Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
With the arrival of allergy season, numerous individuals are experiencing symptoms and questioning: Is it allergies, a common cold, or COVID-19? Given the overlapping symptoms of allergies, colds, and COVID-19, distinguishing between them can be challenging. This is where an at-home COVID test can be invaluable. Even if your test appears expired, many have had their usability periods extended beyond the initial expiration date.
To verify if your COVID test remains usable, consult the list of at-home COVID-19 tests on the Food and Drug Administration’s website, which details brands with extended usability periods.
Understanding COVID-19 Test Expiration Dates
The expiration date on your COVID-19 test kit indicates the last day the test is expected to function effectively. Typically, the FDA authorizes at-home test kits with a usability period of approximately four to six months. However, this period can be extended if the manufacturer presents additional data demonstrating the tests’ accuracy beyond the expiration date.
Using COVID Test Kits Past Their Expiration Date
Unless the FDA has extended the usability period of your COVID-19 test kit, it is not advised to use them after they have expired. Here’s why: The components of the COVID-19 test may deteriorate or break down over time, resulting in inaccurate or invalid test results.
Refer to the information below to determine if your COVID-19 test kit is still safe to use, as the expiration date may have been extended.
Determining If the Usability Period of Your COVID Tests Has Been Extended
If the manufacturer discovers that the usability period is longer than the anticipated four to six months, they can request the FDA to approve an extended expiration date. Upon FDA authorization, the manufacturer may inform customers about the new expiration dates. However, if you did not purchase the tests directly from the manufacturer, you might not receive any notifications.
For the most recent information on the expiration dates for your COVID-19 test kits, ensure you check the FDA’s At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests webpage.
This webpage lists COVID-19 tests in alphabetical order or allows you to search for the test directly. The far-right column of the table provides the usability period for each test and indicates whether it has been extended. If the expiration date has been prolonged, an additional link is sometimes provided, offering detailed expiration dates for specific test batches.
The following guide includes batch numbers and expiration dates for brands of at-home COVID-19 tests that have had their expiration dates extended by the FDA.
If you find no information on the FDA page, you can also check with the manufacturer to see if they have posted a letter from the FDA indicating that their tests have been extended.
Locating the Batch Number on Your COVID Test
The batch number for your at-home COVID test can usually be found on the box, often on a sticker with its expiration date. It may consist of both numbers and letters. According to the FDA, “If your batch number and/or original expiration date do not appear, or if the Expiration Date column states ‘Expiration Date: See box label,’ do not use the test beyond the original expiration date on your test.”