Sample Preparation Market (2026-2036)

The growth of this market is mainly driven by the growth of genomic, proteomic, and molecular diagnostic testing, which require reproducible preparation of nucleic acids, proteins, and cells; the growth of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research and development, including bioanalysis for biologics, cell and gene therapies, and novel modalities; tightening regulations for environmental and food testing, including testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, and contaminants; and the increasing automation of laboratory workflows to address throughput demands and staff shortages. In addition, the adoption of high-sensitivity mass spectrometry and sequencing that place greater demands on sample quality, the development of integrated sample preparation workstations, the growth of liquid biopsy and single-cell analysis, and the expansion of laboratory capacity in Asia-Pacific are further supporting the growth of this market.

The Sample Preparation Market, also referred to as the laboratory sample preparation market, sample processing market, or analytical sample preparation market, comprises the consumables, instruments, workstations, and software used to isolate, extract, purify, concentrate, dilute, filter, and otherwise prepare biological, chemical, food, and environmental samples for analysis by sequencing, PCR, mass spectrometry, chromatography, immunoassays, and other analytical methods. The market includes kits and reagents for the isolation, extraction, and purification of DNA, RNA, and proteins; buffers, solvents, filtration media, and immunomagnetic reagents; filters, tubes, plates, columns, tips, and cartridges; liquid handling systems, including automated liquid handlers, pipettes, dispensers, and microplate washers; centrifuges, filtration systems, extraction and purification systems, homogenizers, shakers, and microwave digestion systems; integrated sample preparation workstations; and software for workflow control and data management. The market covers techniques including solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid phase extraction (LPE), filtration, dilution, and precipitation. The market ecosystem extends from manufacturers of consumables, reagents, and instruments to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract research organizations (CROs), academic and research institutes, hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, food and beverage companies, and environmental testing laboratories.

Sample preparation is often the most time-consuming and error-prone part of laboratory analysis. The quality of sample preparation determines the accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility of results, and poorly prepared samples can cause failed runs, false results, and instrument downtime. As analytical instruments such as high-resolution mass spectrometers and high-throughput sequencers become more sensitive and productive, sample preparation increasingly becomes the bottleneck, and laboratories are investing in better consumables, automation, and integrated workflows.

Life sciences and pharmaceutical research are the largest sources of demand. Genomic studies require extraction and library preparation of nucleic acids, proteomic studies require protein extraction, digestion, and enrichment, and drug discovery and development require preparation of samples for screening, bioanalysis, and quality control. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, Agilent Technologies, Inc. reported revenue of USD 1.88 billion, up 8.1% year over year, with its Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets segment growing 11% to USD 746 million, its CrossLab consumables and services segment growing 6% to USD 786 million, and its Applied Markets segment growing 7% to USD 346 million, and raised its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to USD 7.49-7.51 billion. The growth of biologics, antibody-drug conjugates, cell and gene therapies, and oligonucleotide drugs is increasing the complexity of bioanalytical sample preparation.

Molecular diagnostics and genomics continue to drive demand for nucleic acid sample preparation. In the second quarter of 2026, QIAGEN N.V. reported Sample technologies sales of USD 182 million, up 9% at constant exchange rates, with automated consumables growing at a high-teens rate, while rolling out its next-generation QIAsymphony Connect platform and receiving first orders for QIAsprint Connect. The growth of oncology testing, liquid biopsy, infectious disease testing, and genetic testing requires automated and reproducible extraction from blood, plasma, tissue, and other samples, and the growth of sequencing volumes increases demand for library preparation and cleanup.

Environmental and food testing are important and regulation-driven applications. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits of 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water remain in force, with public water systems required to disclose PFAS levels from 2027, and compliance testing relies on EPA Methods 533 and 537.1, which use solid phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), while EPA Method 1633A extends PFAS analysis to wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soils, biosolids, and tissue. Laboratories testing water, soil, food, and consumer products for PFAS, pesticides, mycotoxins, veterinary drug residues, and other contaminants use SPE, QuEChERS, filtration, and digestion methods, and tightening limits require greater sensitivity and cleaner samples.

Automation is reshaping laboratory sample preparation. Laboratories face rising sample volumes, shortages of skilled staff, and requirements for traceability and reproducibility, and they are adopting automated liquid handlers, extraction systems, and integrated workstations. In the first half of 2026, Tecan Group Ltd. reported sales of CHF 427.5 million, up 3.4% in local currencies, with its Life Sciences Business growing 3.1% on growth in biopharma and diagnostics, a recovery in liquid handling instrument revenue in the second quarter, and recurring revenues reaching 64.4% of segment sales, while academic and government demand declined. Manufacturers are also adding software, analytics, and AI capabilities to automation platforms to improve productivity.

The market includes leading life science and analytical companies such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies, Danaher, Merck KGaA, QIAGEN, Roche, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Revvity, Illumina, Promega, and Waters, and laboratory automation companies such as Tecan and Hamilton. These companies compete on the performance and reproducibility of consumables, the breadth of portfolios across sample types and techniques, the throughput and flexibility of automation, integration with analytical instruments, regulatory compliance, cost per sample, and global distribution and service.

At the same time, the market faces challenges, including variability in research funding, particularly in academic and government laboratories, the high cost of automated systems for smaller laboratories, the complexity of preparing samples from diverse and difficult matrices, the need for method validation, price competition in standard consumables, and the environmental impact of plastic consumables and solvents. As a result, companies that combine high-performance consumables, flexible and scalable automation, integration with downstream analysis, validated application workflows, and sustainable products are expected to capture the largest share of growth over the forecast period.