Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market Size Analysis:

The Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market was valued at USD 381.57 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 578.95 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.76% over 2024-2032. This report points to trends in prescription and use by region, fueled by increased demand for minimally invasive diagnostic testing and the expansion of newborn screening programs. The research investigates healthcare expenditures on DBS testing, breaking down government, commercial, private, and out-of-pocket payments and targeting increased access in rural and resource-constrained regions. Furthermore, technological innovations and advancements, such as improved sample stability and automation of DBS processing, are revolutionizing diagnostic processes and broadening clinical uses. The report also discusses regulatory and compliance trends as standardization initiatives and strict guidelines influence market uptake. R&D spending in DBS technology is gaining momentum, driving advancements in precision diagnostics and facilitating increased disease screening applications. Additionally, the use of DBS in non-clinical applications, including forensic toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring, is also accelerating market growth.

The U.S. Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market was valued at USD 95.14 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 132.83 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 3.8% over 2024-2032. In the United States, the DBS collection cards market is growing considerably due to augmented funding for neonatal screening programs, mounting demand for decentralized diagnostics, and growing research programs in precision medicine and distant sample collection.

Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market Dynamics

Drivers

• The increasing adoption of DBS in newborn screening, infectious disease diagnostics, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

With more than 140 million newborns born annually throughout the world, government-mandated newborn screening programs have been a major factor for DBS implementation. Moreover, the increased incidence of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis B & C, which are affecting millions of people worldwide, has promoted the use of DBS for the cost-effective and efficient detection of disease. Increased home-based and decentralized testing is also driving demand, as DBS provides a convenient and minimally invasive sample collection method. In addition, molecular diagnostic and automation advances have improved the accuracy and efficiency of DBS testing, making it a popular alternative to conventional venous blood collection. Pharmaceutical and contract research organization (CRO) industries are gaining increasing utility from DBS for pharmacokinetic and drug-monitoring studies due to the reductions in logistic difficulties posed by liquid blood samples. Additionally, forensic usage is increasing as a result of DBS's ability to store DNA and toxicology specimens for extended durations of time. The low cost, ease of storage, and lower biohazard risk of DBS also make it an appealing option for major diagnostic programs and public health efforts.

Restraints

• The DBS Collection Cards Market faces several restraints, including limited sample volume capacity, which restricts its application in tests requiring larger blood samples.

The risk of contamination and degradation of the sample from improper handling, storage, or environmental conditions also threatens test accuracy. Most healthcare providers and diagnostic laboratories continue to use conventional venous blood draws because standardization of DBS processing and analysis is not followed consistently across laboratories or even by region. Additionally, approval and regulatory impediments curb large-scale adoption since DBS-based tests need to undergo thorough validation to conform to clinical diagnostic criteria. Another strong impediment is the lack of awareness and uptake of DBS in emerging economies, where traditional diagnosis stands out due to inadequate infrastructure and lack of trained professionals. Whereas DBS is economical for use in large-screening programs, the upfront expense of specialized instrumentation for analysis and processing can make it unpalatable to small labs. On top of this, delayed report turnaround times within some environments stemming from manual handling can restrict utilization in emergency cases. Absent further developments towards automation and regulation harmonization, the growth opportunities of the market could be restricted.

Opportunities

• The DBS Collection Cards Market presents significant growth opportunities, particularly in the expanding field of personalized medicine and remote healthcare services.

Increased use of telemedicine and home-based diagnostics has provided new opportunities for DBS to enable patients to take samples without having to visit a healthcare setting. This is particularly useful in the management of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular monitoring, which involve regular blood tests. DBS use in forensic toxicology, drug analysis, and epidemiological studies is also increasing and offers opportunities to enter new markets. In addition, the combination of DBS with next-generation sequencing (NGS) and sophisticated molecular diagnostics is opening up new uses in genetic testing and oncology screening. Developing economies present untapped promise, as low- and middle-income country governments increasingly embrace low-cost diagnostic technologies to fight infectious diseases. In addition, advances in automated DBS analysis and digital health integration can increase efficiency and broaden usage. Partnerships between research organizations and biotech companies for the creation of enhanced DBS-based diagnostic products are likely to fuel future growth. Through these opportunities, market participants can diversify their product offerings and penetrate new clinical and non-clinical markets, thereby improving the growth path of the market.

Challenges

• The widespread adoption of DBS collection cards faces multiple challenges, including sample integrity issues, regulatory inconsistencies, and limited compatibility with certain laboratory techniques.

