Market Trends of Global Kidney Function Tests Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Kidney Function Tests Market according to our research experts:
Dipstick Segment is Expected to Hold a Major Market Share in the Kidney Function Tests Market
The dipstick is a type of plastic stick that has a chemical line on it in the form of lines. The dipstick is dipped in urine, and when the color of the ribbon changes, it indicates the presence of abnormal substances such as protein, blood, redness, bacteria, and sugar. This helps to identify a range of kidney and urinary problems, such as chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injuries, bladder diseases, and kidney stones, among others.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) reported that most patients with serious COVID-19 acute kidney injury (AKI) complications are still working on their lower kidneys after recovery. According to the study titled "Using dipstick urinalysis to predict the development of kidney damage in patients with COVID-19" published in February 2022, the levels of proteinuria and hematuria in dipstick urine analysis can be used to predict AKI and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Likewise, a report published by the National Kidney Foundation Inc. in March 2020 stated that hospitalized people with COVID-19 were at a higher risk of serious kidney injury (AKI), which could lead to serious illness and even death. A similar study found that patients with COVID-19, who were hospitalized between March 11 and April 26, 2020, were twice as likely to develop AKI compared to non-COVID patients who developed AKI simultaneously in 2019, which was calculated at 56.9% compared to 25.1%, respectively. Therefore, an increase in the incidence of kidney failure and chronic kidney failure due to COVID-19 is expected to promote the segment's growth during the forecast period due to ease of diagnosis and availability of products.
Moreover, in August 2021, ID Genomics (IDG), a Seattle-based company, invented a dipstick-based assay for the simultaneous identification of a large number of genetic variants of SARS-CoV2 and received a grant of USD 300,000 from the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Furthermore, rising government efforts to address improper kidney functions, growing investments, and newer treatments for kidney disease are at the forefront, which will in turn bolster the segment's growth. For example, in January 2020, Sweden's Elypta AB collected a USD 7.0 million fund for a urine cancer screening test.
Therefore, due to these abovementioned factors, the segment may witness growth during the forecast period.
North America Dominates the Market and is Expected to Continue the Same Over the Forecast Period
Some of the factors driving the growth of the market in the North American region include better health care infrastructure, an increase in urinary tract infections, and more widely available diagnostic tests.
The coronavirus has had a significant impact in the region, particularly in the United States. The Johns Hopkins Division of Nephrology, in 2020, suggested that COVID-19-related kidney damage should be followed by tests to ensure kidney function returns to normal. Therefore, the growing burden of COVID-19 in the region is expected to increase the need for kidney tests, thereby positively impacting the market's growth. Moreover, according to the Health Resources & Services Administration, in February 2022 in the United States, about 26,640 kidney transplants were performed. Such a high number of transplants creates the need for kidney function tests post-transplantation procedures to detect the proper functioning of the kidneys and thus drives the growth of the market.
Moreover, the growing burden of kidney diseases and their underlying causes are anticipated to boost market growth in North America. For instance, in 2020, a report published by the Kidney Foundation stated that around 4 million people have kidney disease in Canada, of which 46% of new patients are under the age of 65. In addition, the number of people living with end-stage kidney disease has grown by 35% since 2009. This significant burden of these diseases in the region is expected to augment the demand for kidney function tests.
Additionally, in July 2022, bioMérieux received United States Food and Drug Administration clearance for the innovative VIDAS NEPHROCHECK assay to detect kidney stress in patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). The introduction of new products and the growing advances in urine analysis in the region are boosting the market's growth.
Therefore, owing to the abovementioned factors, the market is expected to grow in the North American region.
