Top trends for lab leaders in 2025: Innovations to watch

With approximately 14 billion clinical lab tests performed annually in the US alone, staying updated on the latest lab trends is essential for lab leaders to keep ahead of the curve.¹ After all, 2024 was a huge year for laboratories, with various trends and eInnovations coming out thick and fast — and that looks set to continue in the coming year.²

From the increased adoption of automation systems to a rise in specialized testing capabilities, some experts are even referring to the life science industry as being in “Industry 4.0” — a shift driven by the impact of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and machine learning.³

So what changes can we expect in 2025 for the lab sector? Which trends will shape the industry, and how might the landscape evolve? 

Here, we answer all these questions and more, covering the top laboratory trends set to redefine the future of healthcare delivery.

Automation has continually evolved over recent years, allowing tasks to be performed without constant human supervision.^2,3 By handling simple tasks like barcoding, re/de-capping, or sorting samples, automation has helped reduce the likelihood of human error while increasing productivity.²

In 2025, automation looks to become more widely deployed within laboratories, especially in processes like manual aliquoting and the pre-analytical steps of assay workflows.⁴ As a direct result of this, laboratories should soon be able to improve the reliability of the equipment they work with, such as reagents and samples, and, ultimately, the overall quality of their results.⁴

The rise in automation is also likely to provide lab-based staff with more time to focus on higher-value activities. With routine tasks streamlined, personnel should soon be able to dedicate more attention to other important areas, such as training and mentoring, performing more quality control troubleshooting, or managing  test sample processes across other departments.⁴

One of the main reasons automation looks set to reign supreme in 2025 is its ability to enhance patient care.⁵

According to a recent survey by Siemens Healthineers, 95% of laboratory professionals believe that adopting automated technologies will help improve their ability to deliver patient care, with 89% agreeing that automation is vital to keep up with demand.⁵ But what will this transformation actually look like in practice? 

By enabling instruments, robots, and “smart” consumables to communicate seamlessly with one another, IoMT-connected software can help automate processes. Throughout 2025, IoMT will be implemented more and more into automatable laboratory equipment and devices.⁴ The connectivity that this will provide should greatly improve the efficiency of lab-based processes, and ultimately, allow lab professionals to focus more of their time on delivering collaborative patient care.⁴

With labs now needing to manage vast volumes of complex data, there’s been a growing need for advanced data analytics and visualization tools that go beyond simple storage.⁶ In 2025, these needs are expected to be met to a greater degree, as more tools become available to help identify trends, streamline operations​, and improve clinical decision-making and patient diagnoses.⁶

When combined with AI, these cutting-edge pieces of technology will not only help transform how labs operate by reducing operational costs, but also enhance compliance with regulatory standards.⁷

By analyzing complex datasets, these tools can help identify potential workflow bottlenecks or underperforming processes, allowing lab personnel to address any inefficiencies that might have otherwise been missed.⁷

With the world growing more dependent on technology every day, and the increasing number of cyber attacks, the need for cybersecurity has become indispensable.⁸ Moreover, when you take into account just how quickly technological advances continue to appear in healthcare, the paramount importance of cybersecurity becomes even more pronounced. 

While the integration of new technology has already prompted many labs to incorporate cloud-based laboratory information management systems (LIMS) into their working environments, there is still work to be done.⁶ 

With this in mind, in 2025 laboratories will need to prioritize putting comprehensive cyber protection strategies in place.⁸ These are likely to center around two key areas. First, the growing implementation of AI will play a pivotal role in detecting and mitigating cyber threats in real time.⁸ Second, advances in blockchain technology and post-quantum cryptography should help improve data integrity and strengthen encryption against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks.⁹

Sustainability will become an even more important focus for laboratories this year. By purchasing energy-efficient equipment, reducing waste, and adopting greener processes, labs are now looking to implement changes that not only align with environmental goals but also offer long-term savings.¹⁰

According to certain experts, embracing automation and other technological advances is essential to this movement.⁴ For instance, the rise of at-home testing coupled with increased accessibility of electronic health records (EHRs) has not only helped to empower patients to take greater ownership of their health, it has also reduced the need for in-person visits, thereby helping to lower patients’ overall carbon footprint.^11,12

In fact, according to recent statistics, the utilization of EHRs for 8.7 million patients has already resulted in the saving of 1,044 tons of paper and avoided 92,000 tons of carbon emissions.¹² These figures are only likely to rise over the coming year as more laboratories implement this eco-friendly technology into their operational workflows.¹²

As we’ve touched on already, one major shift that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic was the expansion — and investment into — point of care testing (POCT). While we may now be almost five years on from those dark days, the momentum of this expansion continues to shape 2025, driving the development of increasingly accessible and convenient treatment options for patients.⁴

For labs, this shift is especially transformative, enabling decentralized testing, faster turnaround times, and a greater focus on patient-centered care.¹³

One particular area of excitement for this year is the evolution of POCT to test for more than just respiratory illnesses. Being able to diagnose other issues, such as sexually transmitted infections, reduces long wait times and offers an improved level of care to patients.⁴

With mass spectrometry technology becoming more accessible and affordable, more labs will be able to utilize it in their workspace, enabling more accurate analysis in some clinical situations.¹⁴ In fact, this implementation has already begun.¹⁵

According to recent estimates, the global mass spectrometry market was valued at approximately $USD 6.93 billion back in 2023. This figure is expected to reach $USD 8.17 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.39% year-on-year from now until 2033 — when it will almost double.¹⁵

Coupled with advancements in computing power, the growing use of mass spectrometry is set to improve our ability to study proteins and understand metabolic pathways in unprecedented detail.^4,16 Whether by detecting small metabolites or analyzing large protein complexes, this technology could revolutionize diagnosis and disease management, potentially paving the way for significant advancements in the delivery of personalized medicine.^4,16

Laboratories are already benefiting from a wealth of recent technological advances, and this trend doesn’t look like it is slowing down any time soon.² Throughout 2025, labs are poised to gain access to even more sophisticated tools and software, enabling them to streamline operational workflows and, ultimately, deliver a continually improved level of care to patients.⁵