Transport Media Market Research Report and Outlook by 2028

The transport media market is projected to expand from US$ 3,030.21 million in 2022 to US$ 4,014.88 million by 2028, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the period from 2022 to 2028.

This report outlines the prevailing trends and the factors propelling the growth of the transport media market. The surge in market growth is primarily linked to an increase in research activities and heightened demand stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, challenges related to viral transport media and supply chain disruptions pose limitations to market expansion.

Transport media are specialized buffer solutions that contain essential nutrients, including carbohydrates and peptones, specifically formulated to transport microorganisms while maintaining their viability. These media are engineered to inhibit any microbial growth during transport. There are three main categories of transport media: viral transport media, universal transport media, and molecular transport media, with viral transport media (VTM) being the most widely utilized.

The demand for transport media saw a significant increase due to the escalation of COVID-19 testing. The accuracy and reliability of tests hinge on the quality of the specimen and the conditions under which it is transported and stored prior to processing. Consequently, the adoption of viral transport media became prevalent, leading to a dramatic rise in its demand. The most frequently utilized viral transport media consist of screw-cap plastic tubes filled with buffered proteins and antibiotics, which prevent the growth of contaminants such as bacteria and fungi. Numerous companies ramped up the mass production of viral transport media to facilitate the transportation of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab specimens to diagnostic laboratories for confirmation. Additionally, various universities and research institutions contributed to this production effort by reallocating resources to focus on the custom manufacturing of viral transport media for COVID-19 test kits. For example, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center collaborated with its associated laboratories and students to produce 254,791 viral transport media testing tubes for swift distribution across Ohio.

As further waves of the COVID-19 pandemic are anticipated at regional levels, extensive and robust COVID-19 testing remains essential to mitigate adverse outcomes, including loss of life. This ongoing need is expected to bolster the market for transport media, particularly viral transport media, in the forthcoming years. Moreover, the emergence of various other infectious disease outbreaks necessitates rapid testing and research, further supporting the growth of the transport media market.

The transport media market is categorized by product type into viral transport media, universal transport media, molecular transport media, and others. In 2022, the viral transport media segment commanded the largest market share. However, the molecular transport media segment is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028. In terms of application, the market is divided into diagnosis and preclinical testing, with the diagnosis segment holding a larger share in 2022 and expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The end-user segmentation includes hospitals and clinics, microbiology laboratories, diagnostics laboratories, and others, with diagnostics laboratories anticipated to experience the highest CAGR in the forecast period.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Transport Media Market

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly heightened the demand for swabs and viral transport media. With substantial government intervention, manufacturers have prioritized expanding their production capabilities to meet the sudden and unprecedented demand for comprehensive testing of both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. For instance, in September 2020, Teknova, a prominent manufacturer of cell culture media and molecular biology reagents, swiftly increased its production of viral transport media and saline in response to the pandemic. All Teknova VTMs were produced and validated in accordance with CDC guidelines, and both VTM and saline were manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant with ISO 13485 standards and 21 CFR Part 820 regulations. Furthermore, as vaccine development accelerated, the demand for swabs and viral delivery media surged in academic and research settings.

The pandemic has also caused significant disruptions in the supply of viral transport media due to the overwhelming demand for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) testing. In light of this ongoing shortage, regional market players began in-house production of VTM to support diagnostic testing within hospital networks.

Transport media companies have adopted various organic and inorganic growth strategies. Organic strategies primarily involve product launches and approvals, while inorganic strategies include acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships. These strategies enable market players to broaden their business operations and enhance their geographical reach, thereby contributing to overall market growth. Additionally, acquisition and partnership strategies help strengthen customer bases and expand product portfolios. Notable developments in the transport media market include:

• In March 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. introduced a new viral inactivation medium with a swab for in-vitro diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, available in Europe. The InhibiSure medium effectively inactivates SARS-CoV-2 and stabilizes viral RNA at ambient temperatures for transportation and testing.


• In March 2022, EKF Diagnostics formed a partnership with ABEC, Inc., a leading provider of engineered solutions for biotech manufacturing. This agreement provided EKF Diagnostics with a facility in Indiana equipped with customized, large-scale bioprocess equipment, significantly enhancing its production capacity for enzymes used in various diagnostic and life science applications.

Key sources referenced in the preparation of this report on the transport media market include the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).