Angelica Estrada
The FDA does not usually recommend using medical products after the expiration date. However, the FDA has recently given emergency authorization to extend the typical 4–6 month shelf-life of select testing kits, adding an additional 3-6 months to the expiration date printed on the box. This change was made after manufacturers collected more data, which indicate that these at-home COVID-19 tests are still accurate.
Of the 20 different at-home COVID-19 test kits authorized for use by the FDA, only 9 have been granted shelf-life extensions. Check to see if the tests you have at home are included in this list so you can use them past the expiration date – but remember, they are only working if the “C” line is visible when the test is completed. Specific expiration dates can be found by clicking the links below.
- BinaxNOW Covid-19 Ag Card Home Test (Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc.): Extended 3 months
- BinaxNOW Covid-19 Antigen Self Test (Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc.): Extended 3 months
- CareStart Covid-19 Antigen Home Test (Access Bio, Inc.): Extended 3 months
- Flowflex Covid-19 Antigen Home Test (ACON Laboratories Inc.): Extended 4 months
- Celltrion DiaTrust Covid-19 Ag Home Test (Celltrion USA, Inc.): Extended 6 months
- Detect Covid-19 Test (Detect, Inc.): Extended 2 months
- iHealth Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test (iHealth Labs, Inc.): Extended 3 months
- SCoV-2 Ag Detect Rapid Self-Test (InBios International Inc.): Extended 4 months
- Pilot Covid-19 At-Home Test (SD Biosensor, Inc.): Extended 3 months
All articles are reviewed and approved by Dr. Diana Zuckerman and other senior staff.
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References:
- “At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list.