Based on application, the market has been segmented into diagnostics and research. Diagnostic applications accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 in the virology specimen collection market. This is due to the rising number of government-approved transport media, specimen collection kits, and swabs for clinical applications. In addition, continuous developments or offering more automated testing due to increasing demand for testing and increasing risks of infection among healthcare staff while carrying out throat swabs is further driving the segment. For instance, in June 2020, researchers from the Southern University of Denmark (SDU) announced the development of a fully automated robot called ?swab robot? in collaboration with Lifeline Robotics for collecting swab samples from patients. The product is aimed to simplify the process of sample extraction without exposing frontline healthcare professionals to infection risk.