Rapid test market, smart devices – where next?

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 05. 12. 11:29

The explosion of rapid tests during the Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the culture of health self-monitoring. Although the pandemic has subsided, the question is whether the rapid test market has revived permanently? Are we checking ourselves better at home or have we returned to the pre-Covid lifestyle?

With increasing health awareness and expanding self-testing options, there is a growing demand for rapid tests and smart devices. Tests for combined respiratory infections, influenza, colon cancer, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, or smart rings that can treat sleep problems, fitness watches are particularly popular. While self-diagnostic tests were mainly available online a few years ago, they are now offered by many drugstore and pharmacy chains, who also consider them a strategic tool.

Market is growing rapidly

According to a report by Future Market Insights, the global home testing market is expected to be worth USD 7.789 billion in 2025 and reach USD 11.878 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 4.8% between 2025 and 2035. According to a report by NewsNation Now, the home testing industry has been growing rapidly, with some companies experiencing growth of up to 400% in the past year. The growth of the home testing market can be attributed to several important factors. Transformation of global healthcare systems, technological innovation, and changing consumer preferences are all contributing to this significant market expansion. Healthcare challenges in recent years, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, rising private healthcare premiums, and waiting lists, have accelerated the demand for home diagnostic devices and tests.

“Sales of CARE tests that help predict colon cancer have doubled in the past two years, but the use of RapiChek Home Care Streptococcus A tests by the general public and professionals has also increased significantly,”

– says János Kosik, marketing expert at A-Lab Pharma. There is also a diabetes rapid test, which customers are now starting to discover, and it is already included in the DM range, which is at the forefront of introducing new devices. In addition, kidney and liver status assessment tests have also appeared there in addition to traditional tests. The greatest interest continues to be in the market for combined respiratory tests, which show sales of tens of thousands (Influenza A/B, COVID-19, RSV) in pharmacies and online.

Sales of the chlamydia-gonorrhea combined test, which shows sexual infections, also typically jump after weekend parties. According to Csaba Peterdy, sales and logistics employee of the GyorstesztLabor.hu website, interest in certain rapid tests is constantly growing. Online gluten tests and tests for detecting sexually transmitted infections are at the forefront, along with colon cancer predictive tests, but there is also a laboratory-accurate HPV test that is evaluated by a lab after a home sample is taken, and the price of which is around 10,000 HUF, i.e. a very cost-effective solution. The price of rapid tests is typically between 2,500-5,000, which, compared to a medical consultation or laboratory test, can provide useful first-step test results, but on the basis of which it is worth moving on and performing a medical examination if necessary.

Rapid tests can speed up the development of the patient’s journey, reduce the costs of healthcare, and most importantly: they provide the opportunity to perform tests discreetly at home even in the case of symptoms that many people would not be willing to immediately consult a doctor with – or do not know which specialist to consult (for example, in the case of a cold or suspected sexually transmitted infection).