Bio-Rad Laboratories

What Bio-Rad Laboratories does

Bio-Rad Laboratories is a publicly traded life science research and clinical diagnostics company headquartered in Hercules, California, founded in 1952 and listed on the NYSE under ticker BIO.B. The company operates two principal segments — Life Science Research and Clinical Diagnostics — and manufactures instruments, reagents, consumables, software, and testing solutions sold globally to academic institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospital and reference clinical laboratories, blood banks, food manufacturers, and science educators.

The core technology portfolio centers on molecular biology and clinical diagnostics platforms. In life science research, Bio-Rad offers Droplet Digital PCR systems (QX200, QX600) for absolute nucleic acid quantification, real-time PCR systems (CFX Opus, CFX Opus Dx), conventional thermal cyclers (PTC Tempo, PTC Harmony), Western blotting instruments (ChemiDoc MP, Trans-Blot Turbo) with proprietary Stain-Free total protein normalization, flow cytometry antibodies and StarBright fluorescent dyes, and chromatography products. In clinical diagnostics, the company provides immunohematology systems (IH-500 NEXT, IH-1000, IH-Com, IH-AbID) for blood typing and transfusion medicine, autoimmune testing, NGSP-certified HPLC HbA1c diabetes diagnostics, infectious disease assays (HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis), and newborn screening. Food safety is served through iQ-Check PCR detection kits, RAPID chromogenic media, and validated kits for Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli STEC, Campylobacter, and Cronobacter. The education segment sells hands-on kits including pGLO Bacterial Transformation and CRISPR Gene Editing kits.

Bio-Rad's business model is anchored by instrument placements that drive recurring consumable, reagent, and quality control revenue, with FY2025 revenue of approximately $2.6 billion. The company distributes through a global direct sales force of regional specialists complemented by an e-commerce platform for reorders and a quote-based enterprise pricing model. A $1.2 billion senior notes offering in March 2022 provided capital flexibility, and recent strategic activity includes the February 2025 acquisition of Stilla Technologies to expand digital PCR capability. Revenue declined from approximately $2.92 billion in 2021 to $2.58 billion in 2025, with Q1 2026 sales up 1.1% reported but down 4.2% on a currency-neutral basis; Digital PCR instruments grew 24% YoY in Q1 2026 as an internal growth pocket.

Name

Bio-Rad Laboratories

Legal name

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://bio-rad.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Bio-Rad Laboratories is a publicly traded life science research and clinical diagnostics company selling instruments, reagents, consumables, and quality controls to academic, pharmaceutical, clinical laboratory, food safety, and education customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Science Research & Clinical Diagnostics Instruments and Reagents

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hematology & Coagulation Diagnostics (HLAHAAAB), Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Life science instruments
• Clinical diagnostics products
• Digital PCR systems
• Western blot reagents
• Blood typing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Hercules

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Life Science Research Products: Sale of instruments, reagents, and consumables for life science research including PCR systems, Western Blot equipment, chromatography, flow cytometry antibodies, and cell analysis tools. Revenue is generated through direct sales and e-commerce, with recurring consumable revenue from reagent sales.
2. Clinical Diagnostics Products: Sale of diagnostic instruments and assays for clinical laboratories including blood typing systems, autoimmune testing, infectious disease testing, diabetes/HbA1c testing, and molecular diagnostics. Includes ongoing reagent and consumable revenue from installed instrument base.
3. Quality Control Products: Independent quality control materials including immunoassay controls, Unity QC data management software, and proficiency testing services for clinical laboratory accreditation.
4. Food Safety Testing Products: PCR detection kits, chromogenic media, and testing solutions for food pathogen detection including Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and STEC testing.
5. Classroom Education Products: Educational laboratory kits, equipment, and biotechnology textbook for high school and university classroom instruction, offered at discounted educational pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bio-Rad Laboratories manufactures and sells laboratory instruments, reagents, consumables, and software for life science research and clinical diagnostics through two primary segments. The Life Science Research segment provides PCR/qPCR and Droplet Digital PCR systems, Western blotting instruments, chromatography/HPLC platforms, flow cytometry antibodies, electrophoresis products, and StarBright Dyes. The Clinical Diagnostics segment provides immunohematology/blood typing systems (IH-500 NEXT, IH-1000, IH-Complete), autoimmune and infectious disease assays, HbA1c diabetes testing, newborn screening HPLC, quality control products (InteliQ, Liquichek, Unity QC), and food safety testing kits (iQ-Check PCR, RAPID chromogenic media). Revenue is generated through direct sales of instruments plus a recurring stream of reagents, consumables, and QC products.

