospitals are the primary settings for the diagnosis and treatment of various infectious diseases, which require rapid and accurate microbial identification. Hospitals also have a high demand for automated systems that can reduce the workload and human errors of laboratory staff, improve the turnaround time and quality of results, and enhance patient safety and satisfaction. One of the main reasons the hospital segment is dominating the end-user segment of the automated microbial identification market is the increasing prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), sepsis, and other infectious diseases requiring rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Moreover, automated microbial identification systems can help hospitals prevent and control HAIs, improve the management of sepsis, and monitor the emergence and spread of infectious diseases by providing reliable and timely identification of the microorganisms and their antimicrobial resistance patterns. These systems can also help reduce healthcare costs and improve the patient outcomes associated with these conditions.

Recent Developments

• November 2023 – A collaboration and quality agreement was signed by Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), the maker of the industry-leading MALDI Biotyper system for microbial identification, and Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXDX), a pioneer in rapid in-vitro diagnostics in microbiology. Through this agreement, Accelerate Diagnostics' ArcTM system—an innovative automated platform for positive blood culture sample preparation—and Bruker's MALDI Biotyper® Sirius instruments and Sepsityper® software can be validated for use in preparation for their respective registrations in the US and EMEA markets.