Legionella Testing Market to Grow at 9.7% CAGR over 2025 to 2032; Pace Analytical Services Acquires Special Pathogens Laboratory to Strengthen Industry Foothold

The global legionella testing market size was valued at USD 346.8 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 379.3 million in 2025 to USD 726.3 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period.

Fortune Business Insights™ cites this information in its research report, titled“Legionella Testing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Culture Media, Urine Antigen Testing (UAT), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Serology, and Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) test), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Clinical Laboratories, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032”.

Legionella testing kits recorded a high demand during the pandemic period as most countries were under lockdown restrictions. This resulted in restrained usage of water from the storage facilities of many commercial buildings, increasing the possibility of Legionella species growth. These factors propelled industry growth to a considerable extent.

Market Growth Affected Due to Decline in Water Testing amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic period registered a drop in Legionnaires’ and water testing driven by the rise in COVID-19 diagnostics. This was prominently due to the similarity between the clinical presentation of COVID-19 and Legionella. However, the market is anticipated to grow in the post-pandemic period considering the stagnation of water in the storage facilities of empty buildings and the resulting growth of Legionella bacteria.

Asahi Kasei Corporation Introduced Ribotest™ Legionella to Help Accelerate the Diagnosis Process

In January 2019, Asahi Kasei Corporation announced the rollout of Ribotest™ Legionella in Japan. The solution allowed the rapid diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila infection. Immediate treatment and early diagnosis are considered vital as the disease could lead to severe conditions as it progresses rapidly. The new kit is expected to help speed up the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease. According to Asahi Kasei, the kit would be sold by two companies: Kyokuto Pharmaceutical Industrial Co. Ltd. and Alere Medical Co. Ltd.

Increasing Demand and Adoption of PCR and Urinary Antigen Testing to Drive Market Growth

The industry has recorded the escalating launch of real-time PCR kits. The technology is rapid and can detect all serotypes of the Legionella species. The increasing adoption of these tests across the globe is set to drive Legionella testing market growth over the forecast period.

However, awareness regarding the disease is limited in underdeveloped countries. This may restrain the industry expansion to some extent.

Competitive Landscape:

Leading Companies Develop Advanced Testing Methods to Strengthen Market Footing

Leading players are actively developing new Legionella testing methods such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), UAT, and others to gain a competitive edge. These companies are also adopting mergers, partnerships, acquisitions, and launching new products, among others, to expand their customer base. These steps are also being undertaken to expand product reach and increase geographical footprints.

Notable Industry Development:

• December 2021: Special Pathogens Laboratory was acquired by Pace Analytical Services. Pace provides in-lab and onsite regulatory testing and analysis services.

List of Companies Profiled in the Report:

• Quidel Corporation (U.S.)


• Abbott (Alere) (U.S.)


• Merck KGaA (Germany)


• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.)


• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.)


• BD (U.S.)


• bioMérieux (France)


• IDEXX Corporation (U.S.)


• Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg)

Further Report Findings:

• The North American Legionella testing market was valued at USD 137.3 million and held a dominant share in 2024. The region's significant geriatric population, vulnerable to infections, contributes to the high demand for testing. Moreover, the testing demand is amplified due to the elevated mortality risk associated with pneumonia in these patients.


• Asia Pacific Legionella testing market share region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the projected period. This surge is propelled by the increasing awareness regarding available test products and the region's economic development. The expansion is further fueled by the growing emphasis on expanding Legionella testing services in the region.


• The urine antigen testing segment held the largest share in 2024, being a commonly used and cost-efficient method for detecting Legionella bacteria. However, its limitation to detecting only LP1 species might slightly impact its growth in the forecast period.

Table of Segmentation: