Blood Grouping Reagents Market

Market Overview

The global blood grouping reagents market size was valued at USD 1.95 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 3.88 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.01% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Several factors are driving the growth of the blood grouping reagents market, including blood donation campaigns, an increase in the incidence rate of various diseases, an increase in government initiatives regarding the need for blood donation, an urgent need for blood during surgical procedures, and safe blood transfusions.

Blood grouping reagents are substances used to identify human blood group antigens (like ABO, Rhesus, Kell, and MNS blood group antigens). The ABO and RhD blood group systems are the most crucial in transfusions. On the surface of the human red cell, blood groups are distinguished by a carbohydrate molecule (like the ABO blood group antigens) or a protein molecule (such as the majority of other antigens).

The ABO system contains antigens A and B; whereas the RhD system contains antigens D. There are four ABO blood group classifications, i.e., O, A, B, and AB. The RhD reagents detect the absence or presence of antigen D on the surface of human red blood cells (RBCs). Anti-A, Anti-B, and Anti-A, B reagents are utilized to identify the ABO blood group. In contrast, the various anti-D reagents are used to identify the rhesus D phenotype. Anti-K and Anti-K (Cellano) reagents detect antigens belonging to the Kell blood group system.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Prevalence of Chronic Disorders

The rising incidence of chronic disorders drives the need for effective treatments. In conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic illnesses such as anemia, hemophilia, lymphoma, diabetes, and leukemia impose significant societal and healthcare costs. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six out of ten adults suffer from chronic disease, while four out of ten suffer from more than two chronic diseases in 2019. The data demonstrate the escalating disease burden and their effective management.

Furthermore, the WHO reports that anemia affects more than 1.62 billion people worldwide, or approximately 24.8% of the global population. Anemia is also prevalent among women of reproductive age due to iron deficiency. Anemia is prevalent among women aged 15 to 49. According to the WHO, 29.9% of women aged 15 to 49 had anemia in 2019. Additionally, 39.8% of children aged 6 to 59 months suffered from anemia in 2019. Thus, the surging prevalence of chronic illnesses, specifically those associated with blood, is expected to boost market growth over the forecast period.

Increase in Blood Donation 

There has been an increase in the global blood donation rate due to increased public awareness of the significance of blood donation. Patients requiring blood transfusions for treatment, such as those with severe anemia, liver and kidney disease leading to anemia, and Hemophilia, are associated with increased donation rates. There is an increasing global recognition of the possible advantages associated with blood donation.

Donating blood is also known to improve donors' mental and physical health by reducing tension, enhancing emotional well-being, and reducing the risk of heart disease and heart attack while replenishing blood cells. Due to these factors, more people donate blood at hospitals, clinics, and blood banks to help save the lives of those requiring transfusions. As a result, the demand for blood component products, including reagents, is increasing among end-users such as hospitals, clinics, and blood banks.

Market Restraint:

Concerns Regarding the Effectiveness and Precision of Test Kits

The demand for blood grouping reagent test kits increased during the COVID-19 epidemic. The rising demand for blood typing kits, RT-PCR test kits, and serology test kits drives up the sales of market participants. However, numerous complaints were lodged during the pandemic about the inaccuracy of the rapid test kits' test results. Urgent demand for test devices on a large scale could have compromised the product's quality. The government authority also mandated serological testing in the identified regions with highly exposed populations to coronavirus. Such factors restrict market growth.

Market Opportunities:

Advent of Automated Blood Grouping Devices

Population growth and an increase in the number of blood grouping diagnostics have created a demand for automated blood grouping devices. The automated systems can conduct many tests with a single input, improving efficiency and productivity within the specified time frame. These devices are programmed to conduct high precision and consistency tests while preventing sample contamination.

In addition, market participants offer fully automated blood typing devices with remote access capabilities for improved monitoring and result validation. This equipment has features such as tube size and diameter recognition, an integrated quality control program, random sample placement, real-time reagent and sample status information, and high-definition color results. Such benefits provided by automated blood grouping devices are expected to provide market growth opportunities.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global blood grouping reagents market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. 

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global blood grouping reagents market shareholder and is expected to expand substantially over the forecast period. Numerous factors have contributed to the increasing prevalence of blood grouping reagents in North America. The market for blood grouping reagents in North America is anticipated to expand in the coming years because of the prevalence of chronic diseases, an aging population, and the number of surgical procedures. This necessitates using blood grouping reagents for accurate blood grouping and cross-matching. In addition, the rising need for blood transfusions across the region can be linked to the rising demand for blood grouping reagents. For instance, according to givingblood.org, 4.5 million Americans will require blood transfusions annually by 2023. In the United States and Canada, 43,000 pints of donated blood are utilized daily.

Furthermore, North America is renowned for its advanced healthcare systems and technological advancements. Automated blood typing systems and point-of-care diagnostic devices, which require compatible blood grouping reagents, have been adopted in the region. These advancements enhance efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. Collaborations and partnerships between blood banks, healthcare providers, and manufacturers of blood classification reagents have also emerged in North America. These collaborations seek to improve the research, development, and adoption of advanced blood grouping reagents, accelerating market expansion. For instance, Bio-Rad Laboratories announced a partnership with Seegene in 2021 to manufacture and market molecular diagnostic instruments for infectious diseases.

