Expiry dates for COVID-19 tests aren’t as reliable as they look on the box

Did you order every little thing 16 free COVID-19 checks of the federal authorities? If not, now’s the time to take action. The Omicron BA.5 sub-variant has led to a summer time surge in instances, and ordering your private home check kits on COVIDtests.gov solely takes 2 minutes. However in case you have already ordered your speedy house antigen checks, you are most likely questioning if these from January’s first spherical can nonetheless be used. For those who discover that your field of COVID-19 house checks has handed its expiration date, does that imply you’re going to get an inaccurate outcome?

Not precisely. After a COVID-19 check has been authorized and used for a 12 months or extra, the producer can use their information to ask the Meals and Drug Administration to increase their shelf life. Of the 22 COVID-19 house checks listed on the FDA’s web site, 9 have had their shelf lives prolonged since publication, together with iHealth, some of the frequent house check suppliers. within the first free shipments.

We’ll clarify what the expiration dates for house COVID-19 checks imply and which expiration dates have been prolonged based mostly on info from the FDA. To search out out extra, right here how efficient are house COVID-19 checks are detecting Variant BA.5.

What do the expiry dates for COVID-19 checks imply?

The expiration date listed in your field of COVID-19 checks is the final day the check ought to work successfully. Sometimes, the FDA permits house check kits with a shelf lifetime of round 4 to 6 months, however that shelf life may very well be prolonged if the producer finds extra information exhibiting the checks are nonetheless correct after expiration date.

Ought to I exploit a COVID check equipment after it expires?

No. The FDA doesn’t suggest utilizing expired house COVID-19 checks. Here is why: COVID-19 check items can degrade or break down over time, resulting in inaccurate or invalid check outcomes.

Once more, it’s attainable that the expiration dates for house COVID-19 check kits will likely be prolonged as extra information is collected, however presently you shouldn’t use a check that has expired. However, in case your field of check kits reveals a previous expiration date, try this listing of prolonged expiration dates from the FDA to see if you should utilize yours (see under).

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How do I do know if the shelf lifetime of my COVID checks has been prolonged?

If the producer finds that the shelf life is longer than the anticipated 4 to 6 months, they’ll ask the FDA to permit an prolonged expiration date. As soon as this occurs, the producer can notify prospects of the brand new expiration dates. Nonetheless, in case you didn’t buy the checks by way of the producer, you’ll most likely not obtain any notification.

For the newest info on the expiration dates of your COVID-19 check kits, be sure you test the FDA’s COVID-19 house diagnostic testing webpage.

On this web page, the FDA web page lists COVID-19 checks alphabetically, or you should utilize a search field to search out your check instantly. Within the rightmost column of a desk, the FDA lists the shelf life of every check and whether or not it has been prolonged. If the expiration date has been prolonged, a further hyperlink will present info on precise expiration dates for particular check tons.

The hyperlinks under embody the lot numbers and expiration dates of the 9 manufacturers of COVID-19 house checks whose shelf life has been prolonged by the FDA. You will discover your private home COVID check’s lot quantity on its field, normally on a sticker with its expiration date.

We’ll proceed to replace this listing if the FDA extends the shelf lifetime of another COVID-19 speedy antigen checks.

To be taught extra about COVID-19 testing, right here how one can pay for at-home COVID checks along with your FSA or HSA.

The knowledge on this article is for instructional and informational functions solely and isn’t meant to represent medical or well being recommendation. At all times seek the advice of a doctor or different certified well being care supplier with any questions you might have a couple of medical situation or well being targets.