A History of the NRDM
For 22 years, the National Retail Data Monitor (NRDM) monitored anonymous sales of over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare products to identify disease outbreaks. With the NRDM, the RODS Laboratory accomplished the goal of bringing a novel type of surveillance data to health departments to meet the nation’s need for the early detection of oubreaks and bioterrorism.
Since its activation with public health departments in December 2002, the number of retail pharmacy, grocery, and mass merchandise operations that participated in the NRDM has grew to more than 28,000 stores, from nine chains. More than 800 public health officials, across 49 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories, had access to the system via protected user accounts.
Historically, the National Retail Data Monitor was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (ME-01-737), the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Passaic Valley Water Commission, the Department of Homeland Security and a consortium of health departments including those from New York, Ohio, Utah, Washington, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Access to the National Retail Data Monitor was available to public health officials solely for the purpose of public health surveillance.
On December 31, 2025 the NRDM ceased operations. Lack of external funding, a dwindling subscriber base, reluctance of retailers to update their catalog of monitored products and loss of retailer participation made it impossible to provide a sufficient level of service and continue its operation.