The Bioterrorism Response and Emerging Agents (BREA) section of the North Texas Regional Laboratory provides culture-based and rapid molecular testing for agents of bioterrorism. The laboratory is also committed to the surveillance, testing and assay development for detection of emerging agents such as novel variants of influenza, other respiratory viruses and mosquito-borne diseases.

The BREA Section serves the Texas counties of Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Clay, Coleman, Comanche, Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Erath, Foard, Hardeman, Haskell, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Knox, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Runnels, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Tarrant, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise and Young.