Life science instrumentation is the largest technology sector in the analytical and life science instrumentation industry, accounting for over a quarter of the industry market. The market encompasses a broad spectrum of technologies that are grouped into 11 technology categories. These categories have market sizes that range from $70 million to more than $2.3 billion annually.

The total market accounted for $10.1 billion in 2010 and is forecast to increase 5.9% for 2011. Demand is driven by government-funded research initiatives for genomics, as well as continued growth for cell-based technologies and animal-based screening. Demand in Asia, particularly China, Australia and South Korea, continues to fuel growth, particularly for sequencing, PCR and microarray technologies.

The life science market is largely dependent on consumables, reagents, kits and other aftermarket products, which account for about 61% of total life science market demand. PCR, which is heavily aftermarket oriented, leads the life science instrumentation market, accounting for nearly a quarter of the market. In 2011, this market is forecast to grow 5.8%.

Nucleic acid purification and cell separation techniques account for 13.7% of the life science instrumentation market. This market is expected to grow 6.0% for 2011, fueled by research and diagnostic applications.

Demand for microarray technology remains strong, accounting for 13.5% of the life science instrumentation market in 2010. The demand for customized microarray chips is expected to drive growth, due in particular to ongoing genome wide association studies (GWAS) and sequencing projects. Overall, the microarray market is forecast to increase 6.4% in 2011.

The sequencer market had an exceptionally strong year in 2010, accounting for 12.5% of the life science instruments market. Growth was driven by strong demand for the next-generation DNA sequencers, particularly new products from Illumina and Life Technologies. While demand for such systems remains high, overall growth for the sequencing market will likely increase modestly for 2011. Although NGS technologies are dominating the sequencer market, capillary electrophoresis–based sequencers and Sanger chemistry continue to be important segments of the market.

Cell-based technologies are also fueling growth for the life science instrument sector. Flow cytometers, high-content screening systems and electrophysiology/patch clamp instruments represent nearly 15% of the total market.

In 2011, the in vivo animal imaging market is expected to be the fastest-growing market in the life science instrument sector, increasing more than 13%. Preclinical testing of potential drug compounds on animals, which is one of the important steps in the drug discovery process, continues to drive growth.

 Life Science Instrumentation 2010–2011

                                                            Market Share     Growth Rate

 PCR                                                        23.3%            5.8%

 Nucleic Acid Prep and Cell Separation                      13.7%            6.0%

 Microarrays                                                13.5%            6.4%

 Sequencers (Nucleic Acid, Protein)                         12.5%            1.8%

 Flow Cytometry                                             12.1%            9.8%

 Electrophoresis                                            7.8%             2.6%

 Synthesizers (Nucleic Acid, Protein, Organic)              4.7%             3.4%

 In Vivo Animal Imaging                                     4.2%             13.3%

 Informatics                                                4.0%             3.6%

 High-Content Screening                                     1.9%             9.6%

 Label-Free Detection                                       1.6%             6.1%

 Electrophysiology/Patch Clamp                              0.7%            11.2%

 Total                                                      100.0%           5.9%

 Bar Graph: 2009–2012 Total Life Science Instrumentation Market

            2009   2010     2011   2012

 $ Millions 9,477  10,150  10,746  11,379

 Life Science Instrumentation Market Leaders

 PCR                                               Life Technologies, Roche

 Nucleic Acid Prep and Cell Separation             QIAGEN, Life Technologies

 Microarrays                                       Illumina, Affymetrix

 Sequencers (Nucleic Acid, Protein)                Life Technologies, Illumina

 Flow Cytometry                                    Becton Dickinson, Beckman Coulter

 Electrophoresis                                   GE Healthcare, Bio-Rad Laboratories

 Synthesizers (Nucleic Acid, Protein, Organic)     GE Healthcare, Life Technologies

 In Vivo Animal Imaging                            Caliper Life Sciences, Siemens

 Informatics                                       Accelrys, Tripos (Certara)

 High-Content Screening                            Molecular Devices (Danaher), Thermo Fisher Scientific

 Label-Free Detection                              GE Healthcare, ForteBio

 Electrophysiology/Patch Clamp                     Molecular Devices (Danaher), Seahorse Bioscience

 Pie Chart: 2010 Life Science Instrumentation Suppliers Market Shares

 Life Technologies     22%

 Becton Dickinson       8%

 GE Healthcare          7%

 Illumina               7%

 QIAGEN                 6%

 Other                 50%

 Pie Chart: 2010 Life Science Instrumentation Market by Product Type

 Aftermarket                      61%

 Initial Systems                  31%

 Service                           8%