The rise in diagnostics focused on consumers is part of a broader trend since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic when at-home testing for the coronavirus became a necessity and it was accompanied by a spike in telehealth use. In recent years, other factors such as a push to remote solutions, preventive healthcare, the fight against antimicrobial resistance, and affordability in diagnostic testing have helped the consumer diagnostics sector to grow, according to a report by Clark Consulting. It projects that the size of the global remote diagnostics market will hit $653 billion by 2033.
Consumer diagnostics will be one of several discussions at the INVEST Digital Health conference on the rise of the consumer in healthcare. The conference is scheduled for October 29 in Dallas at Pegasus Park. Click here to view the agenda and register.
Businesses are identifying new ways to use advanced technologies and develop innovative diagnostic testing to enable faster, more accurate results while addressing data security and cost concerns for diagnostics, according to the Clark Consulting report.
From Blind Spots to Better Outcomes: How SNF Data Transparency Strengthens LTSS
What if health plans could identify member decline before an avoidable hospitalization occurs? Real-time clinical visibility into long-stay SNF members uncovers risk earlier and drives better outcomes.
Two years ago at INVEST Digital Health, a handful of consumer diagnostics companies took part in a panel discussion. Earlier this summer, Function Health, an Austin business that gives consumers access to more than 160 different lab tests, including for hormones, heart health, immunity and metabolism, raised $450 million in growth funding from General Catalyst to bring diagnostics to a larger audience. NowDiagnostics raised $22.5 million in a Series B funding round in 2024 and hired a new CEO this year. Lisa Nibauer previously served as president of diagnostics at OraSure Technologies.
A year after women’s telehealth company, Wisp, added a diagnostics arm to its business to capture the burgeoning consumer diagnostics market, it acquired TBD Health, which focuses on sexual health, illustrating consolidation in this diagnostics sector. Wisp also has collaborated with Visby to support sexual health.
A Deloitte report on rethinking consumer engagement in diagnostics noted that as more testing moves into the home and retailers, providers are becoming part of a more distributed care model. Consumers expect convenient access, transparent and predictable experiences, personalized interactions, and results they can understand and act on, according to the report. The report cited a diagnostic maker’s survey of 1,000 US-based patients, which found that 93% of respondents expect their doctor to order a lab test upon request, while 27% pursue testing without a doctor’s recommendation.
In its 2026 Illumina Ventures report reflecting on 2025 diagnostic trends, Illumina Ventures said that the FDA approved more home tests and eased regulations for wearables. It also pointed out that consumer test ordering was increasingly popular with direct and indirect providers. Improved technology has improved the ability for DTC tests and wearables to communicate with doctors, although this remains a niche area currently.
The Healthcare Payments Industry Faces a Perception Challenge
Healthcare payments are no longer about transactions. It’s about controlling the revenue cycle. And increasingly, that control is not sitting with ISOs.
At INVEST Digital Health, the consumer diagnostics panel will highlight the level of personalization, clinical rigor and consumer engagement needed in order for people to navigate this type of personal health data.
Deloitte’s report clarifies that the consumer diagnostics trend will also include providers. Consumer-facing diagnostics companies collaborate with healthcare organizations, employers, health plans, and testing service providers, and secure coverage through health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts.
In its outlook, Charles Consulting noted that advanced technology in data storage and analysis will be part of the push to address data security and privacy concerns associated with remote diagnostics.
For a compelling conversation on consumer diagnostic developments and how it fits into the broader consumerization trend in healthcare, register now for INVEST Digital Health.
Photo: d3sign, Getty Images