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Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostics
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Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostics

Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostics

Radiological Medicine

Radiological medicine employs imaging technology and small amounts of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat diseases. The market is driven mostly by diagnostic radiology but also by an increasing share of therapeutic radiology. Additionally, interventional radiology is a specialization within this industry that is based on image-guided procedures to treat various illnesses. 

The global radiological medicine market is expected to grow to over $5.2 billion in value by 2024, driven primarily by increased rates of cancer and cardiac disease.[1]  The radioisotope most used in diagnostic radiology is technetium-99m, the decay product of molybdenum-99. 

Molybdenum-99’s short half-life and the fact that molybdenum-99 is currently produced only overseas has inhibited growth of this industry, but the United States government is currently supporting several U.S. producers to develop a domestic supply.[2]  Regulatory challenges also pose difficulties for growth of the radiological medicine market.[3]  

The demand for radiological goods and technologies is greatest in North America, followed by Europe. Rising demand is anticipated for the Asia Pacific region in the coming years.

In Vitro Diagnostics

In vitro diagnostics (IVDs) are tests used to determine the status of one’s health, predict future health conditions, evaluate and monitor ongoing treatment, and screen sectors of the population for medical conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) broadly defines IVD products as “those reagents, instruments, and systems intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, including a determination of the state of health, in order to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or its sequelae. Such products are intended for use in the collection, preparation, and examination of specimens taken from the human body.”

In general terms, the IVD industry produces reagents, analytical instruments, and accessory products that are needed to perform diagnostic laboratory tests. 

  • Reagents are solutions of biological or chemical substances that react with target substances in samples. This process will result in a measurable outcome.
  • Analytical instruments are the various machines and equipment that bring samples and reagents together and measure results or other qualities in samples.
  • Accessory products, such as the software that manages and checks the performance of the systems, are also produced by the IVD industry. 

Collectively, reagents, analytical instruments, and accessory products are referred to as IVD systems. IVDs are not regulated uniformly among global health agencies, as in some jurisdictions, certain IVD medical devices may be covered by additional or different rules. 

The International Trade Administration has historically tracked trends and developments relative to IVDs by following U.S. exports of three classes of reagents used in IVD systems. These classes are 1) diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic, or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, 2) prepared culture media for development of microorganisms, and 3) blood grouping reagents.[4] 
 

2019 U.S. Exports of IVD Reagents and Culture Media in Millions of Dollars (HS Codes)

3006200000Blood grouping reagents$80
3821000000Prepared culture media$743
3822000002Diagnostic lab reagents$6,959
Total $7,783


The leading U.S.-based medical diagnostics products industry association, AdvaMedDx, has utilized an expanded set of harmonized tariff system codes to calculate the size and follow trends in export markets. These include not only those codes that ITA uses, but also encompasses testing apparatus, monitoring systems, sterilizers, test kits and parts and accessories.[5] 
 

2019 U.S. Exports of IVDs as Tracked by AdvaMedDx in Millions of Dollars (HS Codes)

3002110000Malaria diagnostic test kits$20
3006200000Blood grouping reagents$80
3006300000Opacifying preparations for x-ray exams$61
3821000000Prepared culture media$743
3822000002Diagnostic lab reagents$6,959
8419200000Medical, surgical or laboratory sterilizers$121
9018194000Apparatus, functional exploratory examination and parts$421
9018195500Patient monitoring systems$451
9018197500Printed circuit assemblies for parameter acquisition modules$12
9018199530Basal metabolism and blood pressure apparatus$8
9018199535Electroencephalographs and electromyographs$21
9018199550Electro-diagnostic apparatus, not elsewhere specified or indicated$168
9018199560Parts and accessories for electrodiagnostic apparatus$1,266
9018200000Ultraviolet or infra-red ray apparatus, parts and accessories$93
9018310040Hypodermic syringes, with or without needles$147
9018310080Syringes, with or without needles, not elsewhere specified$276
9018310090Parts for syringes, with or without needles$363
9018320000Tubular metal needles, and needles for sutures and parts$325
9018390030Bougies, catheters, drains, and sondes, parts and accessories$3,048
9018390050Cannulae, the like, and parts and accessories$2,147
Total $16,732

 

[1] Markets and Markets: Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals Market.  https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/radiopharmaceuticals-market-417.hmtl.  6/10/2020

[2] United States Department of Energy: NNSA’s Molybdenum-99 Program: Establishing a Reliable Supply of Mo-99 Produced Without Highly Enriched Uranium. https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-s-molybdenum-99-program-establishing-reliable-supply-mo-99-produced-without-highly. 6/10/2020 

[3] Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance: FDA Regulation. https://www.medicalimaging.org/policy-and-positions/approval-regulation. 6/10/2020

[4] HS codes 3822000002, 3821000000, 3006200000

[5] HS codes 300211, 300620, 30062000, 300630, 30063010, 30063050, 382100, 382200, 3822001010, 3822001090, 3822005010. 3822005090, 38220060, 841920, 8419905040, 901819, 90181940, 90181955, 9018199550, 9018199560, 901820, 90182000, 9018200080, 901831, 9018310040, 9018310080, 9018310090, 901832, 90183200, 901839, 9018390020, 9018390040, 9018390050, 90189010, 90189020