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Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Tina Fine Tina Fine New York, United States Last Updated: November 2025 NAICS OD4175

Revenue

$5.6bn

2025

$5.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

25,987

Businesses

492

Wages

$X.Xbn

Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US industry analysis

 Laboratories in the United States have demonstrated consistent, if modest, growth in recent years, with industry revenue increasing at a CAGR of 1.7% to an estimated $5.6 billion through 2025. This performance was underpinned by a 2.0% revenue climb in 2025, as laboratories diversified across healthcare, forensic and consumer testing segments. Most industry profit stems from the ability to maintain operational efficiency while navigating heightened buyer concentration among healthcare institutions, expanded demand from law enforcement and rising privacy scrutiny in consumer testing. Despite persistent pressures on profit, driven by costly capital investments in technology and inflationary impacts on costs, the share of revenue has remained healthy for large volume and accredited labs that can scale or differentiate their service offerings.

Trends and Insights

  • Technological advancements have cut the costs of DNA tests and made them more accessible to consumers. DNA labs have utilized these investments to meet consumers where they are, fostering demand despite an inflation-driven downturn in disposable incomes.
  • Legal forensic services are the top market for DNA labs. The use of DNA testing in criminal and civil cases remains the most common, although demand for other discretionary services is strengthening.
  • Laboratories operate near highly populated areas. This enables them to base operations near major law enforcement clients and establish favorable relationships.
  • Laboratories compete based on reliability, test accuracy and accreditations. Maintaining high standards of care in handling samples is critical, as any negligence will severely damage the lab's reputation.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $5.6bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Healthcare institutions are key to competitive pressures and market consolidation

  • Laboratories face increasing buyer power as healthcare institutions are dominant consumers. The concentration of clinical demand within hospitals and healthcare networks creates both opportunities and operational pressure for independent labs, which must differentiate themselves through specialized testing, faster turnaround times and robust infrastructure to remain competitive. Genomic testing services providers compete on technical capacity, bioinformatics expertise and ability to integrate results seamlessly into hospital electronic health record systems, forcing continued capital investment in next-generation sequencing equipment and skilled professionals. Hospitals favor vendors that offer rapid reporting, quality certifications and the ability to handle surge volume.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

AI and automation will spur consolidation to meet unmet demand

  • Artificial intelligence and advanced automation technologies are accelerating consolidation across diagnostic laboratories as organizations seek the scale and integrated infrastructure to compete better. New technologies enable laboratories to process hundreds of samples simultaneously, reducing human error and fundamentally transforming their capacity to handle fluctuating caseloads without proportionally increasing staffing. Strategic acquisitions, such as DNA Labs International's 2023 purchase of Intermountain Forensics, as well as partnerships, exemplify this dynamic. QIAGEN's multi-year agreement with Bode Technology to exclusively distribute GEDmatch PRO genealogy database services globally is another example.

Biggest companies in the Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue
2025
Profit
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Legal forensic testing, Ancestry testing and Disease risk testing. Legal forensic testing is the largest segment of the Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US.

Trends and Insights

Forensic DNA testing services are used in criminal and civil cases

  • Forensic testing involves DNA analysis to identify individuals involved in criminal activities, link suspects to crime scenes, exonerate innocent individuals and support civil proceedings. The service provides irrefutable identification through DNA profiling, making it a cornerstone of forensic investigations that ensures fair and just outcomes in criminal cases.​
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry offers DNA paternity testing, forensic DNA services, veterinary DNA testing, ancestry tracking and other services related to human genetics. It excludes nonprofit, state-funded and state-owned institutions, such as public university labs and those owned and operated by law enforcement entities and the court system. Although some operators have multiple patient service centers, the industry is composed of the laboratories to which samples are submitted.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States include Legal forensic testing services, Ancestry testing services, Disease risk testing services, Prenatal testing services, Personal trait testing services and Veterinary testing services.

Companies

Companies covered in the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States include buccal swab, combined dna index system (codis), dna profile, grandparentage test, siblingship test and twin zygosity test.

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 621511 - Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Technological advancements have cut the costs of DNA tests and made them more accessible to consumers. DNA labs have utilized these investments to meet consumers where they a...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Legal forensic services are the top market for DNA labs. The use of DNA testing in criminal and civil cases remains the most common, although demand for other discretionary s...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Laboratories operate near highly populated areas. This enables them to base operations near major law enforcement clients and establish favorable relationships.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Laboratories compete based on reliability, test accuracy and accreditations. Maintaining high standards of care in handling samples is critical, as any negligence will severe...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Forensic DNA Laboratories in the US industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is highly fragmented, preventing any single company from taking over. Diverse downstream markets and a focus on specific products prevent labs from significantly...

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Demand for lab services moves alongside disposable income. This trend will continue to strengthen as consumers continue to grow as a major downstream market.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Rapid revenue growth enables profit to expand. The growing demand for DNA testing and weakening operating costs have enabled profit to expand, supporting DNA and forensic lab...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States in 2025?

The market size of the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States is $5.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 492 businesses in the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States?

The Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States?

The Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States include?

Legal forensic testing services and Ancestry testing services are part of the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Forensic DNA Laboratories industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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