Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Industry Type (Clinical Diagnostics, Microbiology, Pharmaceuticals, Biologics, Others), By Technology (Polymerase Chain Reaction, Immunoassays, Chromatography, Spectrometry, Other Technologies) Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.18 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.89%
Fastest Growing Segment	Immunoassays
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1.76 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market will grow from USD 1.18 Billion in 2025 to USD 1.76 Billion by 2031 at a 6.89% CAGR. Laboratory proficiency testing is a pivotal external quality assessment process that evaluates the performance of participant laboratories through interlaboratory comparisons. This mechanism involves distributing reference samples to facilities to verify the accuracy and reliability of their analytical results against pre-established criteria. The market is driven by stringent regulatory mandates requiring ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and the escalating operational emphasis on food and water safety standards. Furthermore, the necessity for independent technical competence verification in diagnostic sectors supports the demand for these services, ensuring laboratories maintain high-quality testing environments.

Despite this growth, the market faces challenges regarding the logistical complexity and high costs associated with transporting stable samples across international borders. These operational hurdles can limit participation for smaller laboratories in developing regions or those handling time-sensitive biological materials. According to the 'International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation', in '2024', 'over 810 proficiency testing providers were accredited by the ILAC MRA signatories'. This statistic underscores the substantial scale of the accredited provider landscape, yet effective global distribution remains a critical barrier to broader market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

Stringent regulatory compliance and accreditation mandates serve as a fundamental engine for market expansion, compelling laboratories to participate in proficiency testing schemes to demonstrate technical competence. Regulatory bodies and international standards organizations increasingly enforce ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 requirements, making external quality assessment a non-negotiable operational prerequisite for testing facilities. This regulatory pressure ensures that laboratories consistently monitor their performance against peer groups, thereby minimizing analytical errors and liability risks while maintaining their status as certified entities. The scale of this compliance-driven landscape is evident in recent accreditation statistics. According to the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, May 2025, in the '2024 Annual Report', the body maintained "4,350 actively accredited certificates" by the end of 2024, spanning all 50 US states and numerous foreign economies.

The rising prevalence of foodborne and waterborne diseases further amplifies the demand for proficiency testing services as global supply chains face heightened scrutiny regarding contamination risks. As pathogen outbreaks become more severe and widespread, food and beverage manufacturers are intensifying their reliance on accredited laboratories to verify the safety and quality of consumable products. This surge in testing volume necessitates rigorous proficiency testing to validate the accuracy of detection methods for contaminants such as Listeria and Salmonella. Highlighting the urgency of this driver, according to Food Safety Net Services, March 2025, in the 'Food Recalls in 2024: Revealing the Statistics' report, "hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food doubled in 2024" compared to the prior year. Reflecting the broader financial impact of these testing demands on the industry, according to Eurofins Scientific, in 2025, the company recorded full-year revenues of "€6,951 million" for 2024, underscoring the robust capital flow into diagnostic and testing infrastructure.

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Key Market Challenges

The logistical complexity and high costs associated with transporting stable samples across international borders constitute a severe impediment to the expansion of the Global Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market. Proficiency testing relies fundamentally on the integrity of reference materials, which often requires strict temperature controls and rapid delivery mechanisms to prevent degradation. When biological or chemical samples are subjected to shipping delays, customs hold-ups, or breaks in the cold chain, the reference materials may become unstable. This instability renders the subsequent analytical results invalid, causing significant financial losses for providers and discouraging laboratories in logistically difficult regions from subscribing to these essential quality assurance programs.

This operational barrier directly restricts market reach by preventing providers from servicing a large segment of the potential customer base, particularly in developing economies where specialized courier infrastructure is lacking. The inability to guarantee secure delivery effectively isolates these markets, capping revenue growth despite the global increase in laboratory accreditations. According to the 'International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation', in '2024', 'over 114,600 laboratories were accredited by the ILAC MRA Signatories'. This statistic highlights a massive addressable market of accredited facilities that require continuous proficiency testing; however, the logistical difficulties in reaching widespread locations prevent the market from fully capitalizing on this demand, thereby stagnating overall industry expansion.

Key Market Trends

Transition to Cloud-Based and Digital Reporting Platforms is fundamentally reshaping the Global Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market by replacing manual data entry with secure, automated systems that enhance data integrity and operational speed. Laboratories are increasingly integrating proficiency testing workflows with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to facilitate real-time performance tracking and reduce transcription errors, a critical necessity as testing volumes rise. This shift towards digital assurance is driving significant revenue streams for providers who offer validated, secure data environments. According to SGS, February 2025, in the '2024 Full Year Results Press Release', the company achieved "over CHF 30 million" in incremental sales from digital trust services, highlighting the growing commercial value of secure digital platforms in the quality assessment landscape.

