Summary of our market study

The global market for medical laboratories is set to grow to around $303.1 billion by 2026, with an average annual growth rate of 5.1%. Italy plays an important role in this sector, employing around 33,000 people and showing a clear preference for accredited laboratories, which boast higher rates of sales growth and efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the critical importance of this industry, as laboratories such as Italy's Copan have seen their revenues increase dramatically (415 million euros in 2020) due to the explosion in demand for testing supplies such as flocked swabs. Demographic factors, in particular the ageing population and income levels, are significantly boosting demand for laboratory services in Italy. Geographically, there is a concentration of public laboratories in the northern regions, while private laboratories dominate the southern regions, with Campania leading the way in terms of total number of laboratories. The sector saw a sharp 8.8% increase in the number of laboratories in 2020, testifying to the market's responsiveness to health crises and its potential resilience to future challenges.

Demand dynamics in the Italian medical laboratories market

The Italian medical laboratory market has shown some intriguing trends in terms of demand, which can be attributed to both the demographics of the Italian population and household income levels. With around 60 million inhabitants, Italy is characterized by an older population, with around 23% aged 65 or over. This aging population drives demand considerably, as the elderly require more frequent medical tests and laboratory services. Income level is also a determining factor in the use of medical laboratory services. The average income of an Italian household is between 39,000 and 47,000 euros, depending on family size. Although private healthcare is expensive, a significant proportion of the population - around 24% - opts for private laboratory services. It should be noted, however, that this figure fell slightly by 2% in 2020, at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, probably due to restrictions affecting access to private healthcare. A striking trend is the geographical distribution of demand: northern regions seem to have a greater number of public facilities, while the south shows a predominance of private laboratories. For example, regions such as Campania, Sicily and Lazio have seen a notable concentration of private laboratories, with over 80% private in some areas. In the context of demographic and economic factors, chronic diseases also influence the demand for laboratory tests. Pathologies such as cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer are prevalent among the older segments of the Italian population, further reinforcing the need for medical diagnostics. At national level, the figures illustrate a reduction in the total number of tests carried out, with a decrease of over 10%, representing between 800 and 900 million tests between 2019 and 2020. Lombardy, Veneto and Lazio are among the regions recording the highest number of tests, indicating that demand is stronger in these areas. Despite variations in demand, the Italian medical laboratory market is growing, with an increase in the number of laboratories and staff over the years. By 2020, the number of laboratories had increased by around 15% over an eight-year period, and staff numbers had risen in tandem to around 35,000, pointing to a strengthening sector ready to meet the healthcare needs of the population. In conclusion, the Italian medical laboratory market is influenced by the ageing population, income levels, geographical distribution and disease prevalence. Although demand for laboratory tests has fallen marginally recently, overall capacity and production capacity have remained stable

Italian players in the organic sector

When surveying the Italian medical biology laboratory landscape, it is essential to recognize the central role played by several important entities, each contributing to the development of the industry and the overall healthcare ecosystem. These key players range from large-scale operations with extensive regional presence to specialized service providers responding to niche demands.

  • BioAnalysis SPA stands out as a notable leader, with an extensive presence in eight Italian regions. Operating an extensive network of 334 facilities, BioAnalysis SPA has positioned itself as a reference entity for a complete range of medical biology services, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to the diagnostic support necessary and essential for patient care.
  • Secondly, AMES Centro Polidiagnostico Strumentale S.r.l has distinguished itself as a national leader in the fields of clinical biochemical analysis, occupational medicine and medical genetics. AMES demonstrates its specialization in providing accurate and sophisticated diagnostics, an essential aspect for modern medicine where precision is paramount for patient outcomes.
  • Another influential entity is Cerba HealthCare. With its multi-faceted operations, Cerba HealthCare provides a wide range of services, from routine medical biology to specialized fields. Its presence in Italy is marked by its commitment to providing first-class medical biology services through a wide range of laboratories and sampling centers. They are recognized for their strong offering in medical genetics and clinical trial biology, making them an essential partner for the pharmaceutical industry and biotech innovations.

