Global HIV Rapid Test Kits Market - Focused Insights 2025-2030

MARKET INSIGHTS

The global HIV rapid test kits market was valued at USD 1.48 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1.81 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.32% during the forecast period. The market is growing quickly because digital technology is being added to HIV rapid test kits, more types of sample-based HIV rapid test kits are being developed, and more people prefer HIV self-testing (HIVST).

Also, new technology is being used in the manufacturing process to improve accuracy, quality, and sustainability in many developed and developing countries. Companies making HIV rapid test kits are paying more attention to what customers want. They collect and study user data to design products that better meet customer needs.

MARKET DEFINITION

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rapid test kits are in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) products that detect either exposure or the presence of HIV in the blood, oral fluids (saliva), and urine. They yield results in 20–30 minutes. An HIV rapid self-test is a type of antibody test that can be used at home or in a private location. An HIV rapid test kit is one of the convenient and widely accepted IVD products used for HIV diagnosis at homes or any private place of an individual.

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Attention Growing from Self-Testing to Self-Monitoring

The growing awareness about HIV self-testing is now turning towards self-monitoring for HIV. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the HIV self-test is becoming a regular monitoring test rather than just a test for people seeking home testing for HIV. The COVID-19 pandemic not only resulted in disruption to the diagnostic sector, but it also changed the perception towards self-managing health- and indeed sexual health. This trend is commonly observed in higher-risk geographies and demographic categories specifically among those individuals who test negative but live in high-risk geographies. Furthermore, the shift from healthcare provider-driven care to individuals with infectious and chronic conditions driving their care, such as self-monitoring for HIV, has been lacking in low- & middle-income countries (LMICs). Self-testing is an important aspect of HIV management that pushes the self-management agenda in LMICs. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40% live with HIV which creates significant concern about the spread of HIV infection, where HIV self-testing is becoming a self-monitoring approach.

Government Initiatives and Investment

To improve the HIV status, globally several government initiatives were taken in recent years. These initiatives and associated investments aim to overcome the challenges associated with HIV testing and account for cost as well as increase access to HIV testing. Of these, some major initiatives are STAR Phase 3, ATLAS, and MTV Shuga. STAR initiative was started in 2005 to improve and increase the adoption of HIV self-testing in targeted countries. Now its Star Phase 3 part is supporting to increase acceptance of HIV self-testing in new 7 countries. It involves a further seven markets, including Mozambique, Cameroon, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda in Africa; and Indonesia and India in Asia. In these countries, the Star Phase 3 initiative invested around $16.9 million to establish the system, structure, and oversight mechanism essential for the long-term sustainability of HIVST, reported in 2021.

INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Limitation Associated with HIV Care and Testing 

The HIV pandemic has extremely affected people in developing countries. In most countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, the infection is commonly recognized by the general population. In addition, HIV-related stigma is a major health challenge and significantly affects a large proportion of LMICs. The coverage for HIV care and management is comparatively lower in LMIC than in developed countries. Furthermore, early access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is also low. The cost of HIV care and testing is also expensive for developing countries challenging the acceptance of HIV rapid test kits. The fear of being tested positive and rejection, discrimination, and stigma pull many people back from conducting tests and screening voluntarily. Also, the fear of discord in marital relationships is one of the merging challenges with testing HIV positive. These are some social stigmas that hamper the adoption of HIV rapid test kits.

GLOBAL HIV RAPID TEST KITS MARKET INSIGHTS 

• By Technology: In 2024, the lateral flow immunoassay segment dominates and hold the largest share of the global HIV rapid test kits market. Lateral flow immunoassay, also called immunochromatographic assay technology, takes a certain amount of time to measure the viral load in blood and oral fluid samples. This technology is widely used in HIV rapid test kits to reduce testing time and resource use. The use of lateral flow immunoassay in HIV testing has grown steadily, helping drive the development and sales of HIV rapid test kits. Its ease of use and low cost make it more popular. These test kits provide over 99% accuracy and 100 times higher sensitivity, making them highly trusted by both medical professionals and the public.
• By Sample Type: The oral fluids segment shows significant growth, growing at a CAGR of 4.02% during the forecast period. Oral fluid-based HIV rapid test kits have become more popular in recent years. Public health officials and activists support these tests because they help increase testing rates and awareness of HIV status. Health organizations have found that oral fluid-based HIV tests have higher acceptance, completion, and result return rates compared to traditional blood or serum-based tests. These test kits also help save costs and reduce the global impact of HIV. More HIV tests are now being done using saliva samples. As awareness grows, more people are choosing HIV rapid tests, especially those that are easy to use and offer privacy, driving the demand for saliva-based HIV testing.
• By Gender: Based on gender, the women's segment accounted for the largest global HIV rapid test kits market share. HIV is more common among women than men, with younger women being at higher risk. Women are also more aware of HIV rapid test kits compared to men. They frequently use point-of-care test kits (POCT), such as pregnancy, fertility, and ovulation test kits, which increases their awareness and demand for HIV rapid test kits. Government support for HIV testing in pregnant women plays a big role in boosting sales. Many countries require HIV testing during pregnancy to prevent transmission to infants, further driving growth in this segment.
• By Distribution Channel: Based on distribution, the offline segment holds the largest share of the global HIV rapid test kits market. Offline sales channels include medical shops, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics with pharmacies, pharma retailers, and retail stores. These channels are the main way people access HIV testing. Most people prefer buying HIV rapid test kits from medical pharmacies as their first choice for care. Easy access and availability make offline channels a major driver of sales. Most HIV cases are found in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where pharmacies and medical shops play a key role in distributing test kits. Pharmacists also help raise awareness and guide people on how to use the tests, making them more accessible. Additionally, offline channels provide a good alternative to traditional facility-based HIV testing and counseling, especially in developing regions.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

North America dominates and holds the largest global HIV rapid test kits market share of over 30%. North America is one of the biggest and most developed markets for HIV rapid test kits. The region has reported over 1.3 million HIV cases and has widely adopted HIV self-testing (HIVST) policies. The high use of HIV rapid test kits and their affordability have led to strong revenue growth. Many small, medium, and large companies in North America actively promote HIVST policies to help fight HIV. Both the US and Canada support these policies, increasing the demand for HIV rapid test kits. Since 2022, both countries have seen a rise in HIV cases compared to previous years. The continued use of HIVST policies is expected to further increase the number of HIV tests in the region.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

The global HIV rapid test kits market report consists of exclusive data on 27 vendors. The market has many different players and strong competition. This situation is pushing companies to come up with new ideas and improve what makes their products special to stand out. However, there is also a risk of low-quality products entering the market. Big companies are always competing to be at the top, with local businesses sometimes increasing the competition. Abbott, Bio-Rad Laboratories, and BIOMÉRIEUX are the top three companies with the largest share of the global HIV rapid test kits market. They provide high-quality, reliable test kits that meet customer needs and international standards while also making their products more efficient to stay competitive. These companies have well-known brands and a strong presence worldwide.

RECENT VENDORS ACTIVITIES

In 2023, BIOSYNEX a French company pioneer in the design and development of rapid test kits acquired one of the leading market players ChemBio Diagnostics, which was one of the top market leaders in the global HIV rapid test kits market.

In 2022, the WHO partnered with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Wondfo Biotech Company, and MedAccess. These partnerships make available HIV-self-test kits for only $1 in the public sector in LMICs.