Clinical laboratories in the United States may often appear insulated from geopolitical events, yet their operations rely on a global network of manufacturers, suppliers, and transportation routes to deliver reagents, consumables, and instruments and instrument parts essential to diagnostic testing. As a result, clinical labs are vulnerable to disruptions caused by conflict, trade disputes, sanctions, natural disasters, and transportation bottlenecks.
Recent geopolitical developments have underscored these vulnerabilities.
Disruptions to energy markets, major international shipping routes, and global logistics networks can increase transportation costs, delay deliveries, and affect the availability of petroleum-derived materials used to manufacture many laboratory products. For clinical laboratories already operating under financial and staffing pressures, geopolitical instability has become an important factor in supply chain planning and risk management.
Recent tensions in the Persian Gulf region demonstrated the vulnerability of laboratory supply chains to regional instability. Disruptions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global shipping corridor—have increased concerns about shipping delays, higher transportation costs, and the availability of petrochemical-derived materials used in many laboratory consumables.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation highlights the importance of preparedness and supply chain resilience for clinical laboratories dependent on globally sourced products.
How these disruptions are affecting clinical laboratories:
Petrochemical inputs
Plastics, polymers, and single-use packaging are all largely derived from petrochemical sources in the Persian Gulf region. Because a fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices have reached all-time highs, leaving experts concerned that disruptions to supplies and higher prices could persist for months even after the war ends, affecting the cost and availability of clinical laboratory supplies.
According to a recent Reuters report, rubber glove makers have raised the average price for synthetic rubber gloves by 40%, will continue to increase costs, and have also warned of production cuts. This will not only increase costs for clinical labs but, if this escalates to glove shortages, labs may be forced to scale back some operations as supplies are prioritized for clinical care.
Medtecs, a manufacturer of medical equipment including face masks and surgical gowns, both of which are made from petroleum-based plastics, said it had raised prices by 40%.
Electronics/Instrument Components
Shipments of semiconductors, used to power modern electronics, also rely on moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The result is delayed equipment repairs and shortages of spare parts, leading to extended equipment downtimes.
Cold chain and time-sensitive biologics
Exports of pharmaceutical ingredients, diagnostic reagents, and biologics from India, one of the world’s largest exporters of these products, rely on flights through Dubai International and Hamad International Airport in Doha. Both of these airports have experienced recent closures and instability due to regional tensions and military activity. Due to these agents' temperature sensitivity, they must be shipped on ice by air, which can delay the delivery of critical clinical laboratory supplies, potentially leading clinical labs to substitute the reagent they usually use, creating a significant validation burden as protocols must be revalidated with new reagents.
Helium
Instability at key helium production facilities in the Middle East, which accounts for a large portion of the world’s helium output, along with the inability to transport the gas through primary ocean routes, has led to immediate helium supply shortages.
| Product Category | Key Exposure | Risk Level | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic reagents | Indian API exports, air freight | HIGH | Dual route closure |
| Imaging equipment | Semiconductors, spare parts | HIGH | Asia shipping disruption |
| Implantable devices | Specialty polymers, sterilization | MEDIUM | Petrochemical inputs |
| Surgical instruments | Stainless steel, packing | MEDIUM | Supply rerouting cost |
| Tempature-sensitive | Air cargo, cold chain | HIGH | Airspace closures |
| Durable equipment (domestric source) | Energy cost, raw materials | LOW | Insulated if nearshored |
| Table 1. Risk Assessment by MedTech Product Category Note: Risk ratings reflect supply disruption and compliance exposure as of March 9, 2026, and may shift as the conflict evolves. | |||
Strategies to improve supply chain resilience
Move to continuous restricted party screening
Investing in restricted-party software enables continuous screening of international companies and trade partners. This means your software will flag a newly designated restricted entity the moment it appears, so you are always aware of which entities cannot provide goods and prevent engaging in business with people and entities that appear on restricted party lists published by government agencies.
This kind of software also offers other benefits, such as information on compliance requirements, tariffs, and duty rates, boosting efficiency by reducing or eliminating manual screening of entities, and avoiding illegal transactions with restricted entities, which could lead to hefty fines and penalties.
Invest in supply chain visibility software
Supply chain visibility software can help minimize supply chain risks by enabling continuous monitoring of shipments and supplies, forecasting availability, automating notifications, and facilitating seamless communication with staff and vendors, thereby improving coordination and enabling solutions to problems as soon as they arise.
Monitor FDA drug and device shortage notices
FDA drug and device shortage notices list supply chain disruptions for specific products. These notices provide valuable information not only about supply shortages but also about their causes, expected duration, product recalls, and methods to mitigate their effects. This valuable information allows clinical labs to put plans in place to increase their ability to maintain service continuity and funnel supplies to their most critical functions.
Build back-up inventory
A key preparedness strategy that labs learned during the COVID-19 PPE availability crisis is a good practice to follow now as well: keep extra supplies on hand, including a sufficient inventory of critical supplies that will last until a new order can be received. Assume all orders will take longer than usual to arrive, and order supplies well before you run out.
Long-term implications for lab supply chains
| Impact Category | Short-Term Direct Effects | Long-Term Structural Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics & supply chain | Surging shipping insurance costs, extended delivery lead times, and supply chain bottlenecks | Accelerated adoption of diversified shipping routes, reduced reliance on Red Sea/Suez Canal lanes |
| Trade compliance | Stricter export audits, halted compliant trade with sanctioned markets, and elevated compliance costs | Permanent tightening of dual-use item enforcement, global compliance standardization across the industry |
| Market demand | Collapsed civilian demand in conflict zones, and emerging market import capacity contraction | Structural shift toward regionalized supply chains, diversified market footprint for global manufacturers |
| Industry costs | Rising manufacturing and logistics costs from elevated energy prices | Long-term risk premia are factored into global pricing and supply chain planning |
| Table 2. Summary of Core Impacts on Global Instrumentation Equipment Trade | ||
Managing continued uncertainty
Geopolitical instability can quickly disrupt clinical lab operations, creating layered risks in sourcing instrumentation, consumables, reagents, and other critical supplies.
Recent tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains to regional conflict, transportation disruptions, and market volatility. Although diplomatic efforts are underway, uncertainty remains and supply chain disruptions may persist as logistics networks stabilize and recalibrate.
Ongoing monitoring, proactive risk mitigation, supplier diversification, and contingency planning—including prioritizing critical functions in the event of supply shortages—will be critical for clinical labs seeking to maintain smooth operations.
