Point-of-care Glucose Testing Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Global Point-of-Care Glucose Testing Market Trends and Insights

Rise of EMR-ready networked glucose meters in U.S. hospitals

Growing connectivity standards are pushing hospitals to deploy glucose meters that auto-upload readings into EMRs, shaving documentation errors by 61% and improving insulin dosing accuracy by 37%. Roche’s cobas pulse platform showcases the shift by integrating Android-based apps and secure Wi-Fi, which accelerates clinical decisions and reduces nursing time on paperwork by 28%. Real-time transmission further cut severe hypoglycemic events by 42%, persuading large hospital systems to replace legacy meters in bulk contracts.

CLIA-waived strip-free meters lowering peri-operative hypoglycemia in ASCs

Ambulatory surgical centers adopt strip-free biosensor platforms that deliver glucose values within seconds and withstand anesthetic interference, enabling peri-operative teams to avert hypoglycemia. New CLIA waivers covering advanced optical sensors accelerate uptake because facilities can now deploy devices without complex validation protocols, saving staff training time and reducing operating-room workflow interruptions.

Government screening drives low-cost meter demand

Universal-coverage laws, such as Canada’s Bill C-64, earmark funds for test strips and meters, broadening access in underserved communities. The WHO’s 2024 inclusion of HbA1c point-of-care tests in its in-vitro diagnostics pre-qualification list has already guided bulk tenders across low-income countries, expanding volumes for cost-efficient manufacturers.  

Infection-control protocols spur single-use safety lancet uptake

CDC guidelines now prohibit sharing finger-stick devices, steering hospitals toward auto-disabled, single-use lancets that mitigate blood-borne pathogen risk^{[1]Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Blood glucose monitoring infection-control guidelines,” cdc.gov} . Adoption surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains elevated as facilities bake infection-control metrics into purchasing scorecards, driving premium-priced lancet volumes upward.

Accuracy-related recalls delaying hospital tenders

Product recalls—for example, Abbott’s September 2024 FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor withdrawal after reports of high false readings—often freeze tender processes for 6–9 months and undermine clinician confidence. Peer-reviewed evaluation found 46% of FDA-cleared meters missed ISO 15197:2013 precision targets, prompting administrators to conduct additional validation before re-ordering.

Required professional assistance and lack of awareness

In many rural districts of Asia and Africa, fewer than 25% of diagnosed patients perform regular self-testing, largely because of limited diabetes-education programs and scarce primary-care resources. WHO’s South-East Asia regional review underscores the structural gap: 246 million adults live with diabetes in the bloc, yet essential diagnostics remain inaccessible in a significant share of primary facilities, curtailing adoption potential.

Segment Analysis

By Product Type: Continuous sensors disrupt traditional testing

Continuous and flash sensors are moving the point of care glucose testing market away from episodic strip-based checks. Lancing devices and strips still commanded 61.51% of point of care glucose testing market size in 2024, but sensor shipments are expanding at 4.98% CAGR as providers seek richer glycemic profiles. Dexcom’s G7 posts a mean absolute relative difference of 8.2%, the best among FDA-cleared CGMs, prompting formularies to include sensors for both inpatient and outpatient populations. Meanwhile, Roche enhances strip accuracy through novel enzymatic chemistry and couples it with native EMR connectivity, prolonging relevance for conventional meters.

Clinical performance drives purchase decisions. Hospitals value sensors’ predictive-alert capability, which flags impending hypo- or hyper-glycemia and triggers protocol-based interventions. Conversely, emerging markets continue to favor strips because of lower upfront cost and reliable reimbursement. Manufacturers counter by offering hybrid kits—strip meters with optional Bluetooth modules—to create upgrade paths while preserving affordability. The interplay sustains diverse product mixes across regions, preventing dominance by a single technology while widening patient choice.

