COVID-19 home testing kits are once again available for free, courtesy of the government and distributed through the United States Postal Service. Each household is eligible to receive up to four tests, as detailed on covidtests.gov.
Some of these tests may display expiration dates that have already passed. However, according to resources, they might still be safe to use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides a webpage at fda.gov/covidtestdates where users can check if their COVID-19 test's expiration date has been extended.
Expiration dates on COVID-19 test kits indicate the end of their "shelf life." Similar to other products like groceries and medicines, an expiration date signifies the last date the manufacturer can ensure accurate and reliable results from the test.
Manufacturers conduct stability studies when developing tests to determine how long a kit remains usable before there's a risk of invalid or false results. Over time, some components may degrade, making indefinite use impossible.
These COVID-19 home tests were developed during a period when rapid approval was essential due to the pandemic's urgency. Initially, limited stability testing was conducted. Manufacturers often had only completed short-term studies and thus released tests with seemingly brief shelf lives.
As manufacturers continue stability testing, they provide data that allows the FDA to extend expiration dates when evidence shows that a test remains valid beyond its original date. The printed date on the test box might not reflect this extension if it was printed or shipped before approval of the new expiration.
To verify if your COVID-19 test has an extended expiration date, visit the FDA website for updated information. If your kit's brand and lot number are not listed among those with extended dates, consider it expired and opt for a new kit instead.
