What is the primary purpose of BioWatch?

• A. to monitor hospital infection rates and report to CDC
• B. to detect waterborne chemical contaminants in public systems
• C. to provide clinical decision support for emergency departments
• D. to collect air samples to test for aerosolized biological agents (coordinated with CDC, EPA, and Homeland Security)

Answer: (D)

BioWatch is an environmental surveillance system focused on early detection of aerosolized biological threats by monitoring the air in urban areas. It works by collecting air samples through a network of samplers and analyzing them for select biological agents; when a potential threat is detected, it triggers rapid verification and response in coordination with federal partners such as the CDC, EPA, and Homeland Security. This approach is about environmental monitoring for airborne agents, not about tracking hospital infection rates, testing drinking water for chemical contaminants, or providing clinical decision support in emergency departments. The air-sampling and coordinated rapid-response aspect is what makes the described purpose the best fit.