Has the Expiration Date of Your Home COVID Tests Been Extended? Here’s How to Tell

by Dr. Jen Caudle

COVID cases are increasing. The good news (if there is any) is that cases are nowhere near what they were during the height of the pandemic. Nevertheless, cases are increasing and that means we need to be prepared.

Do you have a stash of home covid tests left over from the height of the pandemic? If so, you want to make sure your tests haven't expired before using them. This is important because expired COVID tests could give false/incorrect results if used. It's also important because COVID tests can be expensive and you don't want to pay for tests you don't need.

To ensure your test hasn't expired you'll need to do a little more than merely checking the expiration date on the package. This is because (luckily) many COVID test expiration dates have been extended and if you simply go by the expiration date on the package, you might prematurely throw out a perfectly good COVID test and think it has expired when, in fact, it has not.

So, where do you find out if your COVID tests have expired? It's simple. Go to the FDA website via this link which will allow you to search for your tests: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests?mibextid=2JQ9oc#list.

Hopefully this step will save you time and money and allow you to use COVID tests you might have thought were no good.

Also, during this time of increased COVID cases, please make sure you're wearing high quality masks (N95's, KN95's and KF94's are the best) and search this site to make sure you're getting quality masks.

If you wear a surgical mask, make sure you're tying it so that you get a proper fit.

Finally, follow the CDC isolation guidelines if you get COVID and use proper hygiene precautions.

As I always say, we'll get through this together.

Love y'all!

Dr Jen

Dr. Jen Caudle is a board-certified Family Physician, Associate Professor at Rowan University, TV health expert, and video creator. Sign up to receive Dr. Jen's Daily Health Tips to get daily emails (Mon-Fri) with health information you can use to live a healthier life. Follow her on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.