The global whole slide scanner market size was USD 331.93 Million in 2022 and is likely to reach USD 486.43 Million by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 5.9% during 2023–2031. The market growth is attributed to the increasing demand for reliable and effective diagnostic procedures.
A whole slide scanner is an imaging technology, where glass slides are scanned to produce digital images. It digitally scans and archives whole slides in high resolution. It is also known as digital pathology or virtual microscopy, which refers to the methods of visualization, navigation, concentrating, labeling, and classification of areas of focus inside glass tissue slides on a computer display.
Whole slide imaging (WSI) is a paradigm shift in pathology that serves as a critical first step for a wide variety of digital tools to enter the field. Its basic function is to digitize glass slides for viewing and analyzing digital images for further treatment of patients. The images are stitched together with the help of software to create a single digital image file. It is a useful approach for cytopathology.
The COVID-19 pandemic positively impacted on the whole slide scanner market owing to the rising usage in primary diagnosis with uninterrupted histopathological diagnosis. Significant growth in the adoption of the whole slide scanner is attributed to the growing adoption among research institutes and laboratories to diagnose the virus. Furthermore, an increase in research activities across laboratories to develop the COVID-19 vaccines fuels the market during the pandemic.
Whole Slide Scanner Market Dynamics
The research report presents a complete market overview by providing detailed information about the current market trends, existing drivers, growth opportunities and potentials, and emerging challenges. The global whole slide scanner market report has up-to-date insights about market scenarios that can shape the overall market performance and condition during the forecast period, 2023 to 2031.
Major Driver
Rising Demand for Digitalized Processing Workflow
Rising demand for digitalized processing workflow among end-user is a major factor driving the market growth during the projected period. The demand for whole slide scanners has increased significantly due to their use in surveillance and primary diagnosis of disease tissues taken from the human specimen.
The whole slide scanner has been used for a wide range of clinical purposes, including telepathology for primary diagnosis, consultation (second opinion), and remote interpretation. Whole slide images have been used to remotely display immunostains, screen pathology slides on tumor boards, save selected consult slides before they are returned, archive slides before they are surrendered to use cellular material for molecular studies, and perform image analysis.
Growing Adoption in the Drug Discovery Process
Growing adoption of whole slide scanners in the drug discovery process is another major factor driving the growth of the market in the coming years. It helps to analyze a large set of drugs efficiently and improves research consistency.
Furthermore, rising requirement for reliable clinical testing owing to the increasing prevalence of pathological disorders such as cancer, dysplasia, necrosis, leukemia, and leprosy, which further accelerates the market growth.
Superior Advantages of Digital Slides over Conventional Methods
The whole slide scanner offers high-resolution digital images within a reasonably short timeframe. Digital images enable computer-aided image processing. Quality assurance and testing are conducted effectively with the use of digital slides.The growing requirement to minimize detection time and complexities for pathologists is expected to boost the market during the forecast period.
Redondo et al. compared digital slides and photomicrographs with an optical microscope. The improved quality of the image in terms of color and contrast was observed in the digital slide. Sharma et al. observed that certain features of digital images are better than traditional methods, which include archiving, portability, sharing, and image analysis. An additional advantage is the fast retrieval of archival photographs. Furthermore, problems such as fading of stains and slide breakage were not observed in digital slides.
Restraints
The whole slide scanner is costlier than the conventional imaging techniques. The whole slide scanners in clinical practice include pre-scan, scan, and post-scans cost. Research departments and laboratories prefer investing in conventional equipment such as automated tissue processors, slide stainers, and glass cover slippers to delay decision-making on digital pathology systems installations.
Large hospitals with substantial capital budgets are able to afford whole slide scanners, which pathologists or scholars cannot affordable due to their limited budget or IT support. Thus, the high installation and maintenance cost of these systems is expected to hinder the market during the assessment period.
Emerging Opportunities
Rising technological advancements at a rapid pace and increasing investments in R&D by pharmaceuticals and biotech companies create lucrative growth opportunities during the projected period. Advances such as digital imaging, robotic light microscopy, computerization, and multiple fiber optic communications are contributing to the market development.
Whole slide imaging has multiple advantages over traditional light microscopes. Additionally, technologies including microarrays and the incorporation of a wide variety of predictive models, such as API algorithms and hybrid models are expected to fuel the market.
The incorporation of digital pathology, digital instruments, barcoding, specimen tracking, and digital dictation increases the safety, efficiency, and efficacy of disease diagnostics in pathology laboratories. The highest number of slides per scanning in the whole slide scanner is 1000 slides.
However, the manufacturers are investing in whole slide scanners to increase the sliding capacity, which is anticipated to accelerate the market growth.
Scope of Whole Slide Scanner Market Report
The global whole slide scanner market research report includes an assessment of the market trends, market segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.
Attributes
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Details
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Report Title
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Whole Slide Scanner Market - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast
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Base Year
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2022
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Historic Data
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2020–2021
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Forecast Period
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2023–2031
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Segmentation
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Type (Hardware and Software), Design (Brightfield and Fluorescence), Application (Telepathology, Immunohistochemistry, Hematopathology, and Cytopathology), End-user (Hospitals, Laboratories, Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Companies, and Others)
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Regional Scope
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Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa
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Report Coverage
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Company Share, Market Analysis and Size, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Market Trends, and Revenue Forecast
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Key Players Covered in the Report
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Akoya Biosciences, Inc.; Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.; Olympus Corporation; Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Carl Zeiss AG; PerkinElmer Inc.; KEYENCE CORPORATION; 3DHISTECH Ltd.; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Grundium Ltd; Huron Technologies International Inc.; Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH; MBF Bioscience; Mikroscan Technologies, Inc.; Motic; and OptraScan.