These market players are more than service providers; they are an integral part of a well-functioning healthcare system. Their advanced capabilities, broad coverage and specialized expertise enable them to meet the complex and constantly evolving diagnostic needs of the medical community. By continuing to stimulate research and embrace cutting-edge technologies, these laboratories are at the forefront of scientific innovation, offering the promise of better health outcomes and a stronger healthcare infrastructure in Italy and beyond.

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Summary and extracts

1 Market Overview

1.1 Definition and presentation

Medical biology laboratories (LBMs), formerly known as medical analysis laboratories (MLAs), are places whose function is to perform medical diagnosis and monitoring based on samples of various human biological fluids. They are run by biologists.

The market for medical biology laboratories can be segmented according to the presence or absence of certification, inspection, testing and accreditation of the laboratories themselves.

In 2024 the world market for clinical testing laboratories is estimated at 277.$96 billion. Moderate growth in the industry is expected in the near future. For the period 2024-2029 a compound annual growth rate is estimated (CAGR) of 6.49 percent, under which the market could reach a total value of more than 380 billion dollars.

In Italy there are about 37,870 people working within the nearly 10,000 laboratories in the territory.

The difference between accredited and non-accredited laboratories also falls in turnover. The growth rate of turnover is much higher in accredited entities. In addition, accredited laboratories are considered much more efficient and with higher labor productivity.

it is important to consider the positive contribution that the medical biology laboratory industry makes to the development of the National Health Service. This industry has significant rates of investment in research and innovation, which are fundamental to the development of Italy's healthcare and economy.

The largest biomedical center can be found in Mirandola (Emilia Romagna). Northern Italy is in general the area where companies and turnover in this market are most concentrated. In Central Italy, most of the laboratories are concentrated in Lazio and Tuscany, while as far as Southern Italy is concerned we notice a smaller presence in general except for Campania, Puglia and Sicily.

This type of industry is extremely important at the healthcare level, and this was also demonstrated by the recent Covid-19 pandemic, which exposed all the flaws in the system and reiterated how necessary it is to invest in research and scientific innovation in order to increase the speed and accuracy of the medical tests that these laboratories perform.

1.2 The Global Market

In ****, the world market for clinical testing laboratories is estimated at $***.** billion. Moderate growth in the industry is expected in the near future. A compound annual growth rate (***) of *.**% is estimated for the period ****-****, under which the market could reach a total value of more than $*** billion by the end ...

1.3 The Italian Market

A total of *,*** outpatient/laboratory type health facilities were surveyed in Italy in ****: *,*** facilities are public while *,*** are private facilities accredited to the National Health System. As a result, there are an estimated *.* public laboratories per ***,*** inhabitants and *.* accredited private laboratories per ***,*** inhabitants. In terms of laboratories alone, in **** there are ...

1.4 Impact of Covid

Testing laboratories have been at the center of the global pandemic. it is clear that they have not been overly affected by the crisis, benefiting from both the continuity of business even during containment and the increased demand for Covid-** testing.

There are several testing laboratories that, indeed, saw their revenues ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 The main drivers of demand

Several drivers can drive the demand for private clinics in Italy. We can find two main categories, demographic characteristics of the Italian population and income characteristics .

The age distribution andmedian age of the Italian population are also important factors to consider in order to better understand this market and its ...

2.2 Geographic Distribution of Demand

In total, the number of laboratory tests in Italy in **** was *.** billion, up **.*% from ****. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the number of laboratory analyses performed increased by **.*% (***).

Number of clinical biological and chemical analyses, by year Italy, **** - ****, in millions of analyses Source: ****

Regarding the geographical distribution of analyses performed in ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Market Structure

In order to analyze the structure of the laboratory market, active enterprises under Ateco Code **.**.* "Clinical analysis laboratories, X-ray laboratories and other diagnostic imaging centers" are analyzed. In particular, trends in the number of active enterprises and the number of employees as well as the legal form of different activities are ...

3.2 The main actors

A list of the main players active in the medical biology laboratory sector is proposed below:

Synlab Italia s.r.l: founded in ****, represents one of the main players in the medical testing and diagnostic services sector in Italy. Part of the Synlab Group, a European leader in medical diagnostics, the ...

3.3 Geographic Distribution

Regarding the geographic distribution of medical biology laboratories, in **** Campania, Lazio, and Sicily top the national ranking with a total of ***, ***, and *** laboratories, respectively. They are followed by Puglia (***).

4 Supply analysis

4.1 Breakdown of medical biology expenses by pathology

Nearly **% of laboratory expenses are general expenses not related to a specific disease. These are routine care, analgesic treatments, occasional hospitalizations, etc. As for the rest of the expenditures, cardiovascular disease and cancer are the largest items with *.*% and *.*% of total expenditures, respectively.

These observations are logical, since the focus of ...

4.2 The different types of Laboratories

Two types of laboratories can be distinguished in the market:

Routine biology laboratories

Nonspecialized laboratories are the most prevalent in the area. Their role is to meet the classic demand for medical analysis. These laboratories are often clustered around technical platforms. A place that collects equipment shared by different health institutions, ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Regulation

In Paragraph ***, Article * of Law No. ***/****, Finance Act ****, laboratory medicine activities are defined as follows : The activity of laboratory medicine provides information obtained by chemical, physical or biological methods on tissues or fluids of human origin or on materials related to human pathology, for the purpose of prevention, diagnosis, monitoring of ...

6 Positioning of actors

6.1 Segmentation

  • Synlab Italia s.r.l
  • C.D.C s.p.a
  • Bianalisi s.p.a
  • Unione Sanitaria Internazionale s.p.a
  • Eurofins Genoma Group s.r.l
  • Synlab Sdn s.r.l

List of charts presented in this market study

  • Allocation of Clinical Laboratories between Private and Public
  • Trends in the Financing of the National Health System
  • Health Expenditure of EU Countries
  • Clinical testing laboratory market
  • Breakdown of the population
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Latest news

Synlab strengthens in Tuscany: 8 mln and 80 new jobs - 28/06/2023
  • Synlab's turnover: 3.8 billion.
  • Synlab's presence: 36 countries.
  • New Medical Center in Florence: about 4,000 square meters.
  • New jobs offered: about 80.
  • Diagnostic and medical services for: 200,000 patients per year.
  • Investment in equipment and facilities: 8 million euros.
  • Number of outpatient clinics in the center: more than 40.
  • Dedicated plan for advanced diagnostic imaging: Yes.
  • Other Relevant Information:
    • The Center will offer a wide range of diagnostic services, including examinations in genetics, oncology, and pathological anatomy.
    • There will be a first area dedicated to women's health and prevention created in a Synlab facility in Tuscany.
    • The Manifattura Tabacchi project focuses on reducing environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions by maximizing energy and water savings.
    • The Synlab Medical Center will be located in the Bulk, an eco-friendly building designed by Piuarch Studio.
SYNLAB appoints Andrea Buratti as new Italy CEO - 06/06/2023
  1. Appointment of Andrea Buratti as the new CEO of SYNLAB Italy: This change in leadership may signal a potential strategic or operational renewal within the company, which could affect its position in the market.
  2. Andrea Buratti's experience and background: With a background in management engineering and a decade of experience in management consulting, followed by significant roles in healthcare and laboratory diagnostics, Buratti brings a wealth of experience to SYNLAB. His professional history suggests expertise in business growth, innovation and strategic management, factors relevant to assessing SYNLAB's future development.
  3. Goals and directions of the new CEO: Buratti's emphasis on innovation, scientific research, medical excellence, and customer focus provides insights into the strategic elements that could guide SYNLAB in the coming years. These pillars can have an impact on the company's market share and competitiveness.
  4. Buratti's previous professional roles: His experience as CFO, Deputy Country Manager and Chief Commercial Officer suggests a strong ability to manage financial, operational and commercial aspects of an organization, which are crucial for success in the competitive medical diagnostics market.
  5. Buratti's professional affiliations: His role as President of ANISAP Lombardy and member of the Healthcare group of Assolombarda and Confindustria Lombardia indicates a deep commitment and good network in the regional healthcare sector and business scenario, which could foster further developments and collaborations for SYNLAB.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Synlab Italia s.r.l
C.D.C s.p.a
Bianalisi s.p.a
Unione Sanitaria Internazionale s.p.a
Eurofins Genoma Group s.r.l
Synlab Sdn s.r.l

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