Electrolyte analyzers – A dynamic market

As we move forward, integrating technology and diagnostic excellence will shape the future of blood gas and electrolyte analysis, revolutionizing point-of-care testing for the benefit of patients worldwide.

In a world where rapid and accurate diagnostics are vital, electrolyte analyzers continue to play a crucial role in maintaining and improving the health of individuals worldwide. Electrolyte imbalances, salt, potassium, and chloride levels in whole blood, serum, or plasma can have serious health consequences, affecting the heart, muscles, and nervous system.

Electrolyte analyzers typically employ electrochemical sensors, such as ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), to detect specific ions in the sample. These sensors work based on the principles of electrochemistry and ion exchange.

The rising need for modern healthcare technology is causing hospitals and clinics across the country to increase the utilization of electrolyte analyzers. Also, the development of long-term illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease demand regular electrolyte monitoring. Electrolyte analyzers can offer reliable and timely data, making them a crucial tool in the medical management of various disorders. There is also an increasing trend toward decentralized medical care, with more patients seeking treatment at more modest clinics and diagnostic centers rather than huge hospitals. This has created a market for portable, easy-to-operate electrolyte analyzers.

There are several types of electrolyte analyzers available, each with its own set of features and benefits. The most common types include:

• Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). These analyzers utilize specific electrodes for each electrolyte. They provide accurate and quick results, making them ideal for high-throughput environments.
• Blood gas analyzers. In addition to measuring electrolytes, these analyzers also assess blood gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, providing a comprehensive view of a patient’s metabolic state.
• Automated chemistry analyzers. These versatile systems can measure a wide range of biochemical parameters, including electrolytes, making them suitable for hospitals with diverse testing needs.
• Point-of-care (POC) analyzers. These portable devices offer rapid results at the patient’s bedside, reducing turnaround times and enabling immediate medical interventions.

Market landscape
The global electrolyte analyzers market size was valued at USD 1.314 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach USD 1.983 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.1 percent from 2022 to 2028. The global fully automatic electrolyte analyzers market size was valued at USD 439.7 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 5.7 percent from 2023 to 2032, according to Allied Market Research. The semi-automatic electrolyte analyzers constitute the balance market.

The major players are Convergent Technologies, Meizhou Cornley Hi-Tech, JS Medicina Electrónica, Meril Life Sciences, Hanna Instruments, BPC BioSed, Caretium Medical Instruments, URIT Medical, Erba Diagnostics, Hycel Handelsgeselschaft, IDEXX Labs, Nova Biomedical, SFRI, Roche, Medica, and Shenzhen Genius Electronics. Accurex Biomedical Pvt. Ltd., Medica Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Abbott Laboratories, Caretium Medical Instruments Co., Diamond Diagnostics, Neomedica, Agappe Diagnostics Ltd., Siemens AG, and HD Consortium India Limited have strong presence in fully automatic electrolyte analyzers, segment.

The growth of the fully automatic electrolyte analyzers market is expected to be driven by surge in the number of patients being treated in intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments, rise in ageing population, and increase in incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases.

However, high cost of fully automatic electrolyte analyzers, limited access in low-income countries, and reliance on traditional methods restrain the growth of the fully automatic electrolyte analyzers market. High cost may create barriers that restrict their adoption in smaller healthcare facilities. Furthermore, lack of proper infrastructure, including stable power supply, trained personnel, and maintenance support can restrict the widespread adoption and usage of these analyzers in such settings.

On the other hand, fully automatic electrolyte analyzers offer the advantage of real-time results at the point of care, enabling immediate decision making and timely interventions. Thus, rise in adoption of POC testing in various healthcare settings is expected to create lucrative opportunities for the growth of fully automatic electrolyte analyzers market during the forecast period.

The integrated fully automatic electrolyte analyzers segment dominated the global market in 2022, and is expected to remain dominant as they can perform multiple tests simultaneously, including blood gas analysis, pH measurement, and ionized calcium measurement. In addition, the integrated analyzers offer a user-friendly interface and intuitive operation.

The bench-top segment dominated the global fully automatic electrolyte analyzers market in 2022, and is anticipated to continue this trend. This is attributed to lower initial cost as compared to larger high-volume analyzers. In addition, technological advancements in bench-top fully automatic analyzers, such as automated sample handling, intuitive interfaces, connectivity options, and improved analytical accuracy further drives the demand for bench-top analyzers. On the other hand, portable is the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to surge in demand for POC testing.

In the evolution of wearable sweat sensors, the detection of electrolytes and metabolites is the most developed and widely applied, providing information on body hydration, osmotic balance, muscle fatigue, blood glucose levels, etc. For the detection of electrolytes in sweat, generally ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) and potentiometric methods are employed. Conventional ion-selective sensors consist of a membrane-based ion-selective electrode and a reference electrode, both of which require an internal solution to ensure a stable and sensitive response.. Its advantages include low sample volume requirements, miniaturization, cost reduction, versatility, and simplicity of in situ sensing of biological materials. These analytes readily undergo redox reactions in the presence of selective enzymes. The concentration of the analytes can be detected by monitoring the current generated by the oxidation or reduction reaction between electroactive substances at a constant potential. This method offers the advantages of simplicity of operation, provides a fast and continuous response, and minimizes the lag time between non-invasive wearable measurements and blood analyte concentrations.

Meanwhile, pioneering results have been achieved in electrolyte detection. A new tattoo-based ion-selective sensor was reported. Subsequently, noninvasive real-time monitoring of electrolytes, in sweat was achieved. Furthermore, polyvinyl butyral (PVB) was employed for the first time as a solid-state reference membrane in a wearable device.

However, all of these wearable sweat-sensing platforms suffer from some drawbacks. Because only a single analyte can be monitored at a time, it is not possible to elucidate whether the sensor displays signal changes due to changes in analyte concentration, sweating rate, or sensor malfunction. In addition, these sensing platforms lack in situ signal processing circuitry and sensor calibration mechanisms to accurately analyze physiological states.

The rate of sweat secretion when a person is at rest is extremely low, and most wearable electrochemical biosensors are inadequate for its monitoring. Improved microfluidic devices utilizing hydrophilic materials may address this problem; more effective solutions need to be developed in the future.

While North America dominates this segment, all eyes are on the developing countries, where owing to the increase in the number of patients suffering from chronic diseases and improvement in the healthcare facilities, the market is growing at a faster rate.

In conclusion, the blood gas and electrolyte analyzer market is a growing and dynamic field with a high demand for these devices in both critical care and routine clinical settings.