Health

Can I use expired COVID-19 tests?


Iif you stock up on home COVID-19 tests in the process large Omicron deficiency, you may want to do a little research before using your diagnosis. Like food and medicine, COVID-19 tests quickly expire — but determining when they’ve gone bad isn’t always as easy as looking at the box.

Here’s what to know about expiration dates on check for COVID-19 at home.

When does my COVID-19 test expire?

COVID-19 test kit components can degrade over time, potentially affecting diagnostic performance and accuracy, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, finding out exactly how long a product will last. For example, to know if a test is performing well after two years, the manufacturer would logically need at least two years of data. Since COVID-19 rapid tests are a relatively new product, companies are collecting much of that data in real time – meaning their expiration dates can change.

The FDA sets expiration dates conservatively and then adjusts as needed. For starters, at-home COVID-19 tests are generally authorized with an expiration date of four to six months after they’re taken, the FDA said. But the agency may extend that deadline as new research results become available. That dynamic system means that the date stamped on your quiz box may not be its current expiration date.

In January, FDA has extended the recommended shelf life of Abbott’s BinaxNOW test kits 12 to 15 months, based on data from the company. CareStart tests are distributed through the federal government’s free testing program can also be used up to three months beyond their marked expiration datebased on COVID.gov.

The California Department of Public Health went a step further in March, saying that, until further notice, consumers Any home test can be used after the expiration date as long as the “control” line shows up normally. (Your test kit should include control line instructions.) Officials from Washington State’s health department have also acknowledged that Technical usage is out of date but functional testing may be necessary in some cases.

For the latest information on your tests, check the FDA website for updates on antigen test and molecular test. You may have to calculate a new expiration date yourself, using the batch number or manufacture date stamped on the package.

Can I use a test even if it has expired?

If you are used to skipping food expiration date, you might be inclined to do the same thing with COVID-19 tests. But — even if some people interpret the date more freely — then FDA asks not to use expired kits. Dr. Ulysses Wu, director of infectious diseases systems at Connecticut’s Hartford HealthCare, agrees that it’s best to be cautious, as you may not get accurate results if you use an expired test. . “You are more likely to have a false negative than a false positive, but that false negative can provide a false sense of security when you are indeed positive for COVID,” he said.

Since the diagnostic expiration date is a “moving target,” it’s possible that your test actually lasts longer than the suggested box. But Wu said, “I just followed [the latest] expiration date and if you really have concerns or you don’t want to throw it away, you can always call the company. ”

How should I store my home COVID tests?

Time isn’t the only thing that can affect the quality of a COVID-19 test. Humidity and extreme temperatures can also reduce its accuracy, Wu said. He recommends keeping medical supplies in a cool, dark place, like a kitchen cabinet, to keep them stable. Despite the name, your bathroom medicine cabinet is not the right place to store medicines and diagnostics because the room is often hot and humid, adds Wu.

Extreme cold is also something to avoid. When the US government first began distributing free home testing kits this past winter, some were concerned that the liquid reagents used in the diagnostic process may be frozen during delivery. While The FDA says it’s not something to worry abouttests are used in a holding environment of 59°F to 86°F. So if you get cold in transit, you should let it warm up (when in an unopened box) for a few hours before gauze.

And while it may be tempting after recent supply chain problems, Wu discourages keeping a large stockpile of tests on hand. It’s good to have a few around in case someone in your home comes in contact with the virus or develops symptoms, he said, but there’s no immediate need to purchase a lifetime supply – both because they can expire before you can use them, and because it makes it harder for others to get the supplies they need.

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Write letter for Jamie Ducharme at jamie.ducharme@time.com.



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