Flow Cytometry Market Experiences Steady Growth
A New Report From Biocompare, Inc. Finds That BD Biosciences Leads Flow Cytometry Market
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 2, 2006 -- A new report from Biocompare, Inc. indicates that scientists are eager to provide feedback to flow cytometer manufacturers and that they have a laundry list of improvements both for instrument design as well as for the reagents used. The report, Flow Cytometry: Current Trends and Future Outlook, is based on a survey of over 400 researchers. Many of those surveyed use a core facility, but the need for timely access to data has prompted a greater movement for laboratories to purchase their own instruments. Affordability of all aspects of flow cytometry research is a major concern and one that vendors need to address promptly.
While instrument costs are high, the flow cytometry market continues to grow and is not expected to plateau for several more years. Howard M. Shapiro, M.D., a recognized flow cytometry expert, agrees, noting that the flow cytometry market has been experiencing a steep growth curve. Market leaders BD Biosciences and Beckman Coulter captured over 80% of the flow cytometry market in 2003, and BD currently holds over 50% market share, due to increasing revenues in benchtop analyzers, cell sorters, and other immunocytometry products.
A current, urgent need is for the quantitation of CD4 cell surface markers in HIV-infected patients, particularly in third-world countries, where more affordable instrumentation is critically needed. Advances in the use of charge-coupled devices (CCD) may help drop the price of these instruments; these smaller, more robust, less expensive analyzers may serve a much-needed niche in a variety of clinical applications.
According to the report, vendors of flow cytometry products should pay close attention to customer feedback. The scientists surveyed want to provide suppliers with information about how they use these instruments in the hope that future modifications will become standard. Some of the suggestions include: reagents should be available in smaller volumes and have a longer shelf-life, instruments should be more affordable, user-friendly, and take up less space. There were also issues with the way data analysis is performed. Many indicated that the software for their instruments should interface with commonly used graphics and statistical software programs. Attention to customer satisfaction in all product areas is important to vendors vying for more market share, and in a time frame of budgetary constraints, this point is more important than ever before.
This report, Flow Cytometry: Current Trends and Future Outlook, available from Biocompare, Inc., explores researchers' purchasing plans and research approaches in the area of flow cytometry and its applications. More information about this and other reports available from Biocompare can be found at: https://www.biocompare.com/research
About Biocompare
Biocompare, Inc. (http://www.biocompare.com), headquartered in South San Francisco, California, is a global media company informing and connecting the buyers, users, and sellers of life science products. By combining an in-depth knowledge of life science products and new technologies with the power of the Internet, Biocompare offers a dynamic, relevant, and innovative media-based marketplace for life science information.