Relying on the COVID-19 speedy check, the expiration date might have been prolonged past what’s listed on the bundle. Here is the way to discover out the fitting date.
WASHINGTON — In case you’re planning on utilizing an at-home COVID check, one factor to all the time take into account is the expiration dates. Consultants warn that exams used after the expiration date might not offer you correct outcomes.
However how precisely can you discover the expiration dates for FDA-approved at-home testing kits? And is the shelf life the identical for various manufacturers of exams?
Fortunately, the FDA’s on-line web page about at-home testing kits now has you coated, and consists of the place to seek out the precise expiration date for each equipment accredited by the U.S. authorities.
Product web sites and instruction sheets will all let you know to not use a check after its expiration date, however relying on the check, that may not be the date listed on the bundle any extra.
That is as a result of some check kits’ preliminary shelf life has been prolonged, which suggests your check may have a couple of further weeks or greater than the indicated date on the field.
As an FDA spokesperson defined to the VERIFY group: “Since stability testing essentially takes time, the FDA works with producers to increase the expiration date of their COVID-19 exams as further supportive stability information turns into accessible.”
As of April 28, the next manufacturers have been given an prolonged shelf life, which you means you must search for the brand new expiration dates by clicking on this hyperlink:
- All BinaxNOW merchandise
- CareStart
- Flowflex
- Detect
- iHealth
- InBios SCoV-2 Ag Detect
In case your check equipment’s expiration date modified but it surely’s nonetheless previous the brand new date: do not use it. Sure elements in exams might degrade over time, which may imply they don’t work as properly.
