Shelter pathogen PCR screening market seen reaching $1.78 billion by 2030

The shelter pathogen PCR screening programs market is projected to grow from $1.1 billion in 2025 to $1.78 billion by 2030, driven by rising infectious disease risks in animal shelters and broader use of molecular diagnostics. North America led the market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region.

Why it matters: - Shelter pathogen PCR screening programs help animal shelters detect infections earlier and reduce outbreak risk. - Growth in the market points to higher demand for faster, more precise disease surveillance in crowded shelter settings. - The trend also reflects broader pressure on shelters to protect animal health and improve adoption readiness.

What happened: - The Business Research Company said the shelter pathogen polymerase chain reaction screening programs market will grow at a 10.1% CAGR through 2030. - The market is projected to rise from $1.1 billion in 2025 to $1.21 billion in 2026. - The market is forecast to reach $1.78 billion by 2030. - North America was the largest regional market in 2025. - Asia-Pacific is expected to grow the fastest over the forecast period. - The company published the outlook on July 7, 2026. - A free sample of the report is available. - The full market report is also available.

The details: - Shelter pathogen PCR screening programs use molecular testing to identify infections in animals housed in shelters and rescue centers. - The programs are designed to support disease monitoring, outbreak control, animal health and cleaner shelter environments. - Historical growth has been driven by higher infectious disease incidence in shelters, wider adoption of molecular diagnostics, growing awareness of zoonotic risks, limited access to rapid shelter testing and expansion of veterinary diagnostic laboratories. - The market’s expected growth through 2030 is linked to demand for early disease detection, more automated and high-throughput PCR systems, more investment in animal health infrastructure, preventive veterinary screening and portable point-of-care molecular tools. - Key forecast-period trends include broader use of real-time PCR for pathogen surveillance, more multiplex PCR testing, automated nucleic acid extraction, portable PCR devices for on-site screening and more regular molecular screening to prevent outbreaks. - The company said one major growth driver is the rise in infectious diseases among shelter animals, especially in crowded environments with close contact among dogs, cats and other animals. - The company also linked recent disease pressure to higher intake numbers and lower vaccination rates after the pandemic. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture reported in November 2023 that canine infectious respiratory disease cases had doubled versus typical outbreak levels, with similar surges in at least 10 U.S. states between 2022 and 2023. - The American Pet Products Association said U.S. pet-owning households rose from 82 million in 2023 to 94 million in 2024.

Between the lines: - The market forecast suggests shelters and veterinary networks are moving toward more routine molecular screening rather than waiting for outbreaks to spread. - Faster growth in Asia-Pacific may reflect expanding animal health infrastructure and broader adoption of diagnostic testing, though the release did not break out country-level drivers. - The report’s focus on portable and automated PCR tools suggests cost and access remain key barriers in shelter settings.

What's next: - The report expects continued demand for real-time, multiplex and point-of-care PCR tools through 2030. - Wider use of preventive screening programs could support earlier containment of infectious disease clusters in shelters. - The market will likely be shaped by how quickly shelters and labs adopt automated workflows and portable testing systems.