Malaria Antigen Rapid Testing Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Single Species and Multiple Species), By End Users (Hospitals and Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

The continuous changes occurring in the composition of the atmosphere are leading to variations in the climatic conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and humidity, profoundly affecting the mosquito's longevity, leading to the development of malaria parasites and subsequently contributing to the transmission of malaria. These climatic conditions and unhygienic practices followed in poor and subtropical countries across the globe have contributed to increased malaria cases. To combat this rising prevalence, international organizations collaborated with healthcare authorities of different countries and took certain initiatives to create awareness among the general population.

• For instance, according to the statistics published by World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2022, there were 247.0 million patients diagnosed with malaria in 2021 globally, witnessing a growth of 0.8% compared to 245.0 million cases in 2020. Among these, the African region accounted for 95.0% of malaria cases.

The strategies and efforts by healthcare authorities for the eradication of malaria have evolved with time. These strategies are focused on prioritizing high-burden areas with the most number of cases in the region and the other initiatives undertaken are focused on creating awareness, reducing the number of malaria cases, improving accessibility of diagnostic tools and treatment, and on the expansion of the efforts to control the disease.

• For example, according to an article published by KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION in October 2022, the U.S. released the goals of the president’s malaria initiative strategy 2021-2026. The initiative aims to reduce the malaria mortality rate by one-third in the president’s malaria initiative (PMI) supported countries and achieve a reduction of 80.0% in cases compared to 2015.
• Also, according to an article published by the Ministry of Health and family welfare in July 2021, the government of India has launched a national framework for malaria elimination whose primary intervention is the early diagnosis of the disease by using rapid diagnostic test kits.  

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and always has emphasized improving capacities for increasing the accessibility of diagnostic tools such as rapid diagnostic tests and other methodologies for the detection of malaria. The utilization of early detection test kits aids in reducing the number of cases and assists in resisting the transmission of the disease. These joint efforts made by international organizations to improve the accessibility of diagnostic tools have contributed to increased demand for test kits and encouraged numerous companies to launch malaria diagnostic kits.

• For instance, in July 2021, the president of Kenya unveiled the locally developed malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit. The mass production of the test kits is to be done through a public-private partnership and has aimed to increase the accessibility of malaria diagnosis.
• In April 2021, Jiangsu Bioperfectus Technologies Co., Ltd., launched a real-time plasmodium DNA PCR kit. The test kit aids in the identification of plasmodium with specific DNA and can conduct 96 tests in 61 minutes.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Malaria Ag Rapid Testing Market

The emergence of COVID-19 has impeded the demand for malaria diagnostics test kits, as the diagnostic testing rates were affected during the pandemic. The reduced number of patients visiting hospitals and disruptions in the supply chains have majorly affected the sales of malaria diagnostics kits. Also, the initiatives driven by regulatory agencies for malaria diagnosis were hampered during the pandemic. For instance, according to an article published by Unitad in December 2022, the overall malaria testing rate declined by 22.0% in Q2 of 2020, among which an individual malaria-endemic country demonstrated a decline from 4.0% to 78.0%.

However, as many countries have relaxed travel restrictions post-pandemic, the number of patient visits to the hospital increased, leading to an increase in malaria diagnoses. Also, the government initiatives hampered during the course commenced and observed recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Key Insights

The report will cover the following key insights:

• Prevalence of Malaria- By Key Countries/ Regions (2022).
• Key Industry Developments- Product Launches, Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Products Under Development Stage.
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market.

Analysis by Detection Type

Multiple species test kits are expected to grow at a rapid growth rate during the forecast period. The emphasis of rapid diagnostics test kit manufacturers on research and development of new products targeting specific antigens and improving specificity is contributing to the segment's growth.

• For instance, according to a study published by clinicaltrials.gov in July 2022, Abbott in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is developing two novel malaria RDTs with improved pLDH detection. These tests target both Histidine-Rich Protein (HRP2) and plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) antigens on a single test line.  

Regional Analysis

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The rising prevalence of the disease has emphasized regulatory authorities for initiating awareness campaigns in the general population. Also, the low price of a rapid diagnostic test is cost-effective, which aids national programs in purchasing histidine-rich protein (HRP-2) rapid diagnostic tests at large scale, contributing to an increase in the utilization of diagnostics kits in low and middle-income countries.

• For instance, according to a study published by clinicaltrials.gov in July 2022, one low and middle-income country procures 20.0 to 30.0 million rapid diagnostic tests for malaria diagnosis every year.

Key Players Covered

The report will include the profiles of key players such as Abbott, Premier Medical, Rapigen Inc., Advy Chemical Pvt. Ltd., Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., AdvaCare Pharma, INTEC., CTK Biotech, Inc., and others. The emphasis of key manufacturers on developing new rapid diagnostic tests for malaria diagnosis is contributing to the market's growth.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments

• December 2022: Unitad published an article stating that Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), is supporting several lab tests ongoing for new Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (Pf LDH) and Plasmodium vivax lactate dehydrogenase (Pv LDH) rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which are being conducted by companies such as Abbott and Rapigen Inc.
• July 2021: Global Access Health, a social enterprise, acquired Mologic Ltd., and its partner Global Access Diagnostics. Mologic Ltd. is primarily engaged in developing rapid diagnostic technologies and is a new entrant to the malaria RDT market.