The life science instrumentation (LSI) market encompasses a broad spectrum of technologies grouped into a dozen categories. LSI technologies range from mature, multibillion dollar markets to high-growth, burgeoning technology segments. Overall, the LSI market is the largest technology sector in the analytical instrument market, accounting for about a quarter of total sales.

The LSI market accounted for $10.7 billion in sales in 2011 and is forecast to increase 5.4% for 2012. The top five vendors represented over half of total demand in 2011. Life Technologies is the dominant force, accounting for 22% of life science market demand.

Demand for many LSI techniques is dependent on government-funded research activities, such as those in genomics and cell-based research. Although governments have announced that they will scale back such funding, this end-market remains important. Other sectors, such as non-profit research institutes and pharmaceutical, biotech and CRO labs, are expected to play a stronger role in growth in 2012, particularly in emerging markets.

Solid growth for LSI sales is expected to continue in Asia, particularly in China and India, but also in Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia. Sales in Japan are also expected to grow. The Asia Pacific region has placed a strong emphasis on regenerative medicine therapy, especially stem cell research. Infectious disease research and vaccine development are also expected to fuel sales growth.

Consumables, reagents, kits and other aftermarket products are the driving force in the LSI market, accounting for about 62% of total demand in 2011. The PCR market, which is heavily aftermarket oriented, is the largest market among LSI techniques. PCR sales are forecast to grow 5.7% in 2012.

Nucleic acid preparation and cell separation techniques accounted for 14% of the LSI market in 2011. Sales are expected to increase 5.7% in 2012, fueled by research and diagnostic applications. The sequencer market, which includes capillary electrophoresis–based sequencers, grew in double digits in 2011, accounting for 13% of LSI sales. The increase was driven by demand for next-generation DNA sequencers. For 2012, IBO does not expect demand for sequencers to be as robust, with the market increasing 6.4%.

Demand for microarray technology is forecast to experience lackluster growth this year, increasing 3.5%. However, opportunities in molecular diagnostic applications are becoming increasingly important. Flow cytometry accounted for 13% of the LSI market in 2011. Sales are expected to increase 5.4% in 2012.

Electrophysiology/patch clamp and high-content screening combine to make up about 3% of the market, with sales expected to increase 11% and 8%, respectively, in 2012. Demand for in vivo animal imaging is expected to grow 13.2% in 2012. Sales of label-free detection products are expected to increase 9.2% in 2012. Growth prospects for electrophoresis, synthesizers and informatics are expected to be modest this year.

 Life Science Instrumentation 2011–2012

                                          2011 Mkt. Share     2012 Growth Rate

 PCR                                           23.9%                  5.7%

 Nucleic Acid Prep. and Cell Separation        13.7%                  5.7%

 Microarrays                                   12.2%                  3.2%

 Sequencers (Nucleic Acid, Protein)            12.5%                  6.4%

 Flow Cytometry                                13.2%                  5.4%

 Electrophoresis                                7.5%                  2.6%

 Synthesiz. (Nucl. Acid, Protein, Organ.)       4.2%                  1.1%

 In Vivo Animal Imaging                         4.6%                 13.2%

 Informatics                                    3.9%                  4.1%

 High-Content Screening                         2.0%                  8.0%

 Label-Free Detection                           1.6%                  9.2%

 Electrophysiology, Patch Clamp                 0.8%                 11.0%

 Total                                        100.0%                  5.4%

 Pie Chart: 2011 Life Science Instrumentation Suppliers’ Market Shares

 Life Tech.           22%

 Illumina             10%

 BD  mina              8%

 GE  mina              7%

 QIAGEN mina           6%

 Other                47%

 Bar Graph: 2010–2013 Total Life Science Instrumentation Market

                  2010      2011      2012      2013

 $ Millions     10,178    10,764    11,350    11,967

 Pie Chart: 2011 Life Science Instrumentation Market by Product Type

 Aftermarket          62%

 Initial Systems      30%

 Service               8%

 Life Science Instrumentation Market Leaders

 PCR                                      Life Technologies, Roche 

 Microarrays                              Illumina, Affymetrix

 Nucleic Acid Prep. and Cell Sep.         QIAGEN, Life Technologies

 Sequencers (Nucl. Acid, Protein)         Life Technologies, Illumina

 Flow Cytometry                           BD, Danaher 

 Electrophoresis                          GE, Bio-Rad Laboratories

 Synthes. (Nucl. Acid, Protein, Organ.)   GE, Life Technologies

 In Vivo Animal Imaging                   PerkinElmer, Siemens

 Informatics                              Accelrys, Certara 

 High-Content Screening                   Danaher, Thermo 

 Label-Free Detection                     GE Healthcare, ForteBio

 Electrophysiology, Patch Clamp           Danaher, Aurora Biomed