Polymerase Chain Reaction Market Size and Share
Polymerase Chain Reaction Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Polymerase Chain Reaction Market size is estimated at USD 14.43 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 21.62 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.42% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
Growth arises from the shift toward precision diagnostics, where digital systems and AI-enhanced platforms command premium prices despite lower unit volumes compared with traditional amplification instruments. Liquid biopsy adoption accelerates because circulating tumor DNA testing relies on absolute quantification that only digital PCR can deliver. Competitive intensity is shaped by the bifurcation between high-volume, low-margin testing and premium oncology applications, while sustainability concerns over single-use plastics push vendors to redesign consumables. The PCR market benefits from regulatory harmonization in Asia-Pacific and hospital consolidation in North America, both of which incentivize automated, multiplex systems that fit into streamlined laboratory workflows.
Key Report Takeaways
- By product type, reagents & consumables led with 48.94% of PCR market share in 2024, whereas digital PCR systems are projected to expand at a 13.78% CAGR through 2030.
- By application, clinical diagnostics had a 58.56% share of the PCR market in 2024, while oncology & liquid biopsy is advancing at an 11.52% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user, hospitals & diagnostic laboratories held 45.12% of PCR market share in 2024; contract research & manufacturing organizations record the highest projected CAGR at 12.58% through 2030.
- By geography, North America commanded 36.85% share of the PCR market size in 2024, yet Asia-Pacific is set to grow at a 13.23% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
Global Polymerase Chain Reaction Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Increasing Application in Clinical Diagnostics | +2.1% | Global, with concentration in North America & Europe | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Rising Demand for Personalized & Precision Medicine | +1.8% | North America & EU leading, APAC emerging | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Technological Advances in PCR Platforms | +1.5% | Global, with R&D centers in US, Germany, Switzerland | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Growth In Infectious-Disease Screening Outside Hospitals | +1.2% | APAC core, spill-over to MEA and Latin America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Mini-Microfluidic PCR For Point-of-Care in Emerging Markets | +0.9% | APAC, MEA, Latin America | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
AI-Driven Multiplex Assay Design Accelerating Adoption | +0.7% | North America & EU, expanding to APAC | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Increasing application in clinical diagnostics
Hospitals now integrate PCR into routine pathology services for cancer biomarker detection and newborn genetic screening. Roche deployed 100 cobas 5800 systems in 2024 to support high-throughput panels that cut per-test costs while boosting laboratory efficiency.[1]Roche Diagnostics, “Cobas 5800 System Launches Globally,” roche.com FDA Emergency Use Authorization for the cobas Liat assay that simultaneously detects SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, and RSV shows syndromic testing gaining traction in point-of-care settings. Digital PCR further advances minimal residual disease monitoring in hematologic cancers by detecting ultra-low tumor burden levels not reachable by qPCR. Consolidated laboratory networks demand platforms that handle diverse menus with minimal operator intervention, contributing to steady PCR market growth.
Rising demand for personalized & precision medicine
Companion diagnostics have moved from research settings into routine oncology practice, expanding the PCR market as drug developers seek assays that match therapies to biomarker-defined patient subgroups. The European Liquid Biopsy Society standardized circulating tumor DNA workflows across 93 institutions in 2024, paving the way for broader digital PCR adoption.[2]European Liquid Biopsy Society, “Standardizing ctDNA Testing,” jcancerres.com QIAGEN released more than 100 validated assays for its QIAcuity platform, demonstrating the shift from generic reagents toward disease-specific panels. Bio-Rad partnered with Oncocyte to deliver transplant monitoring tests based on droplet digital PCR, pushing the technology beyond oncology.
Technological advances in PCR platforms
AI-driven protocol optimization now rescues degraded DNA samples, broadening PCR applicability to forensics and environmental testing. Full automation enables “dark labs” that run without human supervision, increasing consistency and cutting operating costs. Ultra-rapid droplet platforms deliver results within 15 minutes, facilitating intraoperative tumor quantification. Plasmonic heating has produced portable devices that complete thermal cycles at 10.7 °C s-1 on just 4.5 W of power, important in resource-limited settings.
Growth in infectious-disease screening outside hospitals
Decentralized healthcare models embrace point-of-care PCR to enable same-visit treatment decisions. Community clinics that adopted molecular testing during COVID-19 have kept the instruments for broader respiratory panels.[3]Nature Staff, “Liquid biopsies come of age in cancer care,” nature.com Syndromic assays by Seegene simultaneously identify up to 15 pathogens, addressing overlapping symptoms. PCR assays also safeguard food supply chains, detecting Salmonella or Listeria in under 30 minutes. Portable devices such as Dragonfly extend molecular diagnostics to outbreak zones lacking laboratory infrastructure.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
High Cost of Instruments and Maintenance | -1.4% | Global, particularly affecting emerging markets | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Emergence of NGS & Isothermal Amplification Alternatives | -0.8% | North America & EU leading adoption | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Sustainability Concerns Over Single-Use Plastic Waste | -0.6% | EU & North America regulatory focus, expanding globally | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Data-Privacy Regulation Limiting Cloud-PCR Data Sharing | -0.4% | EU GDPR, expanding to APAC and other regions | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
High cost of instruments and maintenance
Capital budgets in emerging economies seldom cover high-end molecular platforms. A cost-effectiveness model put per-patient PCR testing for oncology biomarkers at USD 18,246 versus USD 8,866 for next-generation sequencing, underscoring economic challenges. QIAGEN’s withdrawal of its NeuMoDx system shows the difficulty of sustaining costly hardware once pandemic volumes recede. Leasing programs help spread expenses, yet maintenance contracts still deter smaller labs. Developers exploring yeast-derived polymerases may cut reagent costs, though instrument amortization remains the bigger hurdle.
Emergence of NGS & isothermal amplification alternatives
Oxford Nanopore sequencing offers comprehensive variant detection that eclipses targeted PCR, particularly for structural variants in oncology. LAMP eliminates thermal cycling and operates on simple heaters, enabling micro clinics to run molecular tests without complex equipment. Case Western Reserve University’s AMPLON method halves amplification time while flattening temperature swings, hinting at potential performance advantages. Despite these challenges, PCR retains regulatory familiarity that slows technology switching in clinical labs, sustaining the PCR market in the medium term.
Segment Analysis
By Product: Digital innovation commands premium pricing
Reagents & Consumables held 48.94% of PCR market share in 2024, reflecting the instrument-agnostic demand for enzymes and master mixes that laboratories reorder each week. Digital PCR Systems are forecast to grow at a 13.78% CAGR, lifting their portion of the PCR market size for products that deliver absolute quantification essential for companion diagnostics. Traditional thermal cyclers face commoditization; vendors therefore differentiate through bundled software, automation modules, and inclusive service contracts to protect margins. High-throughput integrated platforms appeal to consolidated laboratories that seek lower labor costs and standardized quality control.
Portable and point-of-care devices represent the frontier where miniaturization and low power consumption unlock new settings such as ambulances and rural clinics. The South Korean Lab On An Array unit shows how MEMS chips trim energy draw while keeping analytical sensitivity. Software and cloud analytics grow in importance as AI suggests primer designs that limit off-target amplification. QIAGEN expects its bioinformatics arm to cross USD 100 million in revenue by 2027, underscoring that data management can now rival hardware in value creation.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Application: Oncology drives premium growth
Clinical Diagnostics held 58.56% of the PCR market size in 2024 as hospitals depended on molecular tests for viral panels and genetic disease screening. Oncology & Liquid Biopsy is set to record an 11.52% CAGR through 2030, boosting its weight within the PCR market as payers reimburse high-complexity assays that guide targeted therapy selection. Infectious-disease testing stays relevant because respiratory pathogens circulate year-round, yet growth lags precision oncology, where each new targeted therapy needs a companion assay.
Food safety and agriculture labs increasingly use PCR kits such as Bio-Rad’s iQ-Check to verify meat authenticity and detect pathogens, illustrating the versatile nature of the PCR market. Environmental agencies apply multiplex panels to water monitoring, while forensic scientists gain better results from AI-tuned protocols that recover DNA from degraded crime-scene samples. Japan’s approval of the AmoyDx Pan Lung Cancer PCR Panel as a companion diagnostic shows regulators accept PCR for multi-gene oncology testing, further anchoring the application in clinical care.
By End-User: CROs accelerate outsourcing trends
Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories commanded 45.12% of the PCR market share in 2024 due to established reimbursement and in-house testing volumes. Contract Research & Manufacturing Organizations are poised to grow at 12.58% CAGR as drug developers outsource biomarker development and regulatory submissions, adding volume to the PCR market. Pharmaceutical companies refocus internal resources on therapeutic pipelines while delegating routine assays to specialized providers.
Chinese CROs, notably WuXi AppTec and Pharmaron, scale global operations that undercut Western pricing, broadening access to molecular diagnostics in Asia-Pacific and reshaping competitive pricing structures. Aurora Biosynthetics’ end-to-end GMP plasmid DNA service in Singapore confirms rising demand for outsourced molecular biology. Academic institutes remain important innovators; however, funding constraints curb their instrument purchases, reinforcing the appeal of shared-service or pay-per-use models.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
Geography Analysis
North America retained 36.85% of PCR market share in 2024, supported by well-funded healthcare systems and a dense pharmaceutical industry. Hospital chains favor high-throughput automation to meet consolidated testing loads, and federal laboratories invest in biosecurity panels that keep the PCR market dynamic. The region’s regulatory clarity encourages next-generation platform launches that offer faster run times and multiplex abilities.
Asia-Pacific is set to grow at a 13.23% CAGR through 2030, becoming the engine of PCR market expansion. Governments allocate record budgets for genomics as they roll out universal health coverage. China’s Healthy China 2030 initiative channels capital toward domestic manufacturing that reduces import reliance, creating local competitors alongside global brands. India’s Production Linked Incentive scheme grants tax credits for diagnostic device production, directly bolstering regional PCR capability.
Europe benefits from strong academic networks and pan-regional data initiatives. The forthcoming European Health Data Space regulation will unify electronic health records, easing multi-country clinical research that relies on PCR-based endpoints. Although austerity budgets in some member states restrict capital spending, demand for liquid biopsy assays in major oncology centers sustains revenue. Middle East & Africa and South America remain nascent but show rising infrastructure investment, particularly in private labs that cater to medical tourism and agriculture testing, gradually enlarging their role in the global PCR market.

Competitive Landscape
Industry leaders Thermo Fisher Scientific, Roche and QIAGEN hold significant combined shares, reflecting portfolios that span instruments, reagents and analytics. Competition centers on features such as AI-guided assay design, plastics sustainability and automation rather than pure pricing. Thermo Fisher’s plan to invest USD 2 billion in U.S. capacity supports local supply chains while its projected USD 40–50 billion M&A budget seeks adjacency deals in cell and gene therapy tools. Roche adds syndromic panels and invests in rapid digital platforms to diversify from traditional cobas cyclers. QIAGEN partners with the FBI to build digital PCR assays for human identity, illustrating niche applications that create regulatory moats.
Disruptors focus on isothermal methods and nanopore sequencing, but PCR incumbents respond through acquisitions and internal R&D. Beckman Coulter’s collaboration with Rarity Bioscience adds superRCA to flow cytometers, boosting mutation detection beyond conventional droplet PCR. Vendors highlight recyclability of plastics and carbon-neutral factories to satisfy hospital ESG goals, addressing sustainability restraint pressures within the PCR market. Mid-sized companies leverage regional knowledge to supply bundled services in Asia-Pacific, challenging U.S. and European pricing structures yet expanding the total PCR market by unlocking untapped segments.
Polymerase Chain Reaction Industry Leaders
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Abbott Laboratories
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Agilent Technologies Inc.
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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
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Siemens Healthineers
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BioMerieux SA
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- May 2025: QIAGEN reported Q1 2025 net sales of USD 483 million, up 7%, led by 35% growth in QIAstat-Dx syndromic systems.
- May 2025: Bio-Rad Laboratories posted Q1 2025 net sales of USD 585.4 million; Life Science segment declined 5.4% due to weaker academic demand.
- April 2025: Thermo Fisher committed USD 2 billion to U.S. manufacturing and R&D expansion over four years, including USD 500 million for innovation programs.
- March 2025: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences partnered with Rarity Bioscience to integrate superRCA with flow cytometry for heightened oncology mutation detection.