The Asia-Pacific market is anticipated to experience a significant growth pace due to the rise in the prevalence and incidence of chronic disorders in Asian nations. Asia-Pacific is predicted to have the quickest expansion rate for the blood grouping reagents market. The expansion of this market is being driven by rising public awareness of blood donation, government efforts, and rising demand for blood banking services. The tenth largest cause of death worldwide is car accidents.

Additionally, the rising number of traumatic injuries from accidents and other trauma in the area is one of the major reasons influencing the market's expansion. India had one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world in 2019, with around 500,000 incidents, resulting in 150,000 fatalities and 300,000 permanent disabilities. According to figures from the transport ministry, there were 467,044 registered road accidents in India in 2018, up 0.5% from 464,910 in 2017. Similarly, the National Bureau of Statistics of China reported 63,194 fatal road accidents in 2018. The need for blood grouping reagents in the region is expected to rise due to the high number of traffic accidents that result in severe injuries.

Segmental Analysis

The global blood grouping reagents market is bifurcated into product, technology, test type, and end-user.

Based on product, the global market is segmented into consumables and instruments. 

The consumables segment is the most significant revenue contributor to the market. Consumables held the largest market share throughout the forecast period because of the rise in surgical procedures such as organ transplants and the use of serological fluids and laboratory reagents. The expansion is also attributable to the high blood donation rates, which have increased blood sample analysis.

In addition, developing new molecular diagnostic test reagents and packages designed to reduce the required turnaround time for conclusive results will contribute to the market's expansion. Consumables used in blood grouping include Anti-A, Anti-B, Anti-AB, Anti-D (PK 1), Anti-D, Anti-D (PK 2), control reagents, and phenotyping reagents like Anti-C, Anti-E, Anti-c, Anti-e, and Anti-K. Merck KGaA, Novacyt SA, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Grifols SA, and Immucor, Inc., among others, provide consumables to satisfy market demand.

Based on technology, the global market is bifurcated into PCR-based and microarray techniques, assay-based techniques, massively parallel sequencing techniques, serology, and other techniques. 

The PCR-based and microarray technique segment is the highest contributor to the market. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a widely employed molecular biology technique that amplifies particular DNA sequences. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can detect and amplify gene sequences related to blood antigen groups. Blood-group antigens are the molecules that cover the surface of RBCs. The microarray technique entails immobilizing thousands of specific DNA probes on a solid surface, allowing for the detection of multiple DNA sequences simultaneously.

Microarray technology can detect and differentiate distinct blood group antigens from one sample to another as part of blood grouping. High sensitivity and the capacity to analyze multiple blood group antigens simultaneously are among the benefits of the employed techniques. Thus, this segment dominates the market and will continue to grow over the projection period. Due to growing R&D activities focusing on antibody-antigen interactions and the high incidence of chronic disorders such as sickle traumatic injuries, cell anemia, aplastic anemia, and leukemia, the PCR-based and microarray segment held the greatest share in the market.

Based on test type, the global blood grouping reagents market is bifurcated into blood group and phenotype, antibody screening, cross-matching tests, antibody identification, Coombs tests, and antigen typing. 

The antibody screening segment dominates the global market. Antibody screening is widely used for detecting the origin of a transfusion reaction after an organ transplant, assessing the immunological status of microorganisms, recording exposure to infectious agents, and monitoring the slow progression of infection or autoimmune illness. Due to the rising need for early detection and the rising frequency of chronic diseases, the antibody screening market category is anticipated to develop at a greater rate than the others. The rising incidence of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), especially in lower-middle-income and low-income nations, is one of the main drivers driving the segment's expansion.

Based on end-users, the global market is bifurcated into hospitals and blood banks, clinical laboratories, and academic and research institutes. 

The hospitals and blood banks segment owns the market share. The hospital and blood bank segment's market share will increase significantly during the forecast period. Due to the high utilization rate of these reagent products in hospitals and blood banks due to the rising demand for transfusions, the hospital and blood bank segments represent the largest portion of the market for blood grouping reagents. This high demand is primarily due to increased hospitalizations for cancer treatment and other chronic conditions and an increase in emergency cases, such as automobile accidents.

Additionally, the emergency departments always play a crucial role in major duties, such as diagnosis, triage, and identification of patient's immediate treatment requirements, which must be completed quickly. As public awareness of the need for blood has grown, more blood donation campaigns have been established. Several variables are anticipated to substantially impact the demand for blood grouping reagents because hospitals and blood banks are using them more frequently.

Recent Developments

• July 2023- Quanterix Corporation, a business fueling scientific discovery and breakthrough diagnostics through ultrasensitive biomarker detection, announced the launch of LucentAD, a test designed to aid in evaluating patients exhibiting cognitive symptoms consistent with the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• August 2023- C2N Diagnostics introduced a new blood test called PrecivityAD2 for clinical use. The new blood test can diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other causes of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms.