Market Trends of HPV Testing And Pap Test Industry
The Cervical Cancer Screening Test Segment is Expected to be Dominant During the Forecast Period
- Cervical cancer screening is an essential part of a woman’s routine healthcare check-up. For women aged 30 years and above, an HPV test is recommended for detection. The screening helps identify precancerous lesions caused by HPV so they can be removed to prevent invasive cancers from developing.
- The major factor driving the growth of the segment includes the rising burden of cervical cancer worldwide. The disease is more commonly found in females. According to the World Health Organization, more than 270,000 women die every year due to cervical cancer.
- The American Cancer Society has projected that in the United States, in 2024, there will be approximately 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed. Additionally, it is estimated that about 4,360 women will succumb to cervical cancer. Moreover, cervical pre-cancers are detected at a much higher frequency than invasive cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be prevented with early detection and the treatment of abnormal cell changes that occur in the cervix before cervical cancer develops. Therefore, with the increasing adoption of early diagnosis, the market is expected to grow positively during the forecast period.
- The cervical cancer screening tests segment is found to be dominating the market, owing to the increasing awareness about the benefits associated with the early detection of cancer and the rising government support toward controlling cervical cancer. Hence, all these factors are expected to drive the market’s growth.
North America is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period
- The market studied in North America has been found to dominate due to the increased number of cervical cancer cases and the growing number of screening procedures.
- There is one HPV test that has been approved (Cobas test) for use as primary cervical cancer screening for women aged 25 years and older, followed by a Pap test for women with certain results. Many new tests in development can improve the evaluation of HPV-positive women. Thus, due to the increasing demand for Pap, HPV, and other tests for cancer screening, the market is expected to grow.
- The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that 4,310 deaths from this disease occurred in the United States in 2023. Similar to the incidence rates, the death rate in the United States has declined by around 50% since the mid-1970s because the increase in screening resulted in earlier detection of cervical cancer. However, the death rate is 65% higher in Black women than in White women, even though both groups self-report similar screening efforts. These incidences are expected to propel market growth during the forecast period.
- The favorable government policies in North America are expected to drive the overall market during the forecast period. In the United States, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for breast and cervical cancer screening has helped in driving the overall market’s growth.
- In addition to guidelines, governments also implement programs to increase the demand for cervical cancer screening. These programs often involve public awareness campaigns that educate women about the importance of screening and the availability of HPV and Pap tests. They may also provide financial support or subsidies to make these tests more affordable and accessible to women, particularly those from low-income backgrounds or underserved communities.
- By implementing such policies and programs, governments contribute significantly to increasing the demand for cervical cancer screening. They help raise awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention, ensuring that more women undergo regular screenings. This, in turn, leads to the early identification and treatment of precancerous or cancerous cells, reducing the incidence and mortality rates associated with cervical cancer.