- January 2025: Thermo Fisher Scientific will divest selected diagnostics assets for about USD 4 billion to streamline its portfolio.
Global Polymerase Chain Reaction Market Report Scope
According to the scope of this report, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method used to make thousands to millions of copies of a certain DNA segment by amplifying target DNA. PCR techniques are used in clinical and research laboratories for a broad variety of applications, which include clinical diagnosis, criminal forensics, and biomedical research. The Polymerase Chain Reaction Market is Segmented by Product (Instruments, Reagents and Consumables, and Software), Application (Clinical Diagnostics, Life Science Research, Industrial Applications, and Other Applications), End User (Academic Institutes, Clinical Diagnostics Labs and Hospitals, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries, and Other End Users), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market report also covers the estimated market sizes and trends for 17 different countries across major regions, globally. The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.
By Product | Instruments | Standard PCR Systems | |
Real-time (qPCR) Systems | |||
Digital PCR Systems | |||
High-throughput & Automation Platforms | |||
Portable/POC PCR Devices | |||
Reagents & Consumables | Enzymes & Master Mixes | ||
Kits & Panels | |||
Plastics & Microplates | |||
Software & Services | |||
By Application | Clinical Diagnostics | Infectious Diseases | |
Oncology & Liquid Biopsy | |||
Genetic & Prenatal Testing | |||
Drug Discovery & Development | |||
Food Safety & Agriculture | |||
Environmental & Water Testing | |||
Forensic Science | |||
By End User | Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories | ||
Academic & Research Institutes | |||
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies | |||
Contract Research & Manufacturing Organizations | |||
By Geography | North America | United States | |
Canada | |||
Mexico | |||
Europe | Germany | ||
United Kingdom | |||
France | |||
Italy | |||
Spain | |||
Rest of Europe | |||
Asia-Pacific | China | ||
Japan | |||
India | |||
Australia | |||
South Korea | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
Middle East & Africa | GCC | ||
South Africa | |||
Rest of Middle East & Africa | |||
South America | Brazil | ||
Argentina | |||
Rest of South America |
Instruments | Standard PCR Systems |
Real-time (qPCR) Systems | |
Digital PCR Systems | |
High-throughput & Automation Platforms | |
Portable/POC PCR Devices | |
Reagents & Consumables | Enzymes & Master Mixes |
Kits & Panels | |
Plastics & Microplates | |
Software & Services |
Clinical Diagnostics | Infectious Diseases |
Oncology & Liquid Biopsy | |
Genetic & Prenatal Testing | |
Drug Discovery & Development | |
Food Safety & Agriculture | |
Environmental & Water Testing | |
Forensic Science |
Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories |
Academic & Research Institutes |
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies |
Contract Research & Manufacturing Organizations |
North America | United States |
Canada | |
Mexico | |
Europe | Germany |
United Kingdom | |
France | |
Italy | |
Spain | |
Rest of Europe | |
Asia-Pacific | China |
Japan | |
India | |
Australia | |
South Korea | |
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
Middle East & Africa | GCC |
South Africa | |
Rest of Middle East & Africa | |
South America | Brazil |
Argentina | |
Rest of South America |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
How big is the Polymerase Chain Reaction Market?
The Polymerase Chain Reaction Market size is expected to reach USD 14.43 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 8.42% to reach USD 21.62 billion by 2030.
What is the current size of the PCR market?
The PCR market is valued at USD 21.62 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 32.39 billion by 2030.
Which PCR product segment is growing the fastest?
Digital PCR Systems are forecast to grow at a 13.78% CAGR through 2030 as precision oncology and liquid biopsy testing demand absolute quantification.
Why is Asia-Pacific the primary growth engine for the PCR market?
Rapid healthcare infrastructure investments, regulatory harmonization and rising middle-class healthcare spending are expected to drive a 13.23% CAGR in the region.
How are cost restraints being addressed in PCR adoption?
Leasing models, shared-service agreements and lower-cost reagents derived from yeast polymerases help lower the total cost of ownership for laboratories.
What role does AI play in the next generation of PCR platforms?
AI optimizes primer design, automates quality control and enables lights-out laboratory operation, enhancing speed and reducing false-positive rates across diverse applications.