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Market Overview

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The global transport media market, valued at USD 13.15 billion in 2022, is projected to reach USD 12.59 billion by 2028. Transport media refers to specially developed substances used to preserve bio-specimens and prevent bacterial overgrowth during the transportation of samples to laboratories for further processing. The selection of transport media may vary depending on the suspected organism in the sample. The growth of the transport media market can be attributed to several driving factors that consistently contribute to its expansion. Furthermore, the market has witnessed rapid changes in transport media development, presenting growth opportunities for the forecast period.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous advancements and new products have been introduced in the transport media market. For many decades, various transport media solutions have been available to stabilize specimens for the detection of microbial presence during diagnostic investigations. Between 2019 and 2022, several vendors launched new products driven by the high demand for diagnosing SARS-COV-2 viral infection. Additionally, the formulation of advanced designs and collection techniques has increased the adoption of transport media, leading to lucrative market growth opportunities. Moreover, the emergence of infectious diseases like monkeypox is expected to drive further growth in the transport media market.

Significant improvements in transport media solutions have emerged as a result of various infectious disease outbreaks in recent years. Innovative products incorporating advanced technologies have been introduced to facilitate the detection and diagnosis of infected patients. Thermo Fisher Scientific, for instance, designed a non-hazardous virus inactivation medium that ensures the safe collection and transport of the COVID-19 virus. In 2021, VIRCELL S.L. launched a new transport medium solution specifically for pediatric clinical diagnostics, enabling the collection and preservation of various viruses. Increased funding for infectious disease diagnosis and research on viral transport media, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, also present lucrative growth opportunities for the transport media market.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly raised awareness among medical professionals and the general public about the importance of diagnosis and transport media, leading to a surge in demand. Additionally, the expansion of production capacity for transport media solutions has increased manufacturing capabilities among leading and emerging market players, thereby driving market growth. Since the outbreak of the viral infection SARS-COV-2 in 2019, which has affected millions worldwide as of November 2022, the demand for transport media has risen in the detection and diagnosis of both viral and non-viral infectious diseases. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases globally, along with their impact on human life and the millions of deaths they cause each year, has led to a growing burden and heightened demand for transport media solutions. The rising diagnosis rates for infectious diseases further contribute to the growth of the transport media industry. Increased awareness, coupled with rising healthcare expenditure and improved access to health services, has fueled the demand for infectious disease treatments, propelling market growth.

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Market Segmentation

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The market is segmented based on various factors, including product, application, indication, end-users, and geography.

Segmentation by Product
Viral Transport Media
Universal Transport Media
Molecular Transport Media

Segmentation by Application
Diagnosis
Pre-clinical Testing

Segmentation by Indication
Viral Diseases
Non-Viral Diseases

Segmentation by End-users
Diagnostic Labs
Hospitals & Clinics
Others

Segmentation by Geography
North America – US, Canada
Europe – Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain
APAC – China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia
Latin America – Brazil, Mexico, Argentina
Middle East & Africa – Turkey, South Africa, Saudi Arabia

The global market for transport media is divided into various product segments, including viral transport media, universal transport media, molecular transport media, and others. The others category includes transport media such as Cary & Blair medium, Amies medium, Stuarts medium, alkaline peptone water, and buffered glycerol saline. In 2022, the viral transport media segment held a significantly higher market share of 55.75% and dominated the other segments. This can be attributed to several factors, including a large population infected with viral diseases, increased testing for COVID-19, and growing awareness of diagnosis and pre-clinical testing. These factors have led to a higher adoption rate of viral transport media and accelerated growth in this segment. In the UK, the government has published and implemented guidelines for testing monkeypox specimen samples using viral transport media.

In terms of application, the global transport media market is categorized into diagnosis and pre-clinical testing. The diagnosis segment accounted for a higher market share of 65.75% in 2022 and dominated the application segment. The demand for diagnosis has been driven by the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, monkeypox, and influenza in developed and developing countries. Developed regions like North America and Europe have a higher rate of pre-clinical testing compared to developing regions like APAC, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe are experiencing steady growth in pre-clinical testing, contributing to segmental growth.

Among the indications for viral diseases, the viral transport media market was dominated by a segment valued at USD 9.74 million in 2022. The high growth in this segment can be attributed to the prevalence of viral infectious diseases such as influenza, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster, respiratory syncytial virus, as well as emerging diseases like monkeypox and COVID-19. Both COVID-19 and influenza are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different types of viruses. These two diseases have become significant public health concerns worldwide, impacting millions of lives. Since 2020, various public health and social measures have been implemented globally to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-COV-2. In 2022, the viral diseases segment accounted for a market share of 74.05% in the global transport media market.

