Has my COVID test expired? How to check and what to do

As the weather changes and cold and flu season ramps up again, there is still a risk of contracting COVID – especially here a supposedly more contagious strain is making its way in the USA

If you have unused COVID tests lying around at home, you may still be able to use them.

Here’s what you should know:

Why are COVID tests expiring?

Yes, it’s true – that COVID test sitting in your cupboard won’t last forever. In fact, it will only take a few months.

Says the Cleveland Clinic At-home COVID tests are designed to look for an antigen on the virus using an antibody in the kit, but the antibodies in the kits break down over time. This can result in older test kits no longer being able to detect viruses as accurately.

Can I use an expired COVID test?

The short answer: It depends.

The expiration dates of many COVID-19 tests have been extended, so you may still be able to use your COVID-19 test after the expiration date printed on the packaging. You can check if your test has an extended expiration date on the FDA website here.

If your test has expired, use is not recommended as it could produce inaccurate results.

RELATED: Americans Can Order Free COVID-19 Tests: What You Should Know

False positive on expired COVID test

If a home COVID antigen test has expired, it may produce an inaccurate result.

The most likely scenario is that the test gives a “false negative,” meaning you think you are safe from the virus even though you may have the virus.

“Scientifically, it makes no sense to get a false positive result with an expired test,” says microbiologist and pathologist Daniel Rhoads, MD, said the Cleveland Clinic. “If the antibodies also no longer work, the test may not detect the virus as well as when it was originally manufactured.”

RELATED: The supposedly more contagious COVID-XEC variant is beginning to spread

Updated COVID testing expiration dates

The FDA has extended expiration dates for dozens of brands of at-home COVID-19 tests.

To view the FDA’s list and search for your own, Click here.

Free COVID testing

Americans can again order free COVID-19 tests from the US government.

The website is available from September 23rd COVIDTests.gov open for orders.

U.S. households are eligible for four free tests. All you need to do is provide your name, address and email address if you would like to receive shipping notifications.