Specimen Collection Cards Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented by Type (Blood, Saliva, Urine, Buccal cells, others), By Material (Cotton & Cellulose-based, Fiber-based, others), by Product (Whatman 903, Ahlstrom 226, FTA, others), by Application (Newborn Screening (NBS), Infectious Diseases Testing, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Forensics, Research, Wellbeing/Health Monitoring, others), by Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), By End User (Hospitals & clinics, Diagnostics centers, others), By Region, Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 480.51 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.96%
Fastest Growing Segment	Blood
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 642.63 Million

Market Overview

The Global Specimen Collection Cards Market will grow from USD 480.51 Million in 2025 to USD 642.63 Million by 2031 at a 4.96% CAGR. Specimen collection cards are absorbent paper matrices designed to facilitate the capture and stabilization of biological fluids such as blood or saliva for ambient temperature transport and long term storage. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the increasing necessity for cost efficient remote sampling solutions and the significant reduction in operational costs achieved by bypassing complex cold chain logistics. Additionally the rising demand for minimally invasive collection techniques in newborn screening and infectious disease monitoring further reinforces the expansion of this sector.

One significant challenge that could impede market expansion is the potential for sample contamination or insufficient sample volume during collection which may compromise analytical accuracy and limit clinical adoption. This issue is particularly critical given the high volume of testing required for global disease surveillance. According to the World Health Organization, in 2024, approximately 1.3 million people acquired HIV globally, a statistic that underscores the urgent need for reliable and scalable dried blood spot collection tools to support remote viral load monitoring and diagnosis.

Key Market Drivers

The implementation of mandatory newborn screening programs acts as a primary catalyst for the Global Specimen Collection Cards Market, driving consistent demand for dried blood spot tools used in detecting congenital disorders. Public health agencies are increasingly investing in the optimization of these systems to ensure comprehensive coverage and follow-up efficiency, necessitating reliable high-volume sampling matrices. For instance, according to Emory University, August 2024, the institution was awarded a $2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to assess and enhance the effectiveness of newborn screening initiatives in the Southeast United States. This continued federal support underscores the critical role of card-based collection methods in maintaining the infrastructure of large-scale public health surveillance.

Simultaneously, the rising adoption of remote and at-home specimen collection is expanding market reach by enabling decentralized clinical trials and patient-centric monitoring. This shift alleviates the logistical burden of cold-chain transport, making room-temperature stable cards a preferred choice for pharmaceutical researchers and global testing organizations. According to Trajan Scientific and Medical, May 2024, the company projected that demand for its microsampling products would grow by approximately 30% compared to the previous half-year, driven by these decentralized applications. The format's operational viability is further validated by high-stakes usage; according to the International Testing Agency, September 2024, a total of 6,130 samples, including dried blood spots, were collected during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, demonstrating the technology's reliability in rigorous testing environments.

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Key Market Challenges

The potential for sample contamination and insufficient sample volume creates a formidable barrier to the commercial scalability of the specimen collection cards market. Because these tools are frequently utilized in unsupervised or remote settings by non-technical personnel, the risk of user error during the collection phase is significantly elevated compared to traditional phlebotomy. This vulnerability directly hampers market growth by undermining the core value proposition of cost-efficiency; when a sample is rejected due to poor quality, the financial and logistical burden of re-collection effectively cancels out the savings achieved by eliminating cold chain transport.

Furthermore, this inconsistency leads to hesitation among healthcare providers regarding the clinical validity of card-based diagnostics for critical applications. If analytical accuracy cannot be guaranteed, adoption rates in high-stakes sectors, such as quantitative viral load monitoring and newborn screening, will remain stagnant. This operational bottleneck is substantiated by recent industry data. According to the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, in 2024, pre-analytical deviations, including compromised specimen integrity and improper collection, accounted for approximately 98% of all identified laboratory errors, demonstrating that the collection phase remains the primary point of failure in diagnostic workflows.

Key Market Trends

The Adoption of Volumetric Microsampling for Quantitative Analysis is fundamentally reshaping the market by addressing the historical limitations of traditional dried blood spot techniques, specifically the lack of sample volume precision and the hematocrit effect. Unlike standard qualitative screening, volumetric technologies allow for the capture of exact blood volumes, enabling laboratories to perform quantitative measurements essential for complex biomarker analysis and therapeutic drug monitoring. This technological evolution is attracting significant capital to scale manufacturing capabilities for high-precision devices that ensure analytical reproducibility. For example, according to Capitainer, March 2024, in the press release 'Capitainer Secures SEK 21 Million to Boost Production and Establish Its Presence on the American Market', the company successfully raised capital to expand its production capacity for quantitative cards, underscoring the industry's pivot toward tools that guarantee clinical-grade accuracy in remote settings.