Variations in blood absorption, environmental factors, and mis-handling may influence test validity. Moreover, the absence of global regulatory harmonization complicates compliance for laboratories. DBS also faces issues with high-throughput scalability and specialized testing needs, e.g., plasma separation. Lack of confidence from healthcare professionals and forensic implications due to sample tampering are other inhibitors of market growth. A need to overcome these challenges using technological innovations, standardization, and awareness programs is imperative for DBS to extend its clinical and research adoption.

Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market Segmentation Analysis

By Application Type

The Newborn Screening (NBS) segment led the DBS Collection Cards Market in 2023, with a share of 23.19% of the total revenue. This is largely due to the extensive use of DBS in neonatal genetic and metabolic screening programs. Mandatory newborn screening programs by governments and the growing number of inherited disorders have also stimulated demand for DBS collection cards in this segment.

The Forensic application segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment throughout the forecast period. The growing use of DBS for forensic toxicology, drug screening, and DNA typing, as well as its benefit in preserving samples for the long term and easy storage, is fueling its growth. Forensic research investment growth and applications in crime investigations are anticipated to boost the demand for DBS cards in this segment.

By Card Type

The Whatman 903 segment held a 38.5% market share in 2023, due to the card's high reliability in clinical diagnostics and wide regulatory acceptance in newborn screening programs all over the world. The card's sample preservation quality and compatibility with numerous analytical methods have also made it the industry's preferred option.

The FTA cards market is anticipated to witness considerable growth over the forecast period. The growing demand for DNA analysis and molecular diagnostics, especially in forensic and research uses, is fueling the use of FTA cards. Their capacity to stabilize nucleic acids for prolonged periods without the need for refrigeration makes them a useful asset for forensic and research laboratories.

By End Use

The Hospitals & Clinics segment maintained the largest market share in 2023 at 68.9%. The market's control by this segment is explained by the large volume of DBS testing done in hospitals for newborn screening, infection testing, and monitoring chronic diseases. Hospitals are also primary centers for government-sponsored newborn screening programs, thus further increasing the segment's market share.

The Diagnostics Centers segment is likely to be the highest-growing segment in the years to come. The growing demand for decentralized and home-based diagnostics and the rising use of DBS testing for infectious disease testing and monitoring therapeutic drugs are driving growth within this segment. Increased diagnostic facilities in emerging nations and the inclination toward cost-reducing test solutions are set to drive continued market growth.

Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market Regional Insights

The North American region led the Dried Blood Spot (DBS) Collection Cards Market in 2023 due to well-established programs for newborn screening, high penetration of sophisticated diagnostic technologies, and huge investment in forensic and pharmaceutical research. The United States dominated the market, with robust government efforts like the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act backing up DBS use in neonatal testing. Furthermore, the increasing emphasis of the region on decentralized testing and home-based sample collection has also driven the market forward. Europe is no exception, with nations such as Germany, France, and the UK experiencing extensive adoption of clinical diagnostics and forensic purposes. Strict regulatory policies facilitating DBS-based screening for infectious diseases and genetic disorders drive the European market.

The Asia-Pacific region is predicted to be the highest-growing market, driven by increased healthcare awareness, growing newborn screening programs, and rising investment in diagnostic facilities. China, India, and Japan are also seeing fast-growing adoption because of government efforts toward better neonatal healthcare. Growing infections like hepatitis and HIV across the region are also fueling demand for inexpensive DBS-based testing. Also, increasing research partnerships and improvements in molecular diagnostics are making the Asia-Pacific region a major growth center, with the greatest forecasted market growth in the coming years.

Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market Key Players and Their DBS-Related Products

• QIAGEN – QIAsymphony DBS, QIAcard FTA, QIAcard Dry Blood Spot

• PerkinElmer – 226 Sample Collection Device, NeoBase DBS Kit, PerkinElmer 226 DBS Card

• Roche – Cobas DBS System, Roche DBS Sample Collection Cards

• Shimadzu Corporation – Capitainer B, DBS-MS 500

• Ahlstrom-Munksjö – Ahlstrom 226, GenSaver, GenCollect

• Pall Corporation – Pall Vivid DBS Cards, Pall 226 DBS Cards

• Eastern Business Forms, Inc. – 903 Protein Saver Cards, 226 Sample Collection Cards

• Archimed Life Science GmbH – DBS Micro-Card, DBS Protein Card

• Centogene N.V. – CentoCard Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards

• GE Healthcare – Whatman 903 Protein Saver Cards, FTA Elute Cards

Recent Developments in the Dried Blood Spot Collection Cards Market

In Oct 2024, Massachusetts-based Revvity introduced Revvity Transcribe AI, an AI-driven tool that digitizes handwritten lab test requests using optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This innovation aims to streamline data entry in clinical laboratories, enhancing efficiency and reducing manual workload.