Is my COVID test expired? How to check, and what to do

By Megan Ziegler
Published  September 30, 2024 1:06pm EDT
FOX TV Stations

FILE - Photo of several at home Covid-19 test kits taken on  December 27, 2021. (Photo by William Perlman/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • The U.S. government is mailing out another round of free COVID tests to households that sign up. 
    • Older COVID tests still may be in your cupboard and OK to use, but you must verify the test’s expiration date has been extended.
    • Using an expired test could produce inaccurate results, particularly a false negative. 

As the weather changes and cold and flu season ramps back up, the risk of catching COVID is still in play - especially as a reportedly more contagious strain is making its way in the U.S.

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

Here’s what to know:

Why do COVID tests expire?

Yes, it’s true - the COVID test sitting in your cupboard won’t last forever. In fact, it’ll only last a few months. 

Cleveland Clinic says COVID at-home tests are designed to look for an antigen on the virus through an antibody in the kit, but the antibodies in the kits degrade over time. This could cause older test kits to not be able to as accurately detect any virus. 

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 be able to still use your COVID-19 test after the expiration date that is printed on the box. You can check if your test has an extended expiration date on the FDA’s website here. 

If your test is expired, it is not recommended for use because it could give inaccurate results. 

RELATED: Americans can order free COVID-19 tests: What to know

False positive on expired COVID test

If a COVID at-home antigen test is expired, it is possible to get an inaccurate result. 

The most likely scenario is the test will give you a "false negative," meaning, you think you're safe from the virus when you may possibly have the virus.

"Scientifically, it doesn’t make sense to get a false positive using an expired test," microbiologist and pathologist Daniel Rhoads, MD, told Cleveland Clinic. "If the antibodies stopped working as well, then the test might not detect the virus as well as it could when it was initially manufactured."

RELATED: COVID XEC variant, reportedly more contagious, starting to spread

Updated expiration dates for COVID tests

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

To see the FDA’s list and check for yours, click here. 

Free COVID tests

Americans are able to again order free COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government. 

Beginning Sept. 23, the website COVIDTests.gov opened for orders. 

U.S. households are eligible to receive four free tests. You’ll just need to submit your name and address, and email if you wish to receive shipping notifications.

The Source

  • Information in this article was taken from the FDA’s website on FAQ about at-home COVID tests, and from an interview conducted by the Cleveland Clinic with a health expert. This story was reported from Detroit.