Rabies Diagnostics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Diagnostic Methods (Fluorescent Antibody Test, Histologic, Serology), By Technology (ELISA, PCR), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global rabies diagnostics market size was valued at USD 1.47 billion in 2017 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) have afflicted several densely populated and low-resource setting regions across the globe. One such NTD is Rabies that continues to pose a significant threat to human and animal health, particularly in Asian and African countries.

Several international healthcare organizations are engaged in establishing collaboration with healthcare entities for the development and commercialization of novel detection assays to drive the efforts that target to combat the disease. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with other healthcare agencies, such as provincial health authorities, is involved in the promotion of research endeavors taken up for rabies control across the globe. The WHO has also released several documents illustrating various aspects of a comprehensive control program for this disease. Such ongoing activities in the rabies testing market are anticipated to fuel the demand for robust diagnostic solutions.

Currently, most of the commercial tests are based on an antemortem diagnosis of human rabies virus. The tests are available across various ranges in context to cost and efficiency. National laboratories prefer internationally recommended tests that employ validated reagents and equipment for virus detection.

On the contrary, smaller and remote provincial laboratories deploy simpler conventional chemical stain tests that cost low. However, the accuracy associated with the use of this test is significantly low. In such cases, the sample that gives negative results at a provincial laboratory is transported to a national laboratory for re-testing.

This, in turn, poses challenges about additional cost requirements and delay in effective control of infection. These challenges have spurred the development of novel solutions to meet the unmet demand of the population, physicians, and entities involved in control programs.

For example, in 2018, LN34 pan-lyssavirus real-time RT-PCR assay was evaluated for its efficiency in post-mortem rabies diagnostics. This LN34 test is considered to be simpler and easier to use. Similarly, in 2017, Rabies Immunoperoxidase Antigen Detection (RIAD) test was developed in Indonesia as a cost-effective and accurate solution. Development of novel tests aimed at improving disease testing in the resource-poor countries as well as developed nations are projected to drive awareness and adoption.

Diagnostic Method Insights

Rabies testing market is driven by the presence of conventional as well as novel molecular tests. Conventional methods include histological examination, Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT), immunohistochemical techniques like Rapid Rabies Enzyme Immunodiagnosis (RREID), virus isolation methods, and serology testing.

Newer diagnostic tests cover immunohistochemical tests such as Direct Rapid Immunohistochemical Test (dRIT), rapid immunodiagnostic test (RIDT), Indirect Rapid Immunohistochemistry Test (IRIT), and nucleic acid detection techniques. The FAT assay is the most widely used method and is considered as a gold standard, the test is also recommended by the WHO and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The aforementioned factors contributed to the largest share of the FAT segment in 2017. Furthermore, unlike other conventional methods, this test offers advantages to enhanced specificity and sensitivity. However, amplification methods/nucleic acid detection techniques are expected to emerge as a source of lucrative revenue growth for the market in near future.

However, molecular assays are not recommended for the postmortem diagnosis of rabies on a routine basis as of now; amplification methods/nucleic acid detection techniques are considered as a promising assay. These assays are developed as an adjunct to conventional tests for antemortem and postmortem testing. These test methods enable easy and rapid testing of the samples and have been reported to provide higher sensitivity than the conventional assays.

Technology Insights

ELISA/Immunohistochemistry accounted for the largest market share owing to the higher penetration of products based on ELISA/immunohistochemistry protocols. Various test methods that are based on this technology include FAT, RREID, dRIT, RIDT, and IRIT. Immunohistochemistry based methods offer significant advantages that have led to the high adoption of this technology, which in turn is projected to propel the segment growth in the forthcoming years.

Some advantages associated with immunohistochemistry-based methods include cost-effectiveness, relative ease of interpretation using an ordinary light microscope, and less time consumption. Moreover, IHC-based assays apply to the frozen and preserved samples thus increasing the adoption rate.

PCR-based methods are expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period owing to their capability of performing both antemortem and postmortem rabies testing. Furthermore, real-time PCR based assays are considered as a universal real-time assay for testing of Lyssaviruses.

Regional Insights

Rabies occurrence is observed in more than a hundred and fifty countries and territories, but the dominance is marked in Asia and Africa. As per the WHO, annually 31,000 human deaths occur due to rabies in Asia. It also states that over 2,000 deaths are reported each year for a decade in China, which is lesser than those observed in India. These data and statistics have pronounced the need for several control programs thus driving the market growth in the forthcoming years.

Furthermore, the U.S. market is anticipated to grow significantly throughout the forecast period, owing to the substantial use of diagnostic tests in the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that more than 120,000 animals are tested for rabies annually in the U.S.

Several diagnostic entities operate in the country, contributing to the increased revenue share. On the other hand, in Europe, most of the countries are declared rabies-free. Nevertheless, as per the veterinary records; the U.K. faced re-emergence of the disease from 2000, whereas the country was designated as rabies-free in 1902.

Rabies Diagnostics Market Share Insights

Some key companies operating in this market include Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.; Aviva Systems Biology Corporation; Merck KGaA; Demeditec Diagnostics GmbH; Creative Diagnostics; Norgen Biotek Corp.; Abbexa Ltd.; Express Biotech International Inc.; BioNote, Inc.; and MyBioSource.com.

These companies engage in collaborations with healthcare organizations aiming to eliminate the disease through vaccination programs. They provide diagnostic tools required during mapping prevalence, monitoring impact of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program, reducing MDA, and post-elimination surveillance.

Some companies engage in the development of products for diagnostic purposes, whereas some focus only on product development for research purposes. For example, Abbexa Ltd develops and markets products only for research.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

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 2014 to 2025. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global rabies diagnostics market report based on diagnostic method, technology, and region:

• Diagnostic Method Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT)

  • Immunohistochemical Test

  • Amplification Methods

  • Histologic Examination

  • Serology Tests

• Technology Method Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • ELISA/Immunohistochemistry

  • Chromatography Techniques

  • PCR

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • China

    • Indonesia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa