Life Science Consumables: Markets and Opportunities

The last two decades have seen unprecedented advances in technologies and applications in the life science field. Techniques such as PCR, DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry and flow cytometry have driven discoveries that have changed our understanding of the world. Today, techniques such as these are indispensable to the laboratory and by 2015, markets for these five areas alone are expected to exceed $50 billion, globally. In these and related fields, consumables are generally the second or third largest area in cost terms, after instrumentation.

We have carried out six studies in the life science field, which examined the use of consumables in the conduct of PCR, DNA sequencing, DNA microarray, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry and disease biomarker studies. These studies, which involved the participation of more than 2200 end-users in 70 countries, were carried out to assist developers and vendors of consumables to identify market opportunities in these fields.

This Report Provides:

- Consumables : A breakdown of end-user practices in the use of consumables in the conduct of PCR, DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and disease biomarker studies.

- Fields: A breakdown of end-user practices in the use of consumables by field (biotechnology, chemicals, clinical or hospital, defence, diagnostics, energy, environmental, food and drink, forensics, geology, government, healthcare, natural products, pharmaceuticals, research institutes, security and university) in the conduct of PCR, DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and disease biomarker studies.

- Regions: A breakdown of end-user practices in the use of consumables by region (Europe, North America, Asia and Rest of World) in the conduct of PCR, DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and disease biomarker studies.

- Growth: A listing of organisations of participants in the PCR, DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and disease biomarker studies described in this report, according to anticipated growth in these areas, (i.e. decline in activities, activities remain the same or increase in activities).
- Market Sizes: Estimates of global markets sizes of consumables used in the PCR, DNA microarray, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and disease biomarker fields. These estimates are based on published market sizes of these fields, and the present study findings described in this report.

Key Areas Analysed

- PCR (Participants, n=614): Disclosures by experienced PCR end-users on their top three consumables in terms of costs, in the PCR field; end-users' estimates of the breakdown of their current and future (2012 - 2015) annual budgets in percentage terms across eight general areas, including consumables, in the PCR field.

- DNA Microarray (Participants, n=201): Disclosures by experienced DNA microarray end-users on their top three consumables in terms of costs, in the DNA microarray field; End-users' estimates of the breakdown of their current and future (2012 - 2015) annual budgets in percentage terms across eight general areas, including consumables, in the DNA microarray field.

- DNA Sequencing (Participants, n=108): Disclosures by experienced DNA sequencers on their top three consumables in terms of costs, in the DNA sequencing field; end-users' estimates of the breakdown of their current and future (2012 - 2015) annual budgets in percentage terms across eight general areas, including consumables, in the DNA sequencing field.

- Flow Cytometry (Participants, n=262): Disclosures by experienced flow cytometry end-users on their top two reagents and consumables in terms of costs, in the flow cytometry field; end-users' estimates of the breakdown of their current annual budgets in percentage terms across nine general areas, including reagents and consumables, in the flow cytometry field.

- Mass Spectrometry (Participants, n=567): Disclosures by experienced mass spectrometry end-users on their top three consumables in terms of costs, in the mass spectrometry; End-users' estimates of the breakdown of their current annual budgets in percentage terms across four general areas, including consumables, in the mass spectrometry field.

- Disease Biomarkers (Participants n=511): End-users' estimates of the breakdown of their current annual budgets in percentage terms across six general areas, including consumables, in the disease biomarker field.

- Participant Organisations: The names, countries and application areas of participant organisations

- Organisation Growth Trends: Organisations' reported plans in terms of growth in the area to which the software and databases relate (i.e. decline in activities, activities remain the same or increase in activities).