Due to the increased demand for diagnosis and testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic labs have become a major part of the healthcare system from 2020 to 2022. Consequently, diagnostic labs accounted for a higher market share in the transport media market in 2022. The high number of COVID-19 tests and the emerging demand for monkeypox and influenza virus testing in 2022 have accelerated the growth in this segment. Additionally, the early detection and diagnosis of other infectious diseases also contribute to segmental growth. However, the growth rate of the diagnostic lab segment is expected to decrease as the demand for COVID-19 diagnosis decreases. On the other hand, the hospitals and clinics segment is expected to experience substantial growth during the forecast period. In 2022, the diagnostic lab segment accounted for a 41.52% market share in the global transport media market.

North America dominated the global transport media market, holding a share of 33.02% in 2022. The region’s growth is driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of viral infectious diseases, high rates of diagnosis and pre-clinical testing, and a focus on research and development in the field of viral diseases. The region’s high prevalence of infectious diseases has resulted in an increased demand for transport media solutions. North America was significantly affected by the SARS-COV-2 infection and achieved substantial market growth in transport media solutions.

In Europe, the prevalence of infectious diseases continues to rise due to the large population and rapid spread of such diseases among people. European countries face challenges in preventing infectious diseases and allocating healthcare resources effectively. The burden of infectious diseases in the region has been increasing, as evidenced by the outbreak of monkeypox declared in May 2022 and the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Additionally, seasonal influenza viruses and other infectious diseases pose a constant burden in Europe, contributing to the growth of the transport media market.

The APAC transport media market was valued at USD 2.7 billion in 2022. The region is experiencing a constant increase in the prevalence of infectious diseases, which is expected to drive industry growth during the forecast period. Viral and non-viral infections have a significant impact on millions of lives in APAC. The patient population affected by viral and non-viral infectious diseases is relatively higher in APAC countries. China and India, in particular, have a substantial demand for improved diagnosis and treatment due to their large populations. Domestic and global transport media market players have responded to this demand, resulting in increased competition among major market players. The high infection rate, emergence of new market players, research and development activities, and large patient population are the primary factors driving regional industry growth.

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Competitive Landscape

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The prominent players in the global transport media market include BD, Puritan Medical, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Hardy Diagnostics, HiMedia Laboratories, and Vircell. This industry is highly competitive, with local, domestic, regional, and global players operating worldwide. The market players’ extensive geographical presence and wide distribution channels contribute to the competitiveness of the market through various supply, import, and export strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in the demand for transport media, leading to heightened export and import activities among different countries through various market players.

The industry has witnessed several notable changes, with leading companies adopting new business strategies. Some companies in the transport media market have engaged in mergers and acquisitions to expand their production capacity, resulting in intensified competition. The growing number of emerging and small-scale manufacturers has further contributed to increased business operations and the production volume of transport media. The established companies that pioneered in viral transport media (VTM) face intensified competition as new players enter the industry. During the pandemic, companies such as BD (Beckton Dickinson), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Puritan Medical Products, Laboratory Corporation of America, Hardy Diagnostics, and others have played a crucial role in boosting the production of VTM kits.

Key companies profiled in this report include BD, Hardy Diagnostics, HiMedia Laboratories, Laboratory Corporation of America, Puritan Medica Products, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vircell, AB Medical, Alpha-Tec Systems, AccuGene USA, Apical Scientific, Azooka Labs, Biomed Diagnostics, bioBoaVista, BioGenex, BIOLOGIX Group, BIOCOMMA, Charm Sciences, Creative Life Sciences, Citotest Labware Manufacturing, CPT Medical, COPAN Diagnostics, DiaSorin Molecular, EKF Diagnostics Holding, Ensol Biosciences, General Biologics, Gentueri, Han Chang Medic, Hebei Chaoran Medical Instruments, Innolyzer Labs, KSL Diagnostics, Lucence Health, LaunchWorks, Liofilchem, Medical Wire & Equipment, Miraclean Technology, MetaDesign Solutions, Quidel Corporation, Trinity Biotech, Manila HealthTek, MATTEK, Nodford International, Starplex Scientific, Sansure Biotech, Sisco Research Laboratories, Teknova, Titan Biotech, Vegas Biotech, Yocon Biology Technology Company, Zybio.

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Key Questions Answered

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What is the size of the transport media market?

The global transport media market was valued at USD 13.15 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 12.59 billion by 2028.

What is the estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the transport media market during the forecast period?

The transport media market is expected to witness a decline at a CAGR of (0.73%) during the forecast period.

Who are the major players in the global transport media market?

The key players in the global transport media market include BD, Hardy Diagnostics, HiMedia Laboratories, Laboratory Corporation of America, Puritan Medical Products, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Vircell.

What are the emerging trends in the transport media market?

The growing trends in the global transport media market include the introduction of new products in the transport media segment, advancements in transport media technologies, the rapid acceleration of diagnostics and funding during the pandemic, and an increasing focus on research and development of viral transport media.

Which region dominates the global transport media market in terms of market share?

North America holds the largest share in the global transport media market, accounting for 33.02% in 2022.