The automated cell counters market offers an array of advantages over conventional techniques such as enhanced accuracy and reproducibility, minimal sample volume requirement, simultaneous counting of various cell types, and delivery of results within minutes. Cell counting is crucial in various diagnostic procedures such as complete blood count tests, immune cell phenotyping, and disease diagnosis and monitoring. Automated cell counters provide reliable and timely results, allowing efficient disease diagnosis and management.

The global automated cell counters market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3.75 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the automated cell counters are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Danaher Corporation, Agilent Technologies, PerkinElmer Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, BD, Merck KGaA, Logos Biosystems, Corning Incorporated, and Tecan.

The rising incidence and prevalence of various diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, hematological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases are fueling the demand for diagnostic tests relying on cell counting procedures. This in turn is supporting the growth of the automated cell counters market.

Technological advancements are also supporting market growth. Key players are focusing on the development and commercialization of innovative counting platforms with advanced image analysis capabilities, faster throughput, and integrated workflow for multiple tests. For instance, new cell counters offer wireless connectivity, artificial intelligence-powered machine learning algorithms, and scope for customization as per end-user requirements.

Market Trends

1. Miniaturization of cell counting platforms: Major players are focusing on the development of miniature and portable cell counters to enable point-of-care cell analysis. This trend is driven by the need for affordable testing solutions in resource-constrained settings.

2. Integration of AI and machine learning capabilities: Leading automated cell counter manufacturers are integrating advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to enable more accurate cell identification, automated analysis, and diagnostic prediction. This is expected to make cell counting procedures more efficient.

Market Opportunities

1. Emerging markets: There is significant unmet demand for disease diagnostic testing in emerging nations owing to lack of access and affordability issues. Market players can target these regions by developing low-cost automated cell counters.

2. Integration with LIS/LIMS platforms: Opportunities exist for companies to offer automated cell counters with seamless integration with laboratory information management systems currently used in healthcare facilities. This will help streamline workflow and deliver faster results.

Impact of COVID-19 on Automated Cell Counters Market Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the growth of the automated cell counters market. In the initial period of the pandemic, most of the manufacturing facilities and research labs were shut down due to lockdown restrictions imposed by governments globally. This led to a decline in the production and sales of automated cell counters in 2020. The demand from end-use industries such as hospitals, diagnostic labs, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies reduced drastically as resources were diverted to fight the pandemic.

However, with the increase in COVID-19 testing and ongoing research related to vaccines and therapeutics, the demand for automated cell counters started rising from mid-2020. Research organizations focused on developing treatment options for COVID-19 required automated cell counters for analysis of cell cultures and samples. This boosted the sales and production of automated cell counters to some extent in 2020. Going forward, as COVID-19 vaccines get widely available and economies reopen fully, the demand from hospitals and diagnostic laboratories is expected to normalize. At the same time, ongoing research related to COVID-19 variants is likely to sustain the demand from pharma/biotech companies in the long run. Companies need to focus on scaling up their production capacity and optimizing supply chains to cater to fluctuations in demand caused due to the pandemic.

Geographical Concentration of Automated Cell Counters Market
North America dominates the global automated cell counters market in terms of value. The presence of major market players and availability of advanced healthcare research infrastructure drives the automated cell counters market in the region. Moreover, rising R&D investments by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for drug discovery and clinical trials is augmenting the demand in the US and Canada. Europe holds the second largest share and countries such as Germany, the UK, and France contribute significantly to the regional market. Asia Pacific is recognized as the fastest growing region stimulated by increasing healthcare expenditure and growing biomedical industry in China, India, and Japan.

Fastest Growing Region for Automated Cell Counters Market
Asia Pacific region is poised to witness the highest growth in the global automated cell counters market during the forecast period. Rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure, rising patient pool, increasing government focus on healthcare reforms are some of the major factors supporting the growth of the automated cell counters market in Asia Pacific. In addition, presence of emerging biomedical clusters in China, India, Japan, and South Korea is attracting global market players to expand in Asia Pacific region. Growing R&D expenditure of pharmaceutical and biotech firms on drug development further propels the demand for automated cell counters to conduct various tests and experiments. The market is expected to grow at a double-digit CAGR in Asia Pacific region through 2030.