Blood Gas Electrolyte
Shaping critical care with real-time precision
Advanced blood gas analyzers are revolutionizing critical care by providing real-time precision, enabling seamless integration for more accurate diagnostics and improved patient outcomes.
The first blood gas analyzer (BGA) that measured pH, PCO2, and PO2 was developed in 1957. Blood gas analysis came to be widely used in clinical settings, surgery, anesthesia, and intensive care by 1966. Competent devices were produced later. The first combined blood gas/electrolyte analyzer was introduced in 1985. It comes with a menu of pH, PCO2, PO2, Na, K, iCa, and hematocrit.
With current advancements, analyzers have become smaller and easier to use, and have gradually migrated into point-of-care (POC) areas. The POC analyzers are designed to provide acid-base measurements at the bedside. Incredibly sophisticated, stable, and fast, these current analyzers provide quick results. They are ideal for use in emergency departments and operation rooms, where blood gas analysis helps to monitor mechanically ventilated patients. Rapid measurements of blood PCO2 and pH allow patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome to benefit from permissive hypercapnia (with low tidal volumes) to minimize pulmonary stress.
Arterial blood gas analysis is performed in the clinical laboratory mainly using a bench-top analyzer. Bench-top critical care analyzers feature individual biosensor technology, broadest test menu, and lowest cost of operation.
The Indian market for blood gas analyzers and reagents in 2023 is estimated at ₹425 crore, with reagents dominating with a 74-percent share, estimated at ₹320.25 crore. The analyzers at 9100 units are estimated at ₹ 105.75 crore.
Within the analyzers segment, combined analyzers market, including EPOC, ISTAT, EDAN, Wondfo, and Sowar (cassette-based analyzers), are neck to neck with the electrolyte analyzers market, at ₹45 crore each. Combined analyzers integrate the functions of both blood gas and electrolyte analyzers into a single system, providing comprehensive diagnostic information for prompt and effective treatment decisions. Crucial in enhancing patient care by streamlining workflow, reducing sample volume requirements, and improving efficiency in critical care settings, they command a far higher margin than their counterparts. The sales by units in 2023 is estimated at 1700 for combined analyzers, and 6900 for electrolyte analyzers.
500 units of blood gas analyzers were sold in 2023, estimated at ₹15 crore. The segment is hugely cost-sensitive, with numerous manufacturers offering a range of solutions tailored to different workload capacities.
Traditional electrolyte analyzers, utilizing ion selective electrode (ISE) technology, provide reliable and high-quality results, but are often viewed as maintenance-intensive. In contrast, newer cartridge-based systems promise zero maintenance, as the sensors and electrodes are integrated into the reagent packs. However, these systems may not be cost effective for higher workload settings and have encountered issues like frequent breakdowns, particularly with clotted samples. The demand for advanced parameters, such as TCO2 and HCO3, is on the rise, driven by an increase in respiratory and kidney-related ailments.
Additionally, manufacturers are promoting inbuilt electrolyte solutions within chemistry analyzers for high-volume customers, while the indirect ISE technology used in some analyzers has raised concerns over inconclusive results in critical cases like transplants. The market also faces challenges from low-cost competitors, which have impacted the business of established systems.
India faces a growing challenge with the highest number of individuals with diabetes globally, estimated at 77 million and projected to rise to 134 million by 2045. With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension contributing to approximately 53 percent of mortality in India, the demand for blood gas and electrolyte analyzers is expected to surge for accurate diagnosis and effective disease management.
Technological advancements and increased government initiatives are further expanding the market by enhancing the availability and functionality of the analyzers. The steady increase in the elderly population, which causes an increase in the number of patients getting critical care in emergency rooms, critical care units, and operating rooms, and rise in the number of patients receiving treatment in intensive care and emergency rooms push demand.
Defined by their high accuracy, speed, and user-friendly designs, they have become indispensable in clinical and critical care settings. These devices deliver rapid, precise measurements of vital parameters, such as pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and electrolytes, ensuring swift decision making. With intuitive interfaces and comprehensive testing capabilities, they simplify daily operations while offering a wide range of diagnostic insights, supporting both large labs and POC environments.
Several challenges restrain market growth, including the high cost of advanced analyzers and the ongoing expenses for consumables like reagents and cartridges, making them less accessible to healthcare facilities in developing regions. Additionally, maintenance and calibration needs, particularly for traditional electrode-based systems, and concerns about the reliability of results from cartridge-based systems in high-volume settings, create barriers to widespread adoption.
