Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Global Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics Market Trends and Insights

Rise in Prevalence of Animal Infectious Diseases

High-pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 infected U.S. dairy cattle in 2024, pushing laboratories such as the University of Minnesota to process more than 115,000 samples by May 2025. Such surges spur demand for high-throughput PCR platforms that deliver hundreds of results per day and drive adoption of whole-genome sequencing to track viral evolution. Confirmed human H5N1 cases linked to cattle reinforce the One-Health imperative, making molecular diagnostics essential infrastructure for joint animal–human outbreak response. Investments in sequencing capacity therefore shift the veterinary molecular diagnostics market toward integrated, rapid and scalable solutions.

Growing Demand for Animal-Derived Proteins

Rising meat and dairy consumption in Asia Pacific is pushing producers to intensify biosecurity and select disease-resistant genetics. Livestock operators now deploy high-resolution melting assays to distinguish pathogen strains and apply genetic markers for superior feed conversion, cutting antibiotic usage while protecting welfare. This production-oriented testing sustains long-term sales of multiplex platforms capable of combining pathogen detection with genetic profiling inside a single workflow.

Increasing Companion-Animal Ownership & Spend

Eighty percent of pet owners in the United States visit a veterinarian within six months, and willingness to pay for advanced diagnostics is rising. Liquid biopsies, hereditary disease panels, and AI-enabled interpretation tools such as Mars Petcare’s chronic-kidney-disease predictor broaden routine wellness portfolios. Portable analyzers delivering laboratory-quality PCR results during a single clinic visit enhance customer satisfaction and push the veterinary molecular diagnostics market deeper into first-opinion settings.

Adoption of Syndromic Multiplex Panels

Clinical signs often originate from multiple pathogens, making single-plex tests inefficient. Platforms like QIAGEN’s QIAstat-Dx detect up to 12 genomic targets and report within 30 minutes, while including resistance markers that guide antibiotic stewardship. Alveo Technologies’ poultry avian influenza cartridge reaches 99% specificity and uploads results in real time, showing how modular microfluidics reshape biosecurity programs.

One-Health AMR Surveillance Funding Surge

WHO’s antimicrobial-resistance research agenda highlights rapid point-of-care tests as a top priority. The European Union cut antimicrobial use in food animals by 28.3% from 2018-2022, creating a regulatory pull for fast resistance-gene assays. bioMérieux devotes 75% of R&D to AMR solutions, underscoring the commercial importance of integrated panels that detect pathogens and resistance determinants in a single run.

Portable Nanopore Sequencing Enters Field Use

Oxford Nanopore’s MinION delivers real-time genomic reads in barns and remote clinics, enabling on-site avian-influenza surveillance without costly sample transport. Direct RNA sequencing and ultra-long reads let veterinarians characterize complex viral genomes and monitor mutations immediately, widening access in developing regions with minimal laboratory infrastructure.

Lack of Skilled Veterinary Molecular Diagnosticians

Vacancy rates for laboratory technologists have reached 35%-40% in human health, with parallel gaps in veterinary practice. Rural veterinarians must often double as lab technicians, yet most veterinary curricula provide limited molecular-biology training. Staffing shortages slow installation of advanced platforms and limit the veterinary molecular diagnostics market in smaller clinics.

High Cost of Instruments & Consumables

Comprehensive PCR or sequencing systems frequently exceed USD 100,000, while per-test consumable costs run 3-5 times higher than conventional assays. Financial pressure is acute for stand-alone practices and rural clinics, causing a two-tier market where sophisticated testing concentrates in corporate chains and reference laboratories.

Segment Analysis

By Product: Kits Drive Revenue, Software Accelerates Growth

Kits and reagents produced 59.1% of 2024 revenues, anchoring a recurring business model that stabilizes cash flow for suppliers. Software and services, however, are expanding at an 11.9% CAGR as cloud analytics, AI interpretive modules, and subscription data portals become integral to laboratory operations. Leading vendors bundle consumables, instruments, and analytics, reinforcing switching barriers. The veterinary molecular diagnostics market size attributable to consumables is forecast to remain dominant through 2030, yet software will command increasing strategic importance for differentiation. Instrument margins tighten as miniaturization and open-platform designs lower entry barriers, illustrated by portable nanopore sequencers costing a fraction of legacy bench-top systems. As a result, manufacturers pivot toward integrated ecosystems that pair hardware with digital interpretation and lifetime kit revenue.

