Quidel and Abbott Lead in POC Cardiac Markers
Quidel is the market leader in point-of-care (POC) cardiac markers, according to a recent report from Kalorama Information. Abbott, Roche and Siemens Healthineers and Response Biomedical also are among the top companies. The findings were reported in Kalorama Information’s latest report, Worldwide Market for Point-of-Care (POC) Diagnostics.
Quidel is a market leader in rapid immunoassays and has significant exposure to the POC markets relative to its size and total revenue, according to the report. Quidel acquired the assets of the Triage business from Alere when Alere was acquired by Abbott in October 2017. The panel combines troponin I, CK-MB, myoglobin, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and D-dimer to provide accurate results in whole blood and plasma. Quidel’s first products were dipstick pregnancy tests launched in 1984. Moving from its primary markets in rapid test kits, Quidel has in recent years introduced POC immunoanalyzers and rapid molecular tests to market.
Abbott with its i-STAT system is a leading provider of handheld cardiac marker tests. Siemens Healthineers and Roche compete in the market as well. Response Biomedical is a small company that develops, manufactures, and markets rapid on-site diagnostic tests for use with its RAMP system for clinical and environmental applications. The RAMP system consists of a portable fluorescent reader and single-use, disposable test cartridges.
Diagnostic tests performed outside the central laboratory or decentralized testing is generally known as point of care. Over the years, the increasing introduction of transportable, portable, and handheld instruments has resulted in the migration of POC testing from the hospital environment to a range of medical environments, including the workplace, home, disaster care, and, most recently, convenience clinics.
The menu for POC continues to expand. In the past five to 10 years, POC products were developed in the following categories: HbA1c, BNP, whole-blood lactate, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Moreover, POC test devices have contributed significantly to the growth of the overall diagnostics market over the past 10 years. More diagnostic manufacturers have pursued CLIA waiver status for their POC devices and the CE Mark for POC or self-use. At the same time, more decentralized test venues invest in nonwaived rapid tests and instruments. POC testing appears to be headed for an even bigger role in diagnosis and monitoring patient care. New technologies are allowing POC devices to produce quantitative lab-quality test results that can be transferred automatically to an information system, a remote caregiver service for consultation, or an electronic medical record.
About Kalorama Information
For more than 30 years, Kalorama Information has been a leading publisher of market research in healthcare areas, including in vitro diagnostics (IVD), imaging, biotechnology, healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.