Product overview

Bio-Rad Laboratories is a life science research and clinical diagnostics company offering a diversified portfolio of instruments, reagents, software, and testing solutions. The product portfolio includes: Real-time PCR systems (CFX Opus, CFX Opus Dx for IVD) and thermal cyclers (PTC Tempo, PTC Harmony); Droplet Digital PCR technology (QX200, QX600 systems); Western blotting instruments (ChemiDoc MP, Trans-Blot Turbo); Flow cytometry antibodies and reagents including StarBright Dyes; Clinical diagnostics for autoimmune testing, diabetes/HbA1c, infectious disease (HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis), newborn screening, and immunohematology (IH-500 NEXT, IH-1000 instruments with IH-Complete workflow solution and IH-Com/IH-AbID software); Blood typing and transfusion medicine products with gel and tube testing; Quality control products (InteliQ, Liquichek, Lyphochek controls with Unity QC data management); Food safety testing including iQ-Check PCR kits and RAPID chromogenic media for Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, STEC, Campylobacter, Cronobacter; Cannabis testing for microbial pathogens; Water quality and veterinary diagnostics; Education products including pGLO Bacterial Transformation Kit, CRISPR Gene Editing Kits, BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit; and specialty immunoassay controls. These products serve life science research, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, clinical diagnostics, food safety, and science education markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bio-Rad Explorer: Classroom education program offering innovative hands-on lab activities for high school through university students
• ddPCR (Droplet Digital PCR)
• CFX Opus
• PTC Tempo/PTC Harmony
• ChemiDoc
• StarBright Dyes
• Unity QC Data Management
• IH-Complete
• InteliQ
• iQ-Check
• pGLO

Products and services

• CFX Opus Real-Time PCR Systems High-performance real-time PCR detection system with 5-channel multiplexing, advanced thermal uniformity, and modernized data management for gene expression and qPCR applications in life science research laboratories.
• CFX Opus Dx Real-Time PCR Systems (IVD) FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic real-time PCR system with workflow flexibility for clinical laboratory testing applications, including diagnostic qPCR assays.
• PTC Harmony Thermal Cycler Budget-friendly conventional PCR thermal cycler available in 96-well and Deepwell configurations, offering thermal accuracy comparable to PTC Tempo with modern intuitive interface and flexible connectivity options for research laboratories.
• PTC Tempo Thermal Cycler Premium performance conventional PCR thermal cycler on a modern platform designed for demanding applications and multiple users in research laboratories.
• QX600 Droplet Digital PCR System Advanced droplet digital PCR instrument providing absolute quantification of nucleic acids with ultra-sensitivity for liquid biopsy, rare mutation detection, and copy number variation analysis in research and clinical applications.
• ChemiDoc MP Imaging System Best-in-class gel documentation and Western blot imaging system for fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection covering all general gel documentation applications in research laboratories.
• Trans-Blot Turbo Transfer System Fast and efficient protein transfer system for Western blotting, capable of transferring proteins up to 400 kD in as little as 3 minutes using preassembled transfer packs.
• IH-500 NEXT System Medium-to-high throughput automated blood typing instrument for immunohematology diagnostics designed to reduce hands-on time and provide faster results in a compact bench-top format.
• IH-1000 System High-throughput fully automated immunohematology diagnostic instrument for gel cards with continuous loading capability and independent, easy-to-use operation for blood banks and transfusion medicine labs.
• IH-Com Data Management System Cloud-based integrated data management software providing a unified database and user interface across multiple Bio-Rad transfusion medicine platforms for streamlined operations and reduced labor costs in clinical labs and blood banks.
• IH-AbID Software FDA-approved antibody identification software using a unique probability-based algorithm to guide technicians through complex antibody identification processes in transfusion medicine workflows.
• iQ-Check PCR Detection Kits Real-time PCR detection kits for foodborne pathogens including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Cronobacter sakazakii, and STEC with validated chromogenic media alternatives for food testing laboratories.
• InteliQ Load-and-Go Quality Controls Barcoded ready-to-use quality controls in automation-compatible format enabling load-and-go efficiency for chemistry and immunoassay platforms, with integrated QC data management via Unity Software for clinical laboratories.
• Specialty Immunoassay Plus Control Four-level comprehensive specialty immunoassay quality control monitoring 14 analytes including PCT (Procalcitonin), IL-6, and Active Vitamin B12 with automation-compatible InteliQ format for clinical laboratories.
• Unity QC Data Management Solutions Advanced quality control data management software enabling peer group comparison across reporting labs worldwide, with integration with InteliQ and Liquichek control products for clinical laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing.
• PrimePCR Assays & Arrays Experimentally validated PCR primer and probe assays for gene expression, copy number variation, and mutation detection analysis across multiple research applications.
• StarBright Dyes Fluorescent dye conjugates for flow cytometry and Western blot applications, with expanded TrailBlazer Kits enabling antibody conjugation for multiplexed detection in immunology research.
• EZ-Check Listeria Testing Kits EZ-Check Listeria spp. and EZ-Check Listeria monocytogenes Testing Kits for food safety testing, MicroVal-validated as announced on 2026-05-11.
• pGLO Bacterial Transformation Kit Hands-on molecular biology kit for teaching genetic engineering, gene expression, and GFP purification using safe reagents and techniques for high school and university classroom settings.
• CRISPR Gene Editing Kits Classroom laboratory kits introducing CRISPR gene editing technology using familiar and safe reagents, techniques, and organisms for hands-on learning in high school and university courses.
• BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit Hands-on laboratory kit exploring quorum sensing and bioluminescence in Vibrio bacteria through cell signaling activities and modeling for classroom biology learning.
• Flow Cytometry Antibodies Extensive portfolio of ready-made primary and secondary antibodies, controls, and reagents for flow cytometry applications, including custom monoclonal antibody generation services for research laboratories.
• Blood Typing and Screening Products Complete transfusion medicine portfolio including gel testing, tube testing reagents, automated instruments (IH-500 NEXT, IH-1000), and software (IH-Com, IH-AbID) for ABO/Rh blood grouping, antibody screening, and compatibility testing in blood banks and hospital labs.
• Diabetes Testing (HbA1c) Gold standard NGSP-certified HPLC testing systems for HbA1c diabetes diagnostics with ion-exchange HPLC technology for accurate and reliable hemoglobin variant testing in clinical laboratories.
• Infectious Disease Testing High-performance assays and comprehensive systems for detecting HIV, HCV, HBV, and syphilis with automated immunoassays, EIAs, and confirmatory solutions for clinical diagnostics laboratories.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24% year-over-year revenue growth in Digital PCR instruments
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GencurixminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Gencurix signed product development agreements with Bio-Rad Laboratories and QIAGEN in 2025, strengthening its foundation for global expansion of its Droplex PIK3CA Test digital PCR-based breast cancer companion diagnostic. Bio-Rad collaboration supports Gencurix's precision breast cancer diagnostics development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BioRadLifeScience
• Facebookfacebook.com/biorad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bio-rad
• Instagraminstagram.com/bioradlabs
• Xx.com/BioRad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A17 records

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bio-Rad Laboratories