A disposable vacuum blood collection tube is a plastic test tube or sterile glass with a colored rubber stopper that creates a vacuum inside the tube, allowing a predefined volume of liquid to be drawn. There are different types of blood collection tubes, such as serum-separating tubes, EDTA tubes, heparin tubes, ESR tubes, and glucose tubes. These are used in routine blood examinations, biochemical tests, and coagulation testing by hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, pathology labs, and blood banks.
Market Drivers and Forecast
According to OMR Research, the global disposable vacuum blood collection tubes market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.75% during the forecast period (2023–2029). The prominent factor that drives the market's growth is the rising number of surgeries due to various health conditions and accidents, coupled with the rapid increase in the number of blood donors globally. For instance, according to the American Red Cross in 2023, nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6,500 units of plasma are needed daily in the US. According to the same source, each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the US donate blood, and 13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells are collected in the US in a year.
The growing cancer incidence has also increased the demand for early diagnostic tests. Patients are increasingly preferring non-invasive diagnostic equipment as they have a better awareness of the benefits of non-invasive test procedures. Liquid biopsy is one of them, and it is a promising and versatile non-invasive cancer diagnosis method. The study of liquid biopsy cells is based on circulating tumor cells, tumor-free nucleic acids, or sick organ-derived cells. This practice is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among the elderly.
Another driver of the market is the prevalence of diabetes. According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas, there were about 537 million individuals living with diabetes in 2021, with this figure expected to rise to 643 million by 2030. In 2021, the illness is expected to kill 6.7 million people. As a result, the rising prevalence of diabetes is increasing demand for vacutainers, which are used to perform periodic diagnostic procedures such as blood sugar assays.
Additionally, the rising prevalence of hematological illnesses is expected to propel the market. Hematologic diseases include sickle cell disease, anemia, bleeding disorders, such as clots and haemophilia, and cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, roughly one person is diagnosed with blood cancer every three minutes in the US. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 40% of pregnant women and 42% of children under the age of five are anemic. As a result of the rising frequency of hematological illnesses, vacutainers are required for diagnosis, pushing market expansion.
Recent Developments
The key companies in the market include Becton, Dickinson and Company, BIOSIGMA S.p.A., bioWORLD, CML Biotech, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Labtech Disposables, Medtronic plc, and others. These companies are supporting the market’s growth through various mergers, collaborations, new product launches, investments, and other activities. Some of the recent developments in the market include-
• In January 2023, KEBO AG (Neuhausen, Switzerland) and MHT Mold & Hotrunner Technology AG (Hocheim-am-Main, Germany) announced a collaboration to grow their operations and supply clients with full blood connection tube (BCT) solutions. In terms of the partnership, MHT will provide its experience in PET hot runner systems and BCT injection molds, while KEBO will provide expertise in medical injection molds and hot runner solutions.
• In October 2022, the UAE announced $70.84 million in industrial deals to produce medical equipment domestically. Under the terms of the agreement, Borouge will supply raw materials, while Abu Dhabi Ports Group will offer industrial land at ICAD 1 for the manufacture of medical needles, administration devices, and blood collection tubes.
• In July 2022, Rhinostics introduced automated sample collection technology called the VERIstic Collection Device, with a focus on small volume blood collection. The VERIstic is suitable for use in at-home and clinician-assisted sampling methods and is a highly efficient, greater replacement for antibodies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hormone and protein detection, dried blood spot (DBS) cards, clinical trials, genetic testing, and other applications.
• In February 2022, Abacus dx announced the addition of RNA Complete BCT to Streck's reliable blood collection tube lineup. The novel blood collection tube preserves cell-free RNA concentration during draw time while restricting the release of extracellular vesicles from blood cells, such as exosomes. When maintained at room temperature, RNA Complete BCT retains these critical analytical objectives for up to seven days, providing for easy sample collection, transit, and storage.