Despite these challenges, continuous technological advancements, such as the integration of wireless connectivity and enhanced data management, are helping improve the usability and efficiency of these instruments.
The key players include Transasia, BPL Medical, HORIBA India, and Beckman Coulter India, Medica Instrument Manufacturing, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, Radiometer India Pvt. Ltd., Erba Mannheim, and Meril Diagnostics.
The future ahead
Shreedhar Shanbhag
Deputy General Manager,
Vector Biotek (A Beacon Group Company)
The wide spread of chronic diseases necessitates the estimation of blood gas and electrolyte analysis; for example, diabetic ketoacidosis or cardiovascular diseases that lead to heart failure. Moreover, growing geriatric populations that lead to age-related lifestyle diseases, which require constant monitoring of essential compounds like electrolyte and blood gases are the main drivers for enormous growth of blood gas and electrolyte analyzers and associated components of the same.
Blood gas and electrolyte analyzers are the biomedical devices which are frequently used in healthcare settings to monitor parameters, such as electrolytes, metabolites, gases, etc., from a biological sample.
Rapid urbanization, changing lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, blood vessel hemorrhage, and chronic illnesses are some of the forefront drivers that are responsible for growth of the market for these analyzers.
The technology to monitor these parameters, which was once quite cumbersome and having lots of limitations, is now becoming easy and user friendly with better accuracy and precision due to use of modern-day technological advancements. Now, use of modern ISE or multi- biosensor technology makes the analysis simple, quick, and with enhanced efficiency.
In line with other segments of in vitro diagnostics, the blood gas and electrolyte analyzer market in India was valued at USD 4.26 billion in 2022 and it is likely to reach USD 7.25 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 6.88 percent.
Automation and efficiency are key trends driving the market. Automated analyzers significantly reduce human error, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic results. They also improve workflow and turnaround time in laboratories, allowing for faster and more efficient processing of samples. Additionally, there is a growing adoption of point-of-care testing in emergency and critical care settings. Point-of-care testing offers rapid and accurate results, crucial for timely clinical decisions and patient management. Additionally, artificial intelligence(AI) and internet of things (IoT) technologies are also stepping in this segment, making it most beneficial for healthcare providers.
As a leading front line in vitro diagnostics solution provider, Beacon group also offers distinct solutions for electrolyte analysis by providing different models, including routine ISE base electrolyte as well as latest multi-biosensor technology.
New developments
Real-time diagnostics with blood-powered technology. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC have developed a groundbreaking portable lab-on-a-chip device that uses blood to generate electricity for real-time medical diagnostics. This innovative technology measures blood conductivity, a critical metric influenced by electrolytes like sodium and chloride, to instantly diagnose metabolic disorders, such as diabetes.
The device works through a self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), converting mechanical energy from blood flow into electricity. This technology is poised to revolutionize healthcare, especially in underserved areas, by offering rapid, non-invasive diagnostics without relying on traditional, time-consuming methods.
This research connects to advance-ments in blood gas and electrolyte analyzers by showcasing the potential of portable diagnostic tools. The device complements the trend toward miniaturization and POC testing, offering a novel approach to monitoring vital parameters in real time, particularly for patients with chronic conditions.
Sensor technology. The integration of sensors involves several sophisticated processes and components, such as BGAs utilize various sensors, including pH, electrolyte (for sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium), PO2 (for oxygen), PCO2 (for carbon dioxide), and glucose sensors. For instance, electrochemical sensors measure changes in electrical potential or current generated by electrochemical reactions along with pH and electrolyte sensors.
Optical sensors for measurements like PO2 and glucose use fiber-optic technology. Light is transmitted through a fiber-optic cable to interact with chemical dyes or materials that fluoresce or change absorption properties, based on the concentration of the analyte.
Development of next-generation HbA1c analyzers for enhanced diabetes care – G21
Sanjay Gajjar
Director,
B&E Diagnostics India Pvt. Ltd.
Founded in 2015, B&E Diagnostics India Pvt. Ltd. has established itself as a trusted partner in the Indian diagnostic landscape. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, as a prominent player in the Indian diagnostics market, B&E Diagnostics India Pvt. Ltd. has developed a specialized focus on diabetes management, offering cutting-edge solutions for HbA1c testing, glucose monitoring, and glycemic control assessment.
HbA1c analysis is crucial for effective diabetes management. This project aims to develop innovative, point-of-care HbA1c analyzers, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to improve accuracy, accessibility, and patient outcomes.
The company has introduced its auto glycated hemoglobin analyzer model G21 with HPLC method, a next-generation HbA1c analyzer designed for precision and efficiency. This compact, user-friendly instrument is R&D by B&E with 4 years’ time, delivers rapid and reliable results, enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions and optimize diabetes care. Manage diabetes with confidence using our advanced HbA1c analyzers, which provide fast and accurate results for initial results at 320 sec and thereafter with 154 sec per test, helping healthcare professionals to diagnose, monitor, and tailor treatment plans to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
G21 has been tested and compared with all major international brands like Bio-Rad and TOSOH, etc. The accuracy, correlation, and precision are excellent which got high praise from all global customers – one evaluation of our G21 is done at Josanti Center in Jordan, including comparison study with one of the above major brand instruments. Attractive features of G21 are it is accurate, stable, and durable for test performance and hardware both. It also shows the abnormal hemoglobin, such as sickle S cells Hbs or Hbc, etc., separately in the report, and there is no need to change the column or buffers when moving from A1c mode to thalassemia mode.
The test is considered safe and is straightforward to perform and analyse. There is a low risk of complications including haematoma formation, vasovagal reactions and infection.
In conclusion, the development of next-generation HbA1c analyzers has the potential to transform diabetes care, improving health outcomes and quality of life for millions worldwide. We believe our proposed research will significantly contribute to this critical effort.
The integration of advanced sensor technology in BGAs is poised to significantly impact the future of medical diagnostics:
Enhanced accuracy and reliability. Innovations in sensor technology are improving the precision of measurements. Optical sensors and advanced calibration techniques are reducing errors and increasing reliability, which is critical for patient safety and treatment efficacy.
Miniaturization and portability. Advances in sensor design are enabling the development of smaller, more portable BGAs. This miniaturization makes it possible to perform blood gas analyses in more diverse settings, including at the bedside, in ambulances, and even in home care environments.
Cost reduction. As sensor technology evolves, production costs are expected to decrease. More affordable sensors will make blood gas analyzers accessible to a broader range of healthcare facilities, including those in resource-limited settings.
Improved patient monitoring. Continuous and real-time monitoring of blood gases will become more feasible, providing clinicians with timely data to make informed decisions. This continuous monitoring can lead to better management of chronic conditions and more personalized treatment plans.
Innovation in disposable sensors. Developments in disposable sensor technology will enhance convenience and reduce the risk of cross-contamination, improving overall hygiene and patient safety.
Such progresses will drive improvements in patient care and diagnostics, aligning with the broader trend toward personalized and data-driven medicine.
Machine learning and BGA
Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is a crucial laboratory method for assessing a patient’s metabolic and respiratory status by measuring parameters, such as pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and glucose levels. This analysis is vital for managing critical patients as it provides essential insights into their acid-base balance and respiratory function. Traditionally, interpreting ABG results involves complex and time-consuming mathematical calculations, a challenge that can be particularly acute in emergency rooms and intensive care units.
Recent advancements in machine learning have introduced a transformative approach to ABG analysis. Machine learning models, especially classification algorithms, offer several advantages and can process large volumes of data swiftly, thereby reducing the time needed for analysis and interpretation. This efficiency is particularly beneficial in high-pressure environments where quick decision making is crucial.
The integration of machine learning in ABG analysis holds significant promise for the future of clinical diagnostics, enhances diagnostic accuracy by minimizing human error and providing consistent interpretations of complex data. Real-time analysis capabilities enable quicker decision making, essential in emergency and intensive care settings.
Furthermore, machine learning can contribute to personalized medicine by analyzing large datasets to identify patterns and predict outcomes. As technology continues to advance, future models are expected to incorporate additional parameters and integrate with electronic health records, further improving patient monitoring and care.
Market trends reveal the pulse of industry evolution, guiding businesses toward tomorrow’s opportunities today. New technologies like advanced biosensors and microfluidics are enhancing accuracy, speed, and user-friendliness, making tests quicker and more efficient, thus improving patient care. Another significant trend is the integration of analyzers with electronic health records (EHRs), enabling real-time data sharing and improved decision making. This integration enhances data management and patient care while promoting safety through features like automatic calibration and user-friendly interfaces, making analyzers more reliable and accessible.
Outlook
The blood gas and electrolyte analyzer market is poised for a transformative leap, driven by innovations and a surge in POC testing. These advancements promise to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient care through real-time insights and seamless integration. The future of critical care is marked by smarter technologies that will redefine standards and improve outcomes, supported by ongoing research and collaboration in the field.
