POCT (Point-of-Care Testing), also known as "bedside testing", is a testing method that uses portable analytical instruments and supporting reagents to quickly obtain test results. In contrast, professional laboratory diagnosis is in a laboratory environment relying on professional equipment and instruments.

POCT has greater advantages over laboratory diagnostics in terms of sample pre-processing, instrument calibration, reagent preparation and operating requirements. 

Image from Schuh & Company

 

POCT is a segment of medical device industry, integrating the interdisciplinary knowledge and experience of medicine, life science, computer science, software, immunology, molecular biology and other fields like mechanical, electronic, optical, engineering, industrial design and manufacturing technology, and has diversified application scenarios.

The Chinese POCT industry is in the developing stage

As early as February 2014, the government issued a series of relevant policies to support the development of POCT in China. The industry regulatory has gradually developed towards systematization and standardization.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the maturity of the industry based on the development characteristics of key factors in different life stages of the industry, the Chinese POCT industry is currently still in the developing stage.

At present, the midstream of Chinese POCT industry is mainly divided into reagents and instruments, where the upstream of the instrument mainly includes machinery, electronics, software and other product industries, and the upstream of the reagent mainly includes chemicals and antigens, antibodies, enzymes, serum and other biological products industry. The downstream of POCT is the hospital side, primary care, personal health management and law enforcement related fields.

For the competitive situation in the Chinese POCT industry, the market product share is mainly dominated by foreign enterprises. Domestic enterprises are relatively competitive in the field of immune colloidal gold technology, while in other fields they are far less competitive than foreign companies.

Major Competitors in the Chinese POCT Industry

The Status of Industry Development

The rapid development of the Chinese POCT industry is mainly due to the national implementation of graded diagnosis and treatment since 2015. According to the Medical Device Blue Book (2021) published by Eshare, the fastest growing year for the Chinese POCT industry is 2020, with a growth rate of 24.70%. By the end of 2020, the market size of the Chinese POCT industry is around 9.3 billion yuan. Under the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic, the demand for POCT in China has climbed sharply. According to Qianzhan statistics the Chinese POCT market size of about 11 billion yuan in 2021.

POCT in China can be mainly used in various fields such as blood glucose, blood gas/electrolyte classification, cardiovascular, infectious disease, drug abuse, pregnancy and other types of testing. Blood glucose testing accounts for 30% of the POCT business, blood gas/electrolyte classification accounts for 17%, and cardiovascular testing accounts for 10%.

POCT industry started late in China, the overall market size is still small currently, and the penetration rate in hospitals and other terminal sites is low, so there is a huge potential development space. Qianzhan Institute predicts that from 2022-2027, the Chinese POCT market will rise by about 9% CAGR to about 18 billion yuan in 2027.