Rising Adoption of Biologics and Biosimilars Testing Programs is another transformative trend, compelled by the pharmaceutical industry's shift from small-molecule drugs to complex large-molecule therapeutics. These advanced therapies require highly specialized proficiency testing schemes to verify parameters such as sterility, endotoxin levels, and mycoplasma detection, which are distinct from traditional chemical analyses. Consequently, service providers are expanding their manufacturing and quality control portfolios to support this high-value segment. According to Charles River Laboratories, February 2025, in the 'Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Results', the Manufacturing Solutions segment recorded annual revenue of "$769.3 million", underscoring the substantial market demand for rigorous quality control and safety testing in the biopharmaceutical production supply chain.

Segmental Insights

The Immunoassays segment is currently emerging as the fastest-growing category within the Global Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the increasing global prevalence of infectious diseases and chronic conditions, which necessitates frequent and precise diagnostic testing. Laboratories are heavily relying on these specific tests to detect biological markers with high sensitivity. Consequently, regulatory bodies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services enforce strict quality assurance mandates to ensure patient safety. These requirements compel laboratories to participate in rigorous proficiency testing programs to maintain accreditation, thereby fueling the significant demand for this segment.

Regional Insights

North America dominates the global laboratory proficiency testing market primarily due to strict enforcement of quality assurance mandates. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulates clinical testing in the United States through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, requiring laboratories to participate in proficiency testing to maintain licensure. Furthermore, the strong emphasis on accreditation by institutions such as the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation promotes adherence to global standards. This rigorous regulatory environment ensures high participation rates in external quality assessment programs, establishing the region as the clear market leader.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, LGC AXIO Proficiency Testing released its comprehensive 2025 catalogue, reaffirming its position as a major provider of external quality assurance schemes. The newly published portfolio detailed a vast range of proficiency testing programs covering diverse sectors, including food, beverage, environmental, and clinical diagnostics. The release emphasized the company's focus on helping laboratories worldwide achieve and maintain ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189 accreditations. This extensive schedule of schemes was designed to support laboratories in validating their testing accuracy and ensuring the safety and quality of products across global supply chains.
• In October 2024, Bio-Rad Laboratories launched the External Quality Assurance Services (EQAS) Specialty Immunoassay (SPIA) program, designed to streamline quality management for clinical laboratories. This new proficiency testing offering consolidated 13 complex and highly tested analytes, including procalcitonin and interleukin-6, into a single efficient program. By combining these specialty markers, the initiative aimed to reduce the administrative burden and costs associated with managing multiple external quality assessment schemes. The program supported laboratories in monitoring performance for critical disease states such as sepsis, anemia, and diabetes, ensuring high standards of patient care.
• In January 2024, a significant market development occurred when Waters Corporation’s ERA business began assisting customers following the discontinuation of Proficiency Testing Services by MilliporeSigma, the life science business of Merck KGaA. Effective from the first day of the year, MilliporeSigma ceased its offering of these specific services, leading to a strategic transition where Waters ERA stepped in to support the affected laboratories. This collaboration ensured that customers could maintain their critical accreditation and quality compliance without interruption, leveraging Waters ERA's extensive portfolio of certified reference materials and proficiency testing schemes.
• In January 2024, Fapas, the proficiency testing division of Fera Science, initiated its 2024 annual programme which featured a notable expansion into new testing categories. The organization introduced a comprehensive verification project specifically designed for the cosmetics industry, addressing both physical-chemical and microbiological testing parameters. This strategic development was launched to meet the increasing regulatory demands and quality assurance requirements within the global personal care sector, providing laboratories with the necessary external quality assessments to demonstrate their analytical competence in this growing market segment.

Key Market Players

• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• Fera Science Limited
• LGC Limited
• Merck KGaA
• NSI Lab Solutions Inc.
• QACS Ltd
• Trilogy Analytical Laboratory Inc.
• Waters Corporation
• Absolute Standards, Inc.

By Industry Type	By Technology	By Region
Clinical Diagnostics Microbiology Pharmaceuticals Biologics Others	Polymerase Chain Reaction Immunoassays Chromatography Spectrometry Other Technologies	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market, By Industry Type:

• Clinical Diagnostics
• Microbiology
• Pharmaceuticals
• Biologics
• Others

• Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market, By Technology:

• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Immunoassays
• Chromatography
• Spectrometry
• Other Technologies

• Laboratory Proficiency Testing Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE