Specimen Validity Testing Market Size

Specimen Validity Testing Market Analysis

The specimen validity testing market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.4% over the forecast period.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the market initially as the outbreak of COVID-19 led to vast numbers of patients, which resulted in an unprecedented demand for diagnosis. SARS-CoV-2 affects the respiratory and various body functions and dysfunctions in the body's metabolism, including altered kidney function, which is analyzed by the creatinine level in the specimen validity testing (SVT) test. For instance, a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology in April 2021 stated that proteinuria was observed to be highly frequent in patients admitted for COVID-19, and for the analysis, urine testing was carried out. However, the number of COVID-19 patients decreased gradually. But, the market is expected to experience steady growth over the forecast period. COVID-19 had a moderately positive impact on the growth of the specimen validity testing market during the pandemic. However, with the reduction in COVID-19 patients, the market is expected to grow at a normal pace.

Further, the market is expected to grow with the increasing drug screening and increasing use of illegal drugs, which leads to high demand for SVTs. Drug screening tests have been on the rise due to the increasing abuse of illegal drugs. As per the data published by the Crime Survey for England and Wales in 2022, over 3 million adults aged 16 to 59 years and 1.1 million adults aged 16 to 24 years were reported to use drugs in 2022. Further, as per the European Drug Report 2022, over 22 million adults aged 15 to 64 years were reported to use Cannabis in the European Union region in 2021. Further, the same source stated that over 1.5 million, 2.6 million, and 2 million adults of the same age group consumed cocaine, 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and amphetamines in 2021. The increasing drug abuse is expected to create more demand for specimen validity testing since these tests are used to determine if the urine sample has been adulterated/diluted against drug testing. Therefore, a rise in drug abuse is expected to drive the growth of the market. Drug abuse has been increasing over the past few years. For instance, as per the data published in the European Drug Report 2022, it was mentioned that over 13 European cities were reported to have residues of drugs in Amsterdam and Antwerp in their wastewater in 2021. The same source also stated that the drug-checking services in Europe received more cannabis products for testing, which reflected an increase in product diversity and consumer uncertainty, with services in over 7 European cities in 2021. Such high substance abuse in different regions boosts the growth of the market.

Furthermore, the increasing screening drives to curb substance abuse and drug addiction are also expected to create more demand for the specimen validity test. For instance, in July 2022, the jail authorities of Punjab, India, launched a major anti-drug-trafficking and de-addiction drive in their jails, in which over 8,000 prisoners were screened in over 14 prisons and sub-jails. It was found in the screening drive that over 42% of the prisoners were drug addicts.

Therefore, owing to the aforementioned factors, including the increasing drug abuse and increasing drug screening, the studied market is anticipated to witness growth over the analysis period. However, the limited awareness of SVT and the emergence of alternative testing kits are likely to impede market growth.