Simultaneously, the Expansion of Direct-to-Consumer At-Home Health Testing is being propelled by a growing patient preference for minimally invasive, virtually painless collection methods that bypass the discomfort of venous phlebotomy. This trend is distinct from institutional clinical trials; it is driven by consumer behavior and the desire for anxiety-free wellness monitoring, which encourages individuals to proactively manage their health without visiting a facility. The commercial viability of this shift is substantiated by recent consumer insights regarding user experience. According to Tasso, Inc., October 2024, in the report 'Survey Unveils One in Three Patients Delay Diagnostic Blood Tests', a study of over 600 adults revealed that 74% of respondents expressed a strong interest in utilizing painless home blood collection technology to complete prescribed tests, demonstrating how patient comfort is becoming a decisive factor in market adoption.

Segmental Insights

The blood segment is currently emerging as the fastest-growing category within the global specimen collection cards market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the widespread adoption of dried blood spot sampling for mandatory newborn screening programs and infectious disease monitoring. Agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention utilize these collection methods to facilitate stable sample transport without the need for refrigeration. Additionally, the increasing preference for minimally invasive sampling techniques in genetic testing and clinical trials further accelerates the demand for blood-based specimen cards compared to alternative biological samples.

Regional Insights

North America currently leads the Global Specimen Collection Cards Market, supported by established healthcare systems and comprehensive legislative mandates for disease detection. A primary driver is the universal implementation of newborn screening across the United States and Canada. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays a pivotal role by administering the Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program, which standardizes dried blood spot collection methods and ensures testing accuracy. Additionally, the concentration of key industry manufacturers within the region ensures supply chain reliability, while robust investment in genomic research and forensics further sustains this regional supremacy.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Ahlstrom acquired Eastern Business Forms (EBF), a specialized manufacturer based in South Carolina known for its natural fiber-based medical devices used in biological sample collection. This strategic acquisition significantly strengthened Ahlstrom’s position in the global specimen collection cards market, particularly within the newborn screening and diagnostic testing segments. EBF was a leading provider of 903 diagnostic cards and procedure packs, which are essential for detecting various genetic disorders. The integration of EBF’s manufacturing capabilities enabled Ahlstrom to expand its portfolio of sustainable specialty materials and offer more comprehensive solutions for blood and urine testing to its global customer base.
• In November 2024, Capitainer introduced the CapitainerSEP10, a novel specimen collection card designed to separate plasma from whole blood without the need for centrifugation. This innovative card allowed for the collection of a plasma-like sample from a simple finger-prick, which could then be transported at ambient temperature. The launch aimed to facilitate at-home sampling and decentralize diagnostic testing by overcoming the logistical challenges associated with traditional liquid blood samples. The technology was developed to ensure high-quality sample purity and volume precision, addressing critical needs in remote healthcare and clinical monitoring applications where access to laboratory infrastructure is limited.
• In October 2024, Revvity launched Revvity Transcribe AI, an optical character recognition service specifically engineered to digitize handwritten test request forms in clinical laboratories. The solution was particularly targeted at newborn screening laboratories that process high volumes of dried blood spot cards daily. By automating the transcription of handwritten data from these collection cards, the technology aimed to reduce manual data entry errors and increase workflow efficiency by approximately 40%. This development underscored the growing integration of artificial intelligence in the specimen collection market to enhance data accuracy and streamline the processing of diagnostic samples.
• In January 2024, Trajan Scientific and Medical entered into a strategic partnership with CliniSciences to expand the distribution of its microsampling solutions across Europe. Under this agreement, CliniSciences became the distributor for Trajan’s advanced specimen collection devices, including tools designed for volumetric absorptive microsampling, in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. This collaboration was intended to provide European healthcare professionals and researchers with greater access to technologies that facilitate remote and patient-centric sampling. The partnership highlighted the industry's shift towards decentralized clinical trials and the increasing demand for precise, easy-to-use collection methods that serve as alternatives or enhancements to traditional dried blood spot cards.

Key Market Players

• QIAGEN LLC
• PerkinElmer, Inc.
• DBS System SA
• Danaher Corporation
• Eastern Business Forms, Inc.
• Ahlstrom Oyj
• ARCHIMED Life Science GmbH
• GenTegra LLC
• FortiusBio LLC
• CENTOGENE N.V.

By Material	By End User	By Region
Cotton & Cellulose-based Fiber-based others	Hospitals & clinics Diagnostics centers others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Specimen Collection Cards Market, By Material:

• Cotton & Cellulose-based
• Fiber-based
• others

• Specimen Collection Cards Market, By End User:

• Hospitals & clinics
• Diagnostics centers
• others

• Specimen Collection Cards 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