By Application: Type-1 diabetes shows fastest growth

Type-2 cohorts dominate testing volume, representing 84.50% of all strip and sensor sales in 2024. However, point of care glucose testing market share for type-1 diabetes applications is growing more swiftly, propelled by automated insulin delivery systems that hinge on real-time sensor input. Medtronic’s MiniMed 780G coupled with the Simplera Sync disposable sensor earned CE-Mark in January 2025, allowing calibration-free use and driving pediatric adoption in Europe.  

Gestational-diabetes monitoring, though smaller in absolute dollars, garners policy emphasis because rigorous glucose control mitigates neonatal complications. ADA’s 2025 Standards of Care instruct obstetric teams to adopt frequent point-of-care monitoring during pregnancy, fostering demand for intuitive meters that sync with prenatal electronic records. Vendors respond with color-coded trend indicators and scheduled reminder alarms, features that enhance adherence in a time-limited clinical scenario.

By End User: Home-care settings driving innovation

Hospitals and clinics controlled 54.35% of 2024 revenue, leveraging networked meters for in-house glucose rounding, intensive-care oversight, and pre-surgical screening. COVID-19 accelerated interest in minimally invasive sensors, enabling nurses to capture values without repeated room entry. Adoption persists as facilities benchmark reduced staff workload and sample-handling errors.  

Home-care users are the fastest-growing cohort at 5.67% CAGR. The FDA’s June 2024 authorization of Abbott’s Libre Rio and general-consumer Lingo sensors for OTC sale broadened eligibility beyond insulin-dependent patients. Combined with smartphone dashboards and cloud-delivered coaching, home users can share longitudinal data with physicians, aligning with payer programs that reward remote monitoring. Vendors additionally market subscription models bundling sensors, lancets, and AI-guided feedback, turning device revenue into recurring service streams.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Mode of Prescription: OTC growth transforming access

Prescription devices still comprise 69.54% of global units due to clinician oversight requirements and legacy reimbursement structures. Hospitals and endocrinologists value the ability to tailor meter selection based on comorbidities and user dexterity.  

The OTC channel, however, is tilting the landscape. Dexcom’s Stelo sensor, cleared in March 2024, targets non-insulin consumers who previously relied on boutique wellness trackers, offering medical-grade accuracy without a doctor’s visit. Analysts expect OTC to approach 40% share by 2030 as retailers stock sensors alongside blood-pressure and pulse-ox devices, positioning pharmacies as decentralized diagnostics hubs. Manufacturers are partnering with chain stores for installment-based payment plans to mitigate up-front cost, widening demographic reach.

Geography Analysis

North America accounted for 40.71% of worldwide point of care glucose testing market size in 2024, underpinned by high disease prevalence, advanced reimbursement, and rapid uptake of CGMs. CMS broadened sensor coverage to all insulin users in 2024, removing cost barriers for 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries and reinforcing double-digit growth for connected solutions. Device makers also benefit from a vibrant digital-health ecosystem that integrates readings with tele-endocrinology platforms, elevating clinical value and patient loyalty.  

Europe stands as the second-largest region. Structured procurement in national health systems promotes early technology adoption once cost-effectiveness is demonstrated. The CE-Mark approval of Medtronic’s MiniMed 780G with disposable sensor affirms regulators’ receptivity to hybrid closed-loop designs. Yet, the European Commission’s 2024 study revealing that 87% of public tenders contained import-restrictive clauses could temper non-EU supplier entry, nudging vendors toward local manufacturing.  

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing territory, forecast at a 6.56% CAGR from 2025–2030. Government screening programs, such as India’s National Diabetes Programme, introduce millions to first-time testing each year. Rising middle-class income supports sensor upgrades among urban populations, while smartphone penetration enables app-based coaching even in semi-urban settings. Challenges remain: fragmented reimbursement and uneven clinician distribution slow diffusion in rural areas, but low-cost Bluetooth meters offered below USD 20 per kit are narrowing the access gap.