The FDA regularly updates information on at-home, over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests, including details about expiration dates and shelf-life extensions. Some manufacturers have provided data demonstrating that certain tests remain effective longer than initially authorized, leading to extended expiration dates.
To check if the test’s expiration date has been extended, visit the FDA’s table of authorized OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Locate your test by manufacturer and name as shown on the box label. If the expiration date has been extended, the table will provide a link to a document with updated lot numbers and new expiration dates. If the table states “Expiration Date: See box label,” or if your lot number does not appear, use the original expiration date printed on the test.
Recommended Courses:
Adult Immunization Update: What every NP needs to know
Prescribing for the Relieve of Symptoms: Pain, fever, cough and nausea
The shelf-life of a test is measured from its manufacture date and indicates how long it is expected to perform accurately. For more details on how expiration dates are determined and updated, refer to the FDA’s At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions page.
RESOURCES
