At this time of the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, rapid home antigen tests are one of the key tools at our disposal in stopping the spread of the virus. And while less than a year ago these tests were scarce and expensive, they have now become fixtures in most of our medicine cabinets.
In the past, we’ve talked about it how to order these tests for free from the US government, as well as how to store them properly so you don’t inadvertently make them less effective. Now is the time to talk about their expiration dates, specifically, that the ones printed on the COVID home test boxes are no longer accurate. Here’s what you need to know.
When do home COVID tests expire?
As you may have noticed, there is an expiration date printed on the box of every FDAapproved COVID home test (or on a sticker on the box). The exact location it differs from brand to brand.
Currently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 22 rapid COVID19 antigen tests for home use (the The full list can be found on their website, in alphabetical order). Along with information about the manufacturer, the type of test, and who is authorized to use it, the FDA also lists the length of its useful life, which, according to the test, is from four to 18 months.
How to check the expiration date of the COVID test at home
Initially, most expiration dates were based on tests having an estimated shelf life of four to six months. But now that the tests have been around for a longer period of time, the FDA’s ongoing research is showing that many continue to be accurate and effective beyond their original expiration date.
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As of today, the FDA has extended expiration dates on 12 of its 22 approved selftests. To find the most uptodate expiration dates for the ones you have at home, see this table on the FDA website. The right column provides information about the lifetime of the test, including whether it has been extended and for how long.
If yours is one of those with a longer shelf life, click the link below to search for the new expiration date, using the lot number of your test. (Here is an example of what it looks like.)
If the FDA table does not indicate that test expiration dates have been extended, continue use them according to the instructions.