What makes bioanalytical screenings of interest are their sophisticated yet targeted approach to screening recycled water. Rather than requiring laboratory professionals to test for each individual contaminant to determine presence and approximate risk, bioassays screen for total bioactivity for a given pathway or mode of action, allowing analysts to characterize potential cumulative effects on the organisms without necessarily needing to know all the components of the samples. They are a meaningful counterpart to common testing methods, as they account for the fact that contaminants often work together additively, synergistically, or antagonistically to produce an effect that is harmful to humans and the environment.