Analytical Standards Market: Growth, Size, Share, and Trends

Food contamination is a major concern globally. The consumption of unsafe and adulterated food can cause foodborne infections, mercury poisoning, allergic reactions, and food intoxication. Some important statistics related to the conditions caused by the consumption of contaminated food include: Globally, approximately 600 million cases of foodborne illness prevailed, with 40% affecting children under 5, causing 30% child deaths annually. (WHO, 2024). According to historical WHO data, approximately 8% of the global population experiences foodborne diseases each year. Additionally, foodborne illnesses account for about 7.5% of all annual deaths. (WHO, 2024). ~1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhea occur every year globally (Source: WHO, 2024).Lastly, Approximately 200 types of diseases (such as diarrhea, colitis, and cancer) are caused by the consumption of unsafe food (Source: WHO, 2024). With growing concerns over food contamination and food adulteration, food safety has been prioritized by concerned authorities. To check adulteration and ensure food safety, techniques such as mass spectrometry, chromatography, and other analytical techniques are extensively used by food testing laboratories. Chromatography and spectroscopy are the most commonly applied analytical techniques in quality testing and quality control of food. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques have gained recognition as highly specific and extremely sensitive techniques for testing food products with high accuracy. Moreover, research institutes have collaborated with key market players to use their advanced product offerings to ensure food safety. In addition, the government implements strict regulations to ensure food safety in respective countries. For instance, in July 2017, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) implemented strict limitations on the amount of arsenic content in rice (one milligram per kilogram).

The increasing levels of pollution lead to various respiratory infections, respiratory diseases, allergic reactions, and cancer. Environmental degradation also results in serious environmental changes, such as reduced crop yields, changes in the weather pattern, and the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is considered to be a potential inhaled toxicant that may lead to acidosis, CNS depression, coma, convulsions, or even death. Similarly, high sulfur dioxide levels can affect lung functioning, worsen asthma attacks, and aggravate existing heart disease in sensitive groups. Governments in various regions have taken initiatives to improve air quality by promoting public transport, walking, and cycling, promoting power plants that use clean and renewable fuels, and improving the energy efficiency of homes, commercial buildings, and manufacturing facilities. However, there is limited awareness about the initiatives undertaken by governments and the impact of air and water pollution on health. This is expected to affect the adoption of pollution monitoring tests, which are performed by using analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and IR/UV spectrometry.

Analytical standards have witnessed a positive demand growth among major stakeholders worldwide. This is attributed to the increasing number of clinical research activities offering effective clinical data related to the safety and efficacy of drugs. Clinical trials play a vital role in bringing new drugs to the market. There are ~453,803 ongoing clinical trials globally, of which the US exhibits the highest number of clinical trials (168,520), followed by China (94,193) and Japan (63,499).Emerging economies are also attractive centers or hubs for global clinical trials due to their growing compliance with internationally harmonized standards, such as Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), and Good Clinical Practices (GCP). Clinical trials in these countries are characterized by an emerging stringent IPR regime, low cost, large patient pool, easier recruitment of patients, strong government support, a large number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology clusters, and yet the presence of large animal facilities. The Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) reported that clinical trials in India cost 40–50% less as compared to developed countries and ~10–20% less as compared to other emerging economies. The increasing prevalence of chronic lifestyle diseases, growth in the number of professionals with proficiency in English, enhanced clinical research infrastructure in many Asia Pacific countries, and the presence of an affluent middle-class population are some of the other major factors contributing to this trend.

Sophisticated analytical instruments cost a fortune and, therefore, require careful handling and care to ensure consistency of results and low maintenance costs. In addition to smooth operation, it is equally important that such instruments do not pose safety hazards to the operator and other personnel in a laboratory. With various technological advancements in mass spectrometers and chromatography instruments, the need for skilled professionals who can effectively operate this equipment has increased. Proper usage of this equipment requires expertise with relevant experience and knowledge of such analytical technologies.The extent of analyses required for the establishment of Chemical Reference Substances depends on the purpose(s) for which it is employed. Generally, the standards are made in a solution with the same composition as the extractant used for the samples (with the same dilution factor) so that all measurements are done in the same matrix. In addition, the sample preparation method for analysis is highly complex and requires greater analyst expertise. Thus, proper selection and preparation of analytical standards at the time of investigation is very important to ensure accuracy and reproducibility in the analysis. However, a lack of knowledge regarding the right choice of technique and analytical standards incurs several direct and indirect expenses. This shows that there is a need for highly skilled personnel in the analytical industry for method development, validation, operation, and troubleshooting activities.