Hematology Grows, Driven by Decentralization
The global market for hematology testing, inclusive of analyzers/instruments and reagents, is valued at $5,655 million in 2022. This includes all commercial laboratory and hospital-based products, some research use products used in clinical laboratories, and OTC product sales (not test services). This is according to Kalorama’s latest on hematology IVD.
The report indicates that decentralized systems will grow at a faster revenue rate, though more of the revenue in the market is coming from lab-based analyzers and reagents.
Specific diseases in hematology include hemophilia, blood clots, bleeding disorders and blood cancers such as leukemia, multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Hematology tests can help diagnose anemia, infection, hemophilia, blood clotting disorders and leukemia.
The basis of hematology testing is the complete blood count (CBC) that provides information on blood components: hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, white blood cells, reticulocytes, platelets. The CBC is run as part of the normal work up in an annual health exam and for every inpatient. Samples that have abnormal levels of any of these components have a microscopic examination of the cell contents performed, called a blood cell differential. A drop of blood is placed on a microscope slide and stained. The slide is then examined under a microscope and the cells are analyzed.
The menu of hematology tests includes:
• CBC + 5-part differential (or 3-part differential)
• manual differential/review
• hematocrit
• hemoglobin (automated, manual)
• sedimentation rate
• reticulocyte count
• white blood cell (WBC) count
• platelet count and analysis
• red blood cell count (RBC).
In the past few years, hematology has joined the march to more automation and management IT solutions, especially for the differential count. Facilitating digital hematology is automated consistent slide staining that optimizes quality and enables standardization to help ensure accurate identification of white blood cells, red blood cell morphology and platelet assessment. Standardized stained slides are immediately available for digitization and viewing upon completion of staining.
