The global nucleic acid isolation and purification market continues to gain momentum as molecular diagnostics, genomics research, personalized medicine, and biotechnology innovation accelerate worldwide. Valued at US$6.2 billion in 2022, the market grew to US$6.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$9.4 billion by 2028, advancing at a strong CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period.
A new industry research study highlights extensive market trends, pricing analysis, patent landscape, stakeholder mapping, conference and webinar insights, and shifting buyer behavior. Together, these elements provide a comprehensive view of how increasing R&D investments, advanced molecular biology techniques, and wider adoption of laboratory automation are reshaping market opportunities across the globe.
Key Market Drivers Fueling Growth
Several factors are accelerating the demand for nucleic acid isolation and purification technologies:
1. Rising R&D Activity Across Genomics and Molecular Biology
Academic and commercial research institutions are expanding molecular biology programs, driving demand for highly efficient isolation kits, reagents, and automated instruments.
2. Advancements in Extraction and Purification Technologies
Technological innovations in magnetic bead systems, column-based extraction, automated workstations, and high-throughput purification platforms are making workflows faster, more reliable, and highly reproducible.
3. Increasing Adoption of Automation
Automation is reducing manual errors, improving sample integrity, and enabling large-scale operations—particularly essential for diagnostics, sequencing, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
4. Growth of Genomic Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine
As genomics becomes central to disease detection and targeted therapy development, the demand for high-quality nucleic acid extraction continues to rise.
Market Segmentation Insights
By Product: Kits Segment Dominates (2022)
The market is segmented into kits, reagents, and instruments (automatic and manual).
In 2022, kits accounted for the largest market share, driven by:
- Ease of use and convenience
- Time-efficient protocols suitable for high-throughput workflows
- Cost-effectiveness, especially for small and mid-sized labs
- Widespread adoption in diagnostics, research, and pharmaceutical testing
Kits have become indispensable for PCR, sequencing, cloning, and other molecular biology applications that require high purity and yield.
By Type: Plasmid DNA Isolation Leads the Market
The market is categorized into several nucleic acid types, including:
- Circulating nucleic acids
- Genomic DNA
- Messenger RNA (mRNA)
- microRNA (miRNA)
- Plasmid DNA (leading segment)
- Total RNA
- Other nucleic acids
Plasmid DNA isolation held the largest share of the market in 2022. This dominance is driven by:
- Extensive use of purified plasmids in gene expression studies
- Rapid expansion of gene therapy, vaccine development, and recombinant protein production
- High adoption in academic and industrial biotechnology laboratories
As demand for gene-editing tools and DNA-based vaccines increases, the plasmid DNA segment is expected to maintain strong growth.
By Method: Magnetic Bead-Based Isolation Dominates (2022)
Based on purification methods, the market includes:
- Magnetic bead-based isolation (largest share)
- Reagent-based isolation
- Column-based purification
- Other technologies
The magnetic bead-based method held the highest share in 2022 due to key advantages:
- Ability to extract nucleic acids directly from crude or complex samples
- Compatibility with a wide range of sample types (blood, tissues, plants, cells)
- High purity and reproducibility
- Seamless integration with automated platforms, enabling high-throughput workflows
As laboratories move toward automation, magnetic bead technologies are expected to see further adoption.
By Application: Diagnostics Segment Leads
The applications of nucleic acid isolation and purification include:
- Diagnostics (largest segment)
- Agriculture & animal research
- Drug discovery & development
- Personalized medicine
- Other applications
The diagnostics segment dominated in 2022, driven by:
- Growing adoption of nucleic acid-based tests for pathogen identification and infectious disease diagnostics
- Increased public awareness of genetic testing and early disease detection
- Expanded capabilities of sequencing technologies in clinical decision-making
The COVID-19 pandemic has further reinforced the importance of rapid and accurate nucleic acid testing in healthcare.
Regional Insights: Asia Pacific is the Fastest-Growing Market
The nucleic acid isolation and purification market spans:
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific (fastest-growing)
- Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
In 2022, Asia Pacific emerged as the fastest-growing region, supported by:
1. Large Population with Rising Healthcare Needs
China, India, and Japan have significant demand for diagnostic testing and genomics-based healthcare.
2. Government Initiatives Supporting Life Sciences Expansion
National genomic programs, precision medicine initiatives, and research funding are accelerating adoption.
3. Growing Pharmaceutical and Biotech Manufacturing Base
Asia Pacific is becoming a global hub for biopharmaceutical production and R&D outsourcing.
4. Increasing Investments in Molecular Diagnostics
As healthcare systems modernize, molecular labs across Asia are scaling capacity for high-throughput nucleic acid testing.
These trends position Asia Pacific as the most dynamic and rapidly expanding region in the forecast period.
Key Market Players
Prominent companies operating in the nucleic acid isolation and purification market include:
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US)
- QIAGEN (Germany)
- Merck KGaA (Germany)
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland)
- Promega Corporation (US)
- Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US)
- Danaher (US)
- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US)
- Illumina, Inc. (US)
- Takara Bio Inc. (Japan)
- New England Biolabs (US)
- Zymo Research (US)
- Omega Bio-Tek, Inc. (US)
- TIANGEN Biotech (China)
- LGC Biosearch Technologies (US)
- Norgen Biotek Corp. (Canada)
…and several emerging players across India, Malaysia, and Europe.
Recent Developments Advancing Market Growth
Danaher’s Acquisition of Abcam (August 2023)
Danaher entered a definitive agreement to acquire Abcam, strengthening its life sciences portfolio. Abcam will operate as a standalone company within Danaher’s Life Sciences segment.
INOVIQ–Promega Collaboration (July 2023)
A global joint marketing agreement for EXO-NET exosome isolation and nucleic acid purification solutions, advancing next-generation liquid biopsy workflows.
Thermo Fisher–Qatar Genome Program Partnership (May 2022)
A strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating genomic research and predictive genomics adoption in Qatar.
Conclusion The global nucleic acid isolation and purification market is entering a high-growth phase driven by expanding genomic applications, rapid advances in purification technologies, and rising automation in research and diagnostics. With Asia Pacific emerging as a high-potential growth hub and leading companies investing in innovation, the market is poised for significant transformation between 2023 and 2028.