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Whole Slide Scanner Market Segment Insights
Type Segment Analysis
On the basis of type, the whole slide scanner market is bifurcated into hardware and software. The hardware segment held around 77.1% share of the market in 2020 due to rising product innovation at a rapid pace. The whole slide scanner hardware mainly constitutes components, such as digital cameras, computers, and light sources.
However, industries are increasingly becoming technology-oriented with new innovations to improve the quality, efficiency, and performance of whole slide scanners. Therefore, demand for advanced whole slide scanner components increased, which fuels the growth of the market during the projected period.
The software segment is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 6.3% in the coming years. The software mainly constitutes an image viewing and management system, which creates a high-resolution digital file. Rising demand for digitalized processing workflow is anticipated to contribute to segment growth.
Design Segment Analysis
Based on design, the market is categorized as brightfield and fluorescence. The brightfield segment accounted for a major market share in 2020 and is expected to generate more revenue share during the assessment period. The ease of use with few adjustments encouraged consumers to adopt brightfield scanners.
It creates a digital image that can be directly viewed on a computer screen. Increasing preference for brightfield whole slide scanners over fluorescence whole slide scanners is projected to drive the brightfield segment.The fluorescence segment is expected to expand at a significant pace during the forecast period.
Fluorescence is an advanced digital imaging technology, which provides high-resolution images. It helps in the analysis of thin tissue sections and generates accurate data regarding tissue. Thus, increasing demand for high-resolution images fuels the fluorescence segment.
Application Segment Analysis
On the basis of application, the whole slide scanner market is segregated into telepathology, immunohistochemistry, hematopathology, and cytopathology. The immunohistochemistry segment is expected to register a considerable CAGR in the coming years as it provides a faster assessment of samples. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is used to observe protein expression in tissue samples. It is a method of detecting antigens in the cells of a tissue section.
Growing demand from Pathology and biotech companies for early research and late-stage drug deployment accelerates the market growth. The cytopathology segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace due to the expanding population base prone to various diseases. It is widely used to examine individual cells extracted from tissues, in order to find out the cause of a disease.
End-User Segment Analysis
Based on end-user, the market is fragmented into hospitals, laboratories, research institutes, pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies, and others. The research institute segment accounted for a large share of the market in 2020 as a majority of whole slide scanners are utilized in research activities.
The whole slide scanner helps researchers to study, analyze, and edit the digital image of specimens. Increasing academic research centers across the globe and rising R&D activities boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.
The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies segment is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the assessment period. This growth is attributed to the rising acceptance of whole slide scanners for the development of biomarkers and increasing investments in drug discovery, which is further likely to accelerate the market.
Regional Analysis
In terms of region, the whole slide scanner market is classified into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. North America held a large market share in 2020 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The demand for whole slide scanners is expected to rise due to the rising adoption of digital pathology in the region.
Rising demand for computer-aided diagnosis along with a well-developed healthcare system drives the market growth. However, the market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow quickly in the coming years due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region.
Segments
The global whole slide scanner market has been segmented on the basis of
Type
Design
Application
- Telepathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Hematopathology
- Cytopathology
End-user
- Hospitals
- Laboratories
- Research Institutes
- Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Companies
- Others
Key Players
- Akoya Biosciences, Inc.
- Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
- Olympus Corporation
- Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Carl Zeiss AG
- PerkinElmer Inc.
- KEYENCE CORPORATION
- 3DHISTECH Ltd.
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
- Grundium Ltd
- Huron Technologies International Inc.
- Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
- MBF Bioscience
- Mikroscan Technologies, Inc.
- Motic
- OptraScan
Competitive Landscape
The competitive landscape of the global whole slide scanner market report provides key insights into the growth strategies and development initiatives implemented by the various players in the market.
Prominent players competing in the market are Akoya Biosciences, Inc.; Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.; Olympus Corporation; Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Carl Zeiss AG; PerkinElmer Inc.; KEYENCE CORPORATION; 3DHISTECH Ltd.; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Grundium Ltd; Huron Technologies International Inc.; Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH; MBF Bioscience; Mikroscan Technologies, Inc.; Motic; and OptraScan.
Some of these major companies adopt various business development strategies including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, collaboration, product launches, and production capacity expansion to expand their consumer base and enhance their market share. For instance,
- On October 17, 2022, Indica Labs and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. entered into an agreement. This agreement focuses on maintaining long-term interoperability between the HALO AP software of Indica Labs and the NanoZoomer system of Hamamatsu to provide optimized digital pathology workflows.
- On May 26, 2021, OptraScan introduced its intelligent solution CytoSiA. It is a complete digital solution for scanning and analyzing liquid-based cytology slides at an affordable price. It consists of a digital pathology scanner and powerful artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, which help to assist cytotechnologists and pathologists in screening and detecting cervical cancer, and other cytological categories.
- In August 2020, Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH launched the Aperio GT 450 DX digital pathology scanner in Europe. This next-generation imaging system was presented at the Leica Biosystems digital pathology virtual summit and was installed at the center of excellence at leeds teaching hospitals NHS Trust NHS, UK.
- In December 2019, 3DHISTECH Ltd. introduced the hardware upgrade of PANNORAMIC MIDI II. It is a best-selling, award-winning product from the digital whole-slide scanner range.