Drug Screening Market Size to Capture USD 10.34 Billion by 2034

Drug Screening Market Companies, Trends and Developments

The global drug screening market size was estimated at US$ 6.15 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to US$ 10.34 billion by 2034, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.84% from 2024 to 2034. Drug screening is in demand due to increased consumption of alcohol, cannabis, and other substances.

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Market Overview

The drug screening market deals with the production of reagents, kits, and devices for screening drugs. The market is also responsible for developing new products, services, and devices for accurate and rapid drug testing. Drug screening is in high demand due to its growing usage in different places such as hospitals, educational institutes, workplaces, sports events, and so on. It is also used by police/traffic police to detect cases of drunk driving to avoid road accidents. The overall purpose of drug screening is to ensure safety and reduce legal liability.

Drug Screening Market Trends

• In September 2022, to allow the commercialization of its sensor technology, a Durham startup raised £600,000 to scan a person's skin and identify drugs and alcohol in their blood.

Drug Screening Market Opportunity: Technology

Drug testing has a very bright future. Drug testing is becoming more effective, precise, and widely available because of technological breakthroughs and creative methods. Some of the fascinating advancements that are coming up include wearable technology, lab-based testing techniques, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and saliva-based testing. These developments in drug testing are crucial for healthcare, saving lives, and enhancing health outcomes, in addition to the workplace and educational institutions.

False Results Hamper Drug Screening Market’s Growth

Despite the prevalence of drug testing, consumers frequently worry about the potential for false-positive findings. Accuracy is crucial since drug test results can have a negative impact on a variety of situations. According to some research, between 5% and 10% of drug tests may provide false positive results, whereas 10% to 15% may produce false negative results.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the drug screening market in 2023.

North America’s dominance is due to various factors. The region has advanced technology used in drug screening devices, which provides accurate results in less time. The policies, regulations, and laws are strict, due to which organizations and workplaces conduct drug screening to maintain safety.  Organizations like the National Institute on Drug Abuse, SAMHSA, FDA, Department of Transpiration, Government of Canada, Canadian Occupational Safety, and so on ensure that proper drug screening is conducted. Apart from this, the drug screening market is growing strongly in the U.S. and Canada due to the heavy consumption of substances like cannabis and alcohol.

 For instance,

• According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health in the U.S., 64 million (45.6%) of the 134.7 million alcohol consumers aged 12 or older in 2023 had binge drank within the previous month. Marijuana topped the list of illegal substances consumed in 2023. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 (11.2% or 2.9 million) and adults aged 26 or older (20.8% or 46.5 million) had the largest percentages, followed by young adults aged 18 to 25 (36.5% or 12.4 million).
• 828,000 individuals aged 12 and older (0.3%) either used unlawfully manufactured fentanyl (IMF) or abused prescription fentanyl in the previous year, with 627,000 individuals (0.2%) using IMF.

The number of persons with a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2023 was 48.5 million, or 17.1% of those aged 12 or older. Of them, 28.9 million had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 7.5 million had both an AUD and a DUD.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period.

Rapid economic expansion, better healthcare facilities, and heightened awareness of the negative effects of drug misuse are all occurring in the region. Governments and organizations have responded by enacting strict laws and procedures that require drug testing in a number of industries. Additionally, the affordability of drug screening services has improved due to growing disposable incomes in nations like China and India, which has fueled drug screening market expansion. The need for drug screening services in Asia Pacific has increased as a result of the entry of multinational corporations into the area, as well as the increased focus on workplace safety and employee wellness initiatives. Additionally, the increase of local drug screening businesses and the growing use of cutting-edge technology are driving the market expansion in this area.

Segmental Insights

By product, the consumables segment held the largest share of the drug screening market in 2023. All the products, like kits, reagents, test strips, dye tablets, columns, calibrators, etc, come under consumables and are used for screening drugs. Illegal substance use and alcohol consumption are some of the factors that will increase the demand for these consumables in the future.

By product, the rapid testing devices segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Rapid testing devices have several advantages, and their demand is increasing. Rapid drug testing yields findings in only a few minutes. It aids in determining whether the material contains a drug or metabolite. Rapid drug testing offers the best options for human services, health, the workplace, and corrections.

By sample, the urine sample segment held the major share of the drug screening market in 2023. Urine is the most often utilized biological sample because it is non-invasive and typically has a greater concentration of a particular xenobiotic than other samples. Usually, this leads to increased sensitivity.

By sample, the oral fluid sample segment is expected to achieve the fastest growth rate during 2024-2034. Samples of oral fluid are collected while being closely observed. Privacy issues are resolved as a result. Additionally, this reduces the possibility of manipulation. There aren't many health and safety risks associated with this non-invasive testing technique. It is simple to get samples in almost any setting.

By drug, the cannabis/marijuana segment dominated the drug screening market in 2023, and the segment is predicted to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The majority of drug screening tests are done to detect the consumption of cannabis, due to which the segment dominates. Apart from this, very few countries have legalized the consumption of cannabis, due to which a lot of countries conduct cannabis screening to detect illegal activities.

By end-use, the drug testing laboratories segment accounted for the largest share of the drug screening market in 2023. Drug screening/testing laboratories are highly equipped and have trained professionals. The laboratories have become an ideal choice for hospitals, organizations, and police investigations for screening drugs.

By end-use, the workplaces segment is estimated to grow at the fastest rate during the predicted period. Workplace safety is of utmost importance, and it also includes a drug-free environment. Companies follow strict guidelines to provide a safe and healthy work environment.

Top Companies in the Drug Screening Market

• Cordant Health Solutions
• Sciteck, Inc.
• CareHealth America
• Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc.
• Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
• Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• ACM Global Laboratories.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• Siemens Healthcare GmbH
• American Bio Medica Corporation
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
• Alere Inc.
• Quidel Corporation
• Synergy Health plc.
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
• Abbott
• Shimadzu Medical Pvt. Ltd.
• Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
• BioMerieux SA
• Express Diagnostics Int’l, Inc.
• Biomedical Diagnostics
• Danaher

Recent Announcements by Industry Leaders

In January 2024, Micro-Distributing, Inc. and ABK Remote Drug Testing, Inc., the owners of eRAMxTM Live Remote Drug Testing, have announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. The businesses will provide the first and only live, 24/7 remote drug testing service in the U.S.

Recent Developments in the Drug Screening Market

• In October 2024, Broughton introduced the most recent edition of Tox HQ, an online data-driven application that enables clients to discreetly submit their goods for toxicological evaluation in an effort to streamline the toxicity assessment, testing, and regulatory consulting processes.
• In October 2024, Beijing-based ICE Bioscience and SPT Labtech established a collaborative lab devoted to advancements in life sciences automation and intelligent drug screening.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product

• Consumables
• Rapid Testing Devices
• Instruments
• Services

By Sample

• Urine Sample
• Oral Fluid Sample
• Hair Sample
• Other

By Drug

• Alcohol
• Cannabis/Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opioids
• Amphetamine & Methamphetamine
• LSD
• Others

By End-use

• Drug Testing Laboratories
• Workplaces
• Hospitals
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Thailand
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Denmark
  • Norway
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • South Africa
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Kuwait