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IVD manufacturers have not only improved lab instruments but also adapted them for emerging technologies. Warren Hancock and Andrew Evans During the past decade, the IVD instrument market has undergone sweeping changes. Such changes have been driven by several independent factors, from the ever-growing graying population in developed nations to increased consumer expectations for improved and safer healthcare. Dramatic changes in the marketplace are also being driven by major scientific breakthroughs, new technologies aimed at earlier detection and prevention of disease, and the development of point-of-care (POC) or near-patient testing processes and systems. While such developments continue to emerge, IVD manufacturers are constantly searching for new and more-efficient ways to reduce turnaround times and lower costs. Manufacturers must also deal with ever-higher regulatory compliance requirements and charges. This article discusses how such developments have changed the landscape of the IVD instrument field during the past 10 years, as well as provide insight into emerging industry trends. Few IVD industry analysts would argue with automation’s critical role in the day-to-day performance of clinical diagnostic laboratories. Automation has helped labs keep up with ever-increasing demands for efficient, speedy, inexpensive, and reliable test results. An article in IVD Technology noted that, “Automation will increasingly become a crucial mechanism for clinical laboratories to achieve higher productivity and cost-efficiency. Automation helps streamline the work flow and results in a more reproducible process with less hands-on interaction, which can significantly reduce costs and decrease the need for skilled labor.” Another industry trend among diagnostic companies is to offer more-integrated systems by combining immunoassay and clinical chemistry analyzers. Some systems are moving toward incorporating other processes, such as hematology, in the future. An example of instrument integration is the Architect series by (Abbott Park, IL). Abbott developed its ci8200 by integrating the i2000SR immunoassay module and the c8000