Central Lab Global Market Report 2024

A central lab is a facility that offers comprehensive services, consolidating all samples from various clinical locations involved in a trial. This centralized approach ensures uniformity in results and analyses.

The primary services provided by central labs encompass genetic services, biomarker services, microbiology services, anatomic pathology and histology, specimen management and storage, special chemistry services, among others. Genetic services involve identifying and counseling individuals at risk of genetic abnormalities. Test types within this category include human and tumor genetics, clinical chemistry, medical microbiology and cytology, as well as other esoteric tests. These services cater to diverse end-users, including pharmaceutical companies, academic and research institutes, and biotechnology companies.

The central lab market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides central lab market statistics, including central lab industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a central lab market share, detailed central lab market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the central lab industry. This central lab market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The central lab market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.8 billion in 2023 to $3.04 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The expansion observed in the historical period can be ascribed to heightened growth in clinical trials, increased activities in drug development, adherence to regulatory compliance, a surge in healthcare research, and growth in diagnostic testing.

The central lab market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.15 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the rising prominence of personalized healthcare, a growing focus on biomarker research, an increasing demand for telemedicine and remote monitoring, global health challenges prompting advancements, and a surging demand for precision diagnostics. Key trends expected in the forecast period encompass technological advancements, the introduction of innovative solutions, and strategic collaborations in the healthcare sector.

The anticipated increase in clinical trials is poised to drive growth in the central lab market. Clinical trials, crucial for assessing the safety and efficacy of new treatments and medical devices, prompt pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to outsource central labs for testing and development. As of July 2022, ClinicalTrials.gov reported 422,646 clinical trials, up from 399,523 in 2021, indicating a surge in trial activities. This upward trend in clinical trials is expected to positively impact the central lab market.

The surge in chronic diseases is forecasted to contribute to the expansion of the central lab market. Chronic diseases, persistent conditions that can be managed but not cured, lead to a substantial patient pool requiring continuous testing and monitoring. In January 2022, research from the American Cancer Society revealed projections of 609,360 cancer deaths and 1.9 million new cases in the US for 2022. The prevalence of chronic diseases, exemplified by these statistics, propels the demand for central lab services, thereby fostering market growth.

Technological advancements emerge as a prominent trend in the central lab market. Key industry players prioritize the development of innovative technological solutions to enhance their market positioning. For instance, in December 2021, Instron, a leading US-based manufacturer of cutting-edge materials testing equipment, introduced the BluehillCentral Lab management software. This software enables remote administration of Bluehill Central Lab, streamlining lab procedures by managing systems and data at the enterprise level through a unified database. Notably, this platform facilitates remote oversight of various operations, including user permissions, test methods, results, file revisions, and audit trail information, across a network of frames. This emphasis on technological advancement contributes to the ongoing evolution and competitiveness of the central lab market.

Major players in the central lab market are strategically introducing new products, such as self-service advanced analytics solutions, to expand their customer base, drive sales, and boost revenue. Self-service advanced analytics solutions are software or platforms that enable users, even those without extensive expertise in data analytics, to independently access and analyze complex data sets, generating advanced insights and predictions. An illustration of this trend is LabVantage Solutions Inc., a US-based laboratory information management system (LIMS) provider, which launched LabVantage Analytics in March 2021. This comprehensive self-service advanced analytics platform empowers users to seamlessly explore, analyze, and visually represent LIMS, enterprise, and external data, facilitating actionable business insights. LabVantage Analytics uniquely enables collaborative data management for laboratory managers and their associates, both within and outside the lab, integrating LIMS data with relevant business and external data. The system streamlines data processing, storage, analysis, and visualization into a unified application, conducting analyses on diverse structured and unstructured data sources. With user-friendly features like dashboards and customizable reports, LabVantage Analytics provides swift access to specific information, seamlessly integrated with the LabVantage LIMS solution and compatible with data from various sources, including other LIMS platforms.

In a significant development, Thermo Fisher Scientific, a prominent US-based supplier of scientific instrumentation, reagents, consumables, and software services, completed the acquisition of PPD Inc. in December 2021 for $17.4 billion. This strategic move is expected to enhance Thermo Fisher's capabilities, positioning it as a leading player in clinical research services. PPD Inc., also based in the US, is a contract research organization specializing in comprehensive drug development, laboratory, and lifecycle management services. The acquisition reinforces Thermo Fisher Scientific's industry standing and underscores its commitment to strengthening its presence in the clinical research services sector.

Major companies operating in the central lab market include Celerion Inc., Cerba Research, Cirion Biopharma Research Inc., Clinical Reference Laboratory Inc., Eurofins Central Laboratory LLC, Frontage Laboratories Inc., Icon Central Labs, Interlab Central Lab Services, InVitro International, LabConnect LLC, Labcorp Drug Development India Private Limited, Medpace Clinical Research India Private Limited, MLM Medical Labs GmbH, Q2 Solutions Pty Ltd., Sonic Healthcare Limited, Synevo Central Lab, Acm Global Laboratories Private Limited, ACM Global Laboratories, Altasciences, Barc Lab, BioIVT LLC, ICON PLC, Intertek, LabNow LLC, Medidata Solutions, NAMSA LLC, Neoteryx, Northwell Health Labs, PAREXEL International, Pharm-Olam LLC, Pharmaceutical Product Development, PRA Health Sciences, Quest Diagnostics, IQVIA Co., Rho Inc.

North America was the largest region in the central lab market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the central lab market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

The countries covered in the central lab market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

The central lab market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as specimen management, kit and logistics, and clinical trial data analytics services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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