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

By Application: Infectious Diseases Dominate, Genetics Gains Momentum

Infectious disease surveillance generated 69.7% of 2024 sales and remains the core of the veterinary molecular diagnostics market as laboratories manage avian influenza, African swine fever, and canine parvovirus. Syndromic panels shorten differential diagnosis and reduce empirical antibiotic use. Genetics applications, advancing at a 10.4% CAGR, reflect pet owners’ desire for hereditary screening and breeders’ focus on genomic selection. Liquid biopsies for oncology further widen clinical adoption. The veterinary molecular diagnostics market size for genetics is projected to accelerate as sequencing costs fall, enabling routine screening for both disease predisposition and performance traits.

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

By Technology: PCR Leads, DNA Sequencing Shows Promise

PCR held 62.1% revenue share in 2024 due to robustness, speed, and cost-effectiveness. Innovations such as rapid-cycle chemistry permit sub-hour turnaround, bringing PCR into in-clinic use. DNA sequencing, projected to grow 13.8% annually, extends beyond confirmatory testing into frontline diagnostics, especially as nanopore formats make field deployment practical. The convergence of PCR amplification with on-chip sequencing workflows blurs traditional boundaries and could reshape the veterinary molecular diagnostics market by delivering both qualitative and quantitative insights in one platform.

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

By Animal Type: Companion Animals Drive Innovation

 Companion animals dominated with a 65,1% 2024 revenue share, whereas livestock testing for poultry and cattle is forecast to grow the quickest at 11.3% CAGR over the same period. Companion animals generate the largest spending as owners seek human-level care, including AI-guided interpretation of molecular results. Predictive analytics for chronic kidney disease and oncology screening expand the service mix at veterinary hospitals. Livestock testing grows strongly in poultry and dairy cattle, where proactive surveillance underpins productivity and food safety. Precision selection based on molecular markers reduces antibiotic inputs and aligns with One-Health goals, reinforcing the veterinary molecular diagnostics industry’s relevance to public health.

By End User: Reference Labs Lead, Clinics Embrace Point-of-Care

Reference laboratories led the market with a 68.3% share in 2024; clinics are adopting point-of-care systems at the fastest pace, at 12.3% CAGR over the same period. Reference laboratories dominate high-complexity testing through economies of scale, supporting next-generation sequencing and bespoke pathogen panels. Yet, clinics are the fastest-growing users as cartridge-based PCR systems and portable sequencers deliver definitive results during appointments. This decentralisation increases testing volumes and feeds cloud databases that power AI benchmarking, deepening customer reliance on integrated vendor ecosystems.

Geography Analysis

By Geography: North America Leads the Market

North America captured 41.6% revenue in 2024, underpinned by extensive veterinary infrastructure, generous pet-care spending, and USDA funding of USD 64.429 million for animal-health diagnostics in 2025. Federal fast-track pathways for new assays accelerate innovation, though rural skills shortages remain a bottleneck.

Europe maintains a substantial share thanks to strict antimicrobial stewardship rules. Regulation (EU) 2019/6 modernizes veterinary medicinal oversight and boosts demand for rapid resistance testing. Between 2018 and 2022, the region cut antimicrobial use in food animals by 28.3%, prompting farms to adopt molecular surveillance as a compliance tool.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing territory at an 11.1% CAGR. Middle-class pet ownership, mega-dairy expansion, and supportive policies such as the ASEAN Medical Device Directive spur uptake. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa record steady adoption, although currency volatility and limited laboratory networks temper growth. Portable diagnostic kits tailored for diverse species and climates show promise for accelerating penetration in these regions.

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