Skin Biopsy Test Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Punch Biopsy, Shave Biopsy, and Excisional Biopsy), By Indication (Skin Cancer, Actinic Keratosis, and Others), By End-user (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

A skin biopsy test involves surgically removing skin samples or tissue to analyze further in laboratory settings with a microscopic examination. This sample collection involves the utilization of various methods depending on the location size of the abnormal area of skin, known as a skin lesion. The collected sample is stored in a formaldehyde solution or a sterile container if the infection is suspected. These skin biopsy tests are often performed to determine the presence of skin disorders, skin conditions, and infection or allergy. These skin biopsy tests involve the utilization of several test types, such as the punch biopsy, shave biopsy, and excisional biopsy, depending on the condition to be diagnosed.

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the prevalence of chronic skin disorders such as psoriasis and actinic keratosis. This rising prevalence increases the disease burden, thereby stimulating the need for diagnosis and treatment. Such a rising necessity for these diagnostics is further boosting the demand for skin biopsy tests, which is expected to boost the market growth.

• For instance, according to Almirall, S.A., in May 2024, actinic keratosis is one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases amongst the European population, with an estimated prevalence of 13.3%.

Moreover, the prevalence of actinic keratosis is higher in men compared to women, and the risk of the disease also significantly increases with aging. As a result, countries with a high geriatric population are also anticipated to boost the demand for skin biopsy tests, driving the market growth in the forthcoming years.

The COVID-19 pandemic exerted a negative impact on the skin biopsy test market. The pandemic significantly led to the delayed number of skin cancer diagnoses due to the drastic reductions in non-urgent medical visits. This significantly decreased the skin biopsy testing rate during the pandemic, negatively impacting the market growth.

• For instance, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in March 2021, there was a significant drop in the number of total skin biopsies (a drop of 15.0% was expected), Keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) biopsies (a drop of 18.0% was expected) and melanoma (a drop of 27.0% was expected).

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Overview: Advancements in Skin Biopsy Tests
• Prevalence of Key Diseases, By Key Countries, 2023
• Key Industry Developments By Key Players
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market           

Analysis by Type

Based on the type, the market is segmented into punch biopsy, shave biopsy, and excisional biopsy. The punch biopsy test segment is projected to account for a significant share of the global skin biopsy test market during the forecast period. The punch biopsy method is particularly preferred for the diagnosis of inflammatory dermatoses or conditions where the pathology is likely to involve the deeper layers of the skin. Additionally, punch biopsies are essential for situations requiring a more comprehensive tissue sampling for accurate diagnosis and evaluation. These factors are stimulating the key players to focus on developing and launching offerings for the punch biopsy tests, which is anticipated to propel segment growth during the forecast period.

On the other hand, the excisional biopsy segment is projected to expand at a significant CAGR during the projection period. This growth is primarily attributed to the rising cases of melanoma worldwide. The excisional biopsy provides a full-thickness sample of the lesion, allowing the pathologist to evaluate the depth of the invasion, which is crucial for melanomas. These benefits of excisional biopsy are expected to boost segmental growth during the forecast period.

• For instance, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, in February 2024, the number of new invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased by 32.0% over the past decade (2014 - 2024).

Regional Analysis

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The global market is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is anticipated to hold a significant share of the skin biopsy test market in the forthcoming years. This growth is mainly attributed to the rising incidence of skin cancers in the region. This growing incidence is encouraging the prominent players in the region to introduce novel methods that will contribute to the greater adoption of skin biopsy tests, driving the market growth.

• For instance, according to the data published by the Skin Cancer Foundation in February 2024, more than 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. This boosts the demand for skin biopsy tests in the region.

The market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast timeframe. This growth is mainly due to the growing awareness of skin cancers in the region. The increase in awareness further leads to the increased adoption of skin biopsy tests in the region, which is anticipated to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.

Key Players Covered

The market consists of significant players, such as Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Quest Diagnostics, Eurofins Scientific, UNILABS, Dr. Lal PathLabs, SRL Diagnostics, ARUP Laboratories, and SYNLAB International GmbH. The increasing focus of these players on new technologically advanced tests has been fueling their revenue growth.

Key Industry Developments

• In March 2024, neurologists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) reported that a simple skin biopsy test detected the subgroup of neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies and an abnormal form of alpha-synuclein, the pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, at high positivity rate.
• In May 2022, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings announced the launch of the LAG-3 IHC assay, a new test for people with skin cancer. The novel test measures the lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) expression levels by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tumor tissue.
• In April 2022, Trajan Scientific and Medical licensed a novel technology, a skin microbiopsy technology called the Harpera. It was invented by researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) for global commercialization.