Proficiency Testing Market (2025 - 2032)
Proficiency Testing Market Market Summary
The proficiency testing market was valued at USD 1.4 billion in 2024. The market is expected to reach from USD 1.5 billion in 2025 to USD 2.5 billion in 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. The high market growth is attributed to the growing demand for quality assurance in laboratory operations, the rising adoption of proficiency testing across various industries, surging stringent regulatory and accreditation requirements, and expansion of clinical diagnostic laboratories, among other contributing factors.
Key Market Trends & Insights
- North America proficiency market dominated the global market, with a share of 44.39% in 2024. The U.S. dominates the market due to over 200,000 laboratories operating nationwide. By industry, the clinical diagnostics segment accounted for the largest market share of 32.73% in 2024. By technology, the cell culture segment led the market with a 26.82% revenue share in 2024. By end-use, the hospital segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 31.36% in 2024. Market Size & Forecast 2024 Market Size: USD 1.5 Billion 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 2.13 Billion CAGR (2025-2030): 6.43% Asia Pacific: Largest market in 2024
Market Size & Forecast
- 2024 Market Size: USD 1.5 Billion
- 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 2.13 Billion
- CAGR (2025-2030): 6.43%
Technology Insights
The cell culture segment led the market with a 26.82% revenue share in 2024. Its substantial market presence is largely due to the widespread application of cell culture techniques for detecting infectious microorganisms. The increased uptake of cell culture-based products has driven the adoption of these technologies, maximizing microbial strain culture yields. Such tests are crucial for preserving the accuracy and integrity of laboratory processes, ensuring both safety and efficacy for cell culture-derived products, and complying with regulatory standards in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Additionally, the growing use of cell culture-based therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies, has further bolstered the demand for cell culture testing, which is essential for optimizing microbial strain cultures, ensuring product consistency, and maintaining quality control during biopharmaceutical production. The chromatography segment is projected to experience the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. Reliability & safety for quality control in pharmaceutical & biotechnology are increasing the segment demand, motivating key market players to adopt chromatography technology to offer laboratory proficiency testing services. For instance, the PHARMASSURE scheme provided by LGC offers High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) proficiency testing tailored to meet the specialized demands of the pharmaceutical industry.
Application Insights
Clinical Diagnostics Clinical chemistry Immunochemistry Hematology Oncology Molecular Diagnostics PCR Others Coagulation Others Pharmaceuticals Biological Products Vaccines Blood Tissues Others Microbiology Pathogen testing Sterility testing Endotoxin & pyrogen testing Growth promotion testing Others Cannabis Medical Non-Medical
Location Insights
U.S.; Canada; Mexico; U.K.; Germany; France; Spain; Italy; Denmark; Sweden; Norway; Japan; China; India; Australia; South Korea; Thailand; Brazil; Argentina; South Africa; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Kuwait,
End Use Insights
The hospital segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 31.36% in 2024, owing to the increasing need for regular competence evaluation in hospitals. Hospital laboratories are required to deliver accurate results, making regular competence evaluation crucial. Moreover, the increasing number of tests offered by hospitals is further expected to drive the demand for PT. Moreover, developed countries commonly practice proficiency testing programs, with hospitals offering convenient insurance coverage, making them the preferred choice for patients. Moreover, regular participation in proficiency testing enables laboratories to validate evaluating methodologies, identify areas for improvement, and uphold the highest standards of accuracy in diagnostic procedures. The contract research organizations segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period. This rapid expansion is driven by the increasing adoption of outsourced services in healthcare, a growing focus on R&D, and strict regulatory guidelines governing clinical trials. Emerging economies like India and China have become key hubs for CRO activities, further propelling the demand for proficiency testing. With intensifying emphasis on research and stringent FDA mandates for clinical trials, laboratory proficiency testing within CROs is gaining importance. By incorporating proficiency testing programs, CROs can ensure accurate and reliable laboratory analyses, meet regulatory standards, standardize processes, improve data quality, and enhance their reputation as research partners. This, in turn, supports advancements in research and delivers more trustworthy clinical trial outcomes.
Regional Insights
North America proficiency market dominated the global market, with a share of 44.39% in 2024. The region’s dominance can be attributed to the existence of established pharmaceutical & diagnostics industries, stringent regulatory framework related to laboratory accreditation, and the growing adoption of laboratory competence evaluation. Moreover, the presence of leading market players such as the American Proficiency Institute, College of American Pathologists, and Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., and well-established healthcare infrastructure are key drivers for the market in the region. U.S. Proficiency Testing Market Trends The proficiency testing market in the U.S. is driven by a vast network of accredited laboratories that must comply with strict proficiency testing requirements to sustain their accreditation. In North America, the U.S. dominates the market due to over 200,000 laboratories operating nationwide. Notably, while hospital-based laboratories represent just 5% of this total, they account for approximately 55% of all tests performed. Compliance with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) guidelines, which mandate certification based on testing complexity, further intensifies the demand for proficiency testing. Europe Proficiency Testing Market Trends The laboratory proficiency testing market in Europe is expanding due to the growing number of applications and the launch of new programs. The region holds the second-largest market share by revenue, following North America, and is projected to experience a strong CAGR in the coming years. Increased research funding and the presence of key market players are significant drivers of this growth. Additionally, organizations like Eurachem are actively promoting quality practices across Europe. The UK proficiency testing market is being propelled by the nation's significant role in the European market, underpinned by robust research and development advancements. The rising emphasis on R&D, particularly within the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical sectors, is intensifying the demand for proficiency testing services. Strategic partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and industry players are further elevating quality assurance and laboratory proficiency. A notable instance occurred in September 2020 when Diaceutics PLC announced three new collaborations on its DXRX platform. The company partnered with external quality assessment organizations, including the Canadian Pathology Quality Assurance - Assurance Qualité Canadienne en Pathologie (CPQA-AQCP), the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN CIC), and the Nordic Immunohistochemical Quality Control (NordiQC), to establish global best practices in diagnostic testing and ensure high in-lab quality assurance standards. The proficiency testing market in Germany is fueled by one of Europe’s most robust healthcare systems and advanced infrastructure. The widespread use of automated laboratory equipment necessitates meticulous maintenance and standardization to achieve accurate results, thereby increasing demand for proficiency testing services. Organizations like Kunststoff-Institut für die mittelständische Wirtschaft NRW GmbH and IfEP GmbH has bolstered this market by offering specialized testing solutions, including proficiency programs for computerized tomography focused on coordination determination. Additionally, the growing emphasis on food and water quality and sterility-exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-has spurred laboratory expansion. With over 100 pharmaceutical companies in Germany required to perform routine testing of raw materials and finished products to meet FDA standards, proficiency testing remains an essential element of quality assurance in the country. Asia Pacific Proficiency Testing Market Trends The laboratory proficiency testing market in the Asia Pacific is experiencing significant growth, driven by the expansion of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, increased funding, and improved laboratory infrastructure. The region is attracting major investments from global pharmaceutical companies, further fueling demand for standardized testing. In March 2024, Novo Nordisk announced a USD 556 million investment to expand its manufacturing capacity in China. These developments emphasize the growing importance of quality control and regulatory compliance, increasing the need for proficiency testing in laboratories.
Company Insights
Key Proficiency Testing Companies: The following are the leading companies in the proficiency testing market. These companies collectively hold the largest market share and dictate industry trends. LGC Limited Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Randox Laboratories Ltd. QACS - The Challenge Test Laboratory Merck KGaA Weqas BIPEA NSI Lab Solutions Absolute Standards, Inc. INSTAND