The development of molecular diagnostics is likely to produce rapid, less expensive and point-of-care tests, according to Frost & Sullivan, a market research firm.

These tests will be of increasing importance in people’s at-home primary care, and also to developing nations that have poor healthcare systems and large incidences of diseases.

“The ability of rapid test methods to give real-time results within minutes, as compared to hours of lab testing, increases their acceptance and usage by the medical community as it saves time for both patient and physician,” said Sangeetha Prabakar, Frost & Sullivan research analyst.

The development of simple, minimally invasive or non-invasive test kits increases patient usage in the convenience of their homes. Advances in bio-diagnostics, such as DNA diagnostics, are driving the market for rapid tests.

Yet, developing rapid diagnostic test products necessitates a great deal of time and experimentation.

There is a large demand for rapid tests in a variety of end-user areas. However, manufacturers still need to focus on sufficiently catering to the needs of a broader market including pediatrics, neonatal screening, and rapid screening of emerging and contagious infectious diseases. They also need to concentrate on disease-specific product marketing in particular geographical areas.

The report, “Rapid Test Kits for Patient Diagnostics,” provides data on commercial products and technologies developed for rapid screening of health conditions.