Swab Market Analysis

Global Swab Market Overview

The Swab Market size was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 1.59 Billion in 2023 to USD 2.84 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). The market driver is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing demand for swabs in the medical field, particularly for wound cleaning and pre-injection purposes. The rise in surgeries and chronic diseases, as well as the growing geriatric population, will drive the demand for swabs. Additionally, including swabs in first-aid kits and their widespread use in health infrastructure and institutions will further contribute to the market growth.  

 Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

Swab Market Trends

• Demand for the swab from the health industry to Boost Market Growth

The rising geriatric population, as well as the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, are contributing to the growth of the market. The growing need for first aid kits, which often contain swabs, is another factor driving the market. The target audiences for medical swabs are hospitals, health institutions, and clinics, and the increasing use of swabs in these settings is expected to drive market growth in the coming years.

Moreover, the rise in technological advancements in the medical industry has contributed to development of new and improved swab products with better absorbency, comfort, and antiseptic properties. The increasing research and development activities in the healthcare sector to meet the growing demand for swabs are expected to provide opportunities for market growth in the forecast period.

This increased demand for swabs will likely create growth opportunities for the market in the coming years, as more people require the product for various medical applications such as wound cleaning, pre-injection preparation, and first aid. Technological advancements in the production of swabs, such as the availability of different variations, are also expected to contribute to market growth.

Figure 1: Swab demand around the globe

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Swab Market Segment Insights

Swab Type Insights

The market segments of Swab, based on type, includes DNA, urine, saliva, and others. The urine segment held the majority share in 2022 contributing to around ~60% respect to the Swab Market revenue. The growth in demand for urine tests is due to the increasing number of infectious diseases and surgeries and the growing aging population. These factors are driving the demand for the urine test segment, which is anticipated to hold the largest swab market share in the type segment. The saliva segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment, which can be contributed to the increasing adoption of non-invasive diagnostic methods and increasing focus on early disease detection. Additionally, the segment is expected to benefit from the increasing demand for point-of-care diagnostics requiring rapid and easy-to-use tests.

Swab Product Insights

The Swab Market segmentation, based on type, includes alcohol, cotton, dry & gauze, and others. The alcohol segment held the majority share in 2022 in the market revenue of swab. The use of alcohol swabs in the medical field is expected to drive the growth of the segment. Alcohol swabs are widely used for collecting microbial samples and skin disinfection before taking a sample. This widespread usage in hospitals, diagnostic centers, and pathology labs is expected to contribute to the dominance of the alcohol swab segment in the forecast period.

Swab Application Insights

Based on application, the Swab Market data includes pharmaceutical, microbiological, laboratory, and others. The laboratory segment held the majority of shares in the market in 2022. The increasing use of laboratory automation systems in various end-user segments, such as biopharmaceuticals, academic research institutions, and medical diagnostics, among others, is further driving the growth of the laboratory segment. The increasing demand for advanced cell culture systems and tissue culture products in the laboratory segment is expected to boost growth opportunities for the market players significantly. The growing investment in research and development activities in the field of life sciences also drives this segment. In addition, the increasing demand for advanced lab equipment and services for various applications, such as cell culture and tissue engineering, also contributes to the market's growth.

Swab Shaft Insights

End users have bifurcated the global swab industry into aluminum, polypropylene, and others. The polypropylene segment dominated the market in 2022 and is projected to be the faster-growing segment during the forecast period, 2022-2030.

Figure 2: Swab Market by Shaft, 2022 & 2030 (USD Billion)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review 

The polypropylene segment's growth can be attributed to its properties, such as chemical resistance, high strength, and low weight, making it ideal for laboratory applications. This makes it ideal for laboratory and medical applications where the swab may contact different substances. Its high absorbency also makes it effective at removing particles and debris, making it a popular choice in various cleaning and sterilization procedures. Furthermore, polypropylene's ability to withstand high temperatures and autoclaving makes it suitable for sterilization, further increasing its market demand.

Swab Regional Insights

By region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North American swab market accounted for USD 1.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a significant CAGR growth during the study period. North America is expected to be a significant contributor to the market, with the US being a major contributor and holding over 45% of the North American market. The presence of major players in the market and the increasing demand for home-based diagnostic kits are expected to contribute to the market dominance in this region. Additionally, the rising number of cases of infectious diseases and the increasing awareness of their diagnosis is driving the demand for medical swabs in North America, leading to growth in the market.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 3: SWAB MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review 

Europe swab market accounts for the second-largest market share. This is due to favorable reimbursement scenario for in-vitro diagnostics tests, and the presence of major medical device manufacturers in the region are also expected to boost European market growth of swab. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the European healthcare market was valued at around $935 billion in 2019. Moreover, UK market of swab held the largest market share, and the Germany market of swab was the fastest-growing market in the region.

 Asia Pacific swab market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. Market players in the Asia Pacific region are making significant investments, further driving the demand for sterile swabs. In addition, the increasing awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, the presence of major players, and favorable government initiatives for healthcare infrastructure development in countries such as China, India, and Japan will drive market growth in the region. Further, the China market of swab held the largest market share, and the India market of swab was the fastest growing market in the region.

 Swab Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Major market players are spending a lot on R&D to increase their product lines, which will help the market growth of swab even more. To stay competitive, companies must focus on product innovation, cost-effectiveness, and expanding their customer base. They can develop new and improved products that meet the market's demands by investing in research and  market development. Collaborating with other organizations can also help companies expand their market presence and increase their global footprint. Mergers and acquisitions can also help companies grow their market share by providing access to new markets, technology, and resources. Overall, strategic initiatives such as these can help companies stay ahead in the highly competitive market of swab

One of the primary business strategies manufacturers adopt in the global swab industry to benefit clients and expand the market sector is manufacturing locally to reduce operating costs. In recent years, the swab industry has been a critical need due to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide significant benefits. The swab market player such as Puritan Medical Products, Q-TIPS, Sarstedt, Citotest Labware Manufacturing Co. Ltd, and others are working on expanding the market demand by investing in research and development activities.

Hologic, Inc. is a company that primarily deals in medical technology related to women's health. They offer medical devices for diagnostic purposes, surgical procedures, and imaging. In January 2021, Hologic Inc. acquired Diagenode, a European company specializing in the development and production of molecular diagnostic assay products.

Puritan Medical Products is a US-based company that produces swabs for diagnostics and sample collection. They are the leading producer of COVID-19 testing swabs in North America. In April 2021, Puritan announced the introduction of new products and the securing of patents for their innovations. The company received patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office for its groundbreaking flocked swab technology.

Key Companies in the market of Swab include

• ELMEX


• Puritan Medical Products


• Q-TIPS


• Sarstedt


• Citotest Labware Manufacturing Co. Ltd


• Lab M Limited


• GPC Medical ltd


• Clean Cross Co

Swab Industry Developments

March 2021: Roche launched a new rapid antigen test designed to detect the presence of viral antigens in a patient's sample, providing results in under 15 minutes. The test can be administered without needing laboratory equipment, making it suitable in various settings, including hospitals, G.P. surgeries, and care homes. The availability of this test is expected to increase the speed of diagnoses, helping to contain the spread of the virus.

April 2020:  The approval of the Q-tip type polyester swab by the U.S. FDA has boosted the production of these products, thereby meeting the increasing demand for COVID-19 testing kits. Using these swabs in COVID-19 tests will help healthcare systems diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection more effectively and efficiently.

Swab Market Segmentation

Swab Test Type Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2030)

• DNA


• Urine


• Saliva


• Others

Swab Product Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2030)

• Alcohol


• Cotton


• Dry and gauze


• Others

Swab Application Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2030)

• Pharmaceuticals


• Microbiological


• Laboratory


• Others

Swab Shaft Outlook (USD Billion, 2018-2030)

• Aluminum


• Polypropylene


• Others

Swab Regional Outlook

• 
  North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


• 
  Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• 
  Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  


• 
  Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America