The development of revolutionary techniques are stimulating renewed growth in the HIV diagnostics and monitoring market in the United States
The development of revolutionary techniques such as viral load monitoring, genotyping, and phenotyping that enable better disease management, are stimulating renewed growth in the HIV diagnostics and monitoring market in the United States.
New analysis from Frost and Sullivan, US HIV Diagnostics and Monitoring Market, reveals that revenues in this industry totaled $306.6 million in 2002, and are projected to reach $818.7 million by 2008.
"Following recent advances in genomics, HIV disease management has taken on a new approach," says Frost and Sullivan Industry Analyst Kelly C Westfall.
"Rather than a life-threatening disease, HIV is now widely considered a chronic condition with disease management options." However, manufacturers face multiple challenges in their quest for growth. Commercial laboratories are largely deterred by high costs of new technologies and prefer to continue using homebrew techniques, particularly since they are able to perform innovative testing at lower costs.
Advancements in automation and the usage of microarrays and biochips seem to hold the key to future success in these relatively new areas, as they lead to higher throughputs and eventually, to economies of scale.
However, the flip side of implementing automation is that it could add to already inflated costs and increase laboratories' resistance to adoption. Offering substantial discounts and simultaneously pursuing aggressive research and development activities that eliminate snags in the new technologies will help manufacturers establish enduring relationships and acquire large accounts.
Says Westfall, "As costs gradually decrease and laboratories become more open to adoption, enterprising participants will find significant opportunities with these large accounts." In a significant development, the Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of OraSure's rapid screening test, OraQuick, is anticipated to provide a huge boost to the HIV diagnostics segment.
The test is expected to play an integral role in identifying infected but undiagnosed individuals that will ultimately seek long-term disease management.
This will create a positive ripple effect by inciting growth in other testing segments as well.
