Specimen Collection Cards Market Opportunities in Emerging Economies

The specimen collection cards market is witnessing robust growth globally, but the most dynamic opportunities are surfacing in emerging economies. These regions are experiencing a surge in healthcare infrastructure development, rising awareness of preventive diagnostics, and growing investments in public health. Specimen collection cards, particularly for blood, saliva, and other biological samples, offer convenient, cost-effective solutions for sample collection, transport, and long-term storage, which aligns well with the needs of resource-limited environments.

The global specimen collection cards market size is predicted to reach US$ 671.2 Mn in 2032 from US$ 477.0 Mn in 2025. It will likely witness a CAGR of around 5.0% in the forecast period between 2025 and 2032. Specimen collection cards are extensively used in genomics, diagnostics, pharmacokinetics, and forensic science. Their ability to simplify sample handling by enabling long-term storage at ambient temperatures is expected to drive demand in clinical settings. Their role has extended beyond newborn screening, backed by their ability to stabilize analytes, including small molecules, DNA, and RNA.

Market Overview and Demand Drivers

Emerging markets such as India, Brazil, China, and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia are becoming critical hubs for specimen collection card adoption. The growth in these regions is being driven by several converging factors:

Rising demand for early disease diagnosis and preventive healthcare.
Expanding government initiatives for population health screening and newborn screening programs.
Surge in infectious disease outbreaks requiring mass sample testing (e.g., COVID-19, Zika, HIV).
Growth of decentralized diagnostics and point-of-care testing.
Increased public-private partnerships to improve diagnostic outreach.

In many of these countries, specimen collection cards are replacing traditional vials and syringes, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Their ease of use, stability at room temperature, and ability to transport without cold chain make them especially valuable in these environments.

Public Health Initiatives and National Screening Programs

Government-led programs are a crucial component fueling demand for specimen collection cards in emerging economies. National newborn screening programs, for example, are being rolled out across several countries as part of maternal and child health initiatives.

In India, initiatives under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) promote early detection of birth defects and metabolic disorders. Dried blood spot (DBS) cards are used in neonatal testing to detect congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, and other inborn errors of metabolism.

Brazil’s SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) public health system has expanded its use of specimen cards for Zika virus monitoring and genetic disease testing. Similar efforts are ongoing in South Africa, where dried specimen cards are essential tools in HIV testing and early infant diagnosis.

These programs offer consistent and large-scale demand, making them attractive markets for global and regional manufacturers of specimen collection cards.

Technological Advancements Favoring Market Growth

Technological innovations are also making specimen collection cards more suitable for emerging markets. Advances include:

Improved absorbent materials ensuring better analyte retention and stability.
Integration with barcoding and digital tracking for streamlined data management.
Enhanced compatibility with automated lab equipment and high-throughput workflows.

These features help bridge gaps in laboratory infrastructure and ensure that even remote healthcare centers can participate in national or international diagnostic networks.

Innovations in specimen integrity and contamination resistance have further expanded their application beyond traditional infectious disease testing to include genomics, toxicology, and forensic investigations.

Role of NGOs and International Aid Organizations

In emerging markets, international organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, and the Global Fund play a significant role in funding diagnostics and health screenings. These organizations often rely on cost-effective and logistically practical tools—making specimen collection cards a logical choice.

WHO and UNAIDS initiatives deploy dried blood spot cards for HIV viral load testing in African countries.
GAVI-supported immunization and disease surveillance campaigns utilize specimen cards for antibody detection and vaccine efficacy monitoring.
NGOs working in maternal health use cards to screen for anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and congenital disorders.

This ecosystem of donor-backed diagnostics enables consistent procurement of collection cards and accelerates market expansion in low-income and lower-middle-income countries.

Market Opportunities and Key Segments

There are several segments within the specimen collection cards market where emerging economies are demonstrating notable traction:

Newborn screening: Major driver in public health programs.
Infectious disease diagnostics: HIV, Hepatitis B/C, COVID-19, tuberculosis.
Genomic testing and ancestry studies: Gaining popularity among middle-class populations.
Environmental and toxicology applications: Water and soil contamination testing through field collection kits.

Each of these segments offers long-term growth potential as countries increase their investments in healthcare R&D and surveillance infrastructure.

Competitive Landscape and Local Manufacturing

Global leaders such as PerkinElmer, Ahlstrom-Munksjö, FTA (Whatman), and Centogene have a strong presence, but domestic players are beginning to gain momentum, especially in India and China. These local manufacturers offer:

Cost-competitive alternatives tailored to regional needs.
Faster supply chain and logistic efficiencies.
Adaptability to government tender requirements.

Collaborations between local manufacturers and global biotech companies can create synergistic opportunities, particularly where knowledge transfer and technical expertise are needed to meet international quality standards.

Challenges in Emerging Markets

Despite significant opportunities, the market still faces key hurdles in emerging economies:

Limited awareness among healthcare providers about the advantages of specimen cards.
Lack of laboratory infrastructure and trained personnel to process samples in some rural regions.
Supply chain disruptions and logistics challenges in remote geographies.
Pricing pressures due to budget-constrained public health systems.

However, these challenges also represent areas where innovation, policy support, and strategic partnerships can create pathways for market growth.

Future Outlook and Strategic Recommendations

Looking ahead, the specimen collection cards market in emerging economies is poised for substantial expansion over the next decade. Key factors that will influence this growth include:

Adoption of telemedicine and remote diagnostics boosting demand for mail-in sample kits.
Rising investments in genomic surveillance and biobanking initiatives.
Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases requiring routine monitoring.
Growing focus on personalized medicine and preventive care.

Strategic recommendations for stakeholders:

Invest in local manufacturing or assembly units to reduce costs and meet tender requirements.
Partner with NGOs and public health agencies to ensure steady demand.
Offer educational outreach to clinicians and lab professionals to boost adoption.
Design product variants for tropical climates, ensuring stability and performance.
Utilize mobile health and digital health platforms to integrate collection card diagnostics.

Conclusion

Emerging economies represent one of the most exciting frontiers for growth in the specimen collection cards market. Their unique combination of healthcare transformation, government initiatives, and diagnostic needs create fertile ground for innovation and expansion. Companies that can address affordability, accessibility, and awareness while aligning with national health goals will be well-positioned to capitalize on this growing opportunity.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